Little Gem No. 120 | Creative place in Versilia

Some places are difficult to categorise, and that is precisely what makes them interesting. This is not quite a hotel, restaurant, gallery or farm, but a deliberately idiosyncratic mixture of all four: a creative hospitality project in Marina di Pietrasanta where rooms, food, art, design and agriculture form one rather unusual ecosystem.

Created for slow travellers and friends, the project brings together four places to stay, a kitchen and garden café, a gallery and a farm in the Versilia hills. You can come for dinner, stay for a few nights, wander through the gallery, have an aperitivo in the garden or make your way up to La Stellata, the organic farm overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. There is no strict separation between hospitality and culture here; everything is part of the same story.

The bedrooms

There are three rooms and one apartment, recently renovated in a contemporary style developed in collaboration with the artists and designers who take part in the project's residencies.

The interiors are individual and characterful, with original pieces and furnishings created through these collaborations. Art is not simply something hung on the walls, it becomes part of the rooms themselves, giving each one the feeling of a small, lived-in creative space rather than a conventional hotel room.

For something more immersed in nature, there is La Stellata, the project's farm in the Versilia hills. Here, the experience shifts from contemporary interiors to olive trees, vegetable gardens and uninterrupted views towards the sea.

The kitchen

Food is another essential part of the project. The Kitchen is a culinary meeting point where Tuscan tradition and contemporary ideas meet, guided by the seasons and the quality of local ingredients.

The menu centres around fine Italian cured meats, local cheeses, homemade bread and classic Tuscan dishes, alongside vegetables and produce from nearby farms and La Stellata itself.

There is also a delicatessen counter where you can pick up local provisions, including cheeses, cured meats, homemade preparations and their own Quercetana extra virgin olive oil from La Stellata.

From 6pm, the garden becomes the setting for the Garden Café's daily aperitivo, the sort of place where you can easily imagine arriving for a drink and staying on for dinner.

The location

The property is in Marina di Pietrasanta, in Versilia, one of Tuscany's more intriguing corners, where the Tyrrhenian coast meets the Apuan Alps.

The seaside is close, but this is also a particularly good base for exploring the area's cultural side. Pietrasanta, known for its sculpture studios, galleries and contemporary art scene, is nearby, while the beach at Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio and Lucca are all within easy reach.

Then there is La Stellata, higher in the hills. Described as almost a secret garden, the farm unfolds along a path through olive and fruit trees, vegetables, roses and medicinal plants, accompanied by geese, peacocks, goats and other animals. The view opens out towards the sea.

What makes it special

The real appeal is not any one element, but the way everything connects.

The farm supplies the kitchen. The landscape inspires the artists. Artists and designers are invited to spend time at La Stellata, creating new work and collaborating with local craftspeople. Those creations may become exhibitions in the Gallery/LAB or furnishings within the rooms.

The Gallery/LAB itself is less a traditional gallery than a laboratory for ideas; a space for exhibitions, collaborations, books, objects, fashion and design.

It gives the whole place a sense of community and creativity that is increasingly rare. Rather than creating a polished luxury resort where everything has been carefully packaged for the guest, it feels like a place with a point of view and a life of its own, where travellers are invited to become part of it for a while.

In simple terms: hotel + artists' space + restaurant + concept store + cultural meeting place + farm.

And that is exactly why it is worth knowing about.

Getting there

Nearest airport: Pisa International Airport — approximately 35 minutes by car.

Nearest train station: Pietrasanta — approximately 10 minutes by car.

A car is recommended for exploring Versilia and reaching La Stellata.

Price Indication 

Rooms are approximately €150 – €250 per night, depending on the room, season and dates.

The apartment is priced separately according to availability.

Prices are indicative and should be checked at the time of booking.

Booking

For availability, more information or to book directly, click the Availability button above. It will take you straight to the owners.

Photo credits : Nicola Gnesi