For more than 100 years, guests staying at Splendido Mare have enjoyed unrivalled views across the idyllic harbour of Portofino, a picturesque Italian fishing village whose pastel-coloured houses spill down to the waters of the Med. In times gone by, it was fishing boats that plied the jade-coloured waters of the harbour, but today, it is filled with gleaming pleasure vessels that ferry well-heeled visitors to and from the superyachts moored in the bay, or along the coast to hidden coves and beaches.
Splendido Mare, a Belmond Hotel, Portofino, reopens this month following a top-to-toe makeover courtesy of Paris design agency Festen, created by co-founders Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay in 2011. Every step of the design journey has been envisioned to capture the character of Portofino and the surrounding landscape, with colours, fabrics and building materials selected to reference aspects of this charming locale.
The 14 guestrooms and suites feature locally-sourced, hand-varnished wood used in the construction of traditional boats, while headboards feature rope patterns woven into the marquetry. Each, including the fabulous waterside Ava Gardener Suite, is elegantly appointed with traditional Italian midcentury furnishings and nostalgic antiques, while walls are adorned with cinematic photographs, abstract art by regional artists, and Murano glass wall lamps.
The familiar pastel colours of Portofino’s sea-facing buildings are reflected throughout, and bathrooms are decorated in Carrara marble and the white and yellow striped patterns that adorn the traditional beach cabins seen along the Santa Margherita coast.
As the first major Belmond refurb since the company was taken over by LVMH in 2019, it’s no surprise that particular attention has been paid to the staff attire, which has been reimagined by fashion designer Arthur Arbesser, and features geometric patterns, nautical details and botanical references; a nod to Portofino’s coastal national park.