Collezione Em Announces Opening of Pensione America - The Grand Return of a Dolce Vita Icon

Collezione Em has announced the opening of Pensione America, a five-star villa steeped in Italian history, elegance, and timeless charm in Forte dei Marmi, Italy this April. After a meticulous, artisan-led restoration, owners Sara and Elena Maestrelli, in collaboration with architect Piera Tempesti Benelli, have transformed the historic villa into an ultra-luxe, 18-suite adult-only retreat to stand as an intimate tribute to Forte dei Marmi and the travelers who love it. Pensione America follows the successful debut of Violino d’Oro in Venice in 2023 and joins Villa Roma Imperiale and Bagno Assunta in Forte dei Marmi, further cementing the Maestrelli family’s reputation for creating intimate, luxury retreats that celebrate Italian artisanship and tradition.

“Pensione America is a love letter to Forte dei Marmi,” said Sara Maestrelli, owner and visionary behind the renovation. “The glamour of dolce vita is woven into every detail, from the hand-crafted tiles and custom furnishings to the tennis courts and gardens. This project has been deeply personal, from allowing us to collaborate with incredible Italian artisans like Ciuliano and Carozzi to my family’s involvement in reimagining the pensione. We’ve created a space where guests can experience the same emotions we feel when we enter that mode de vie that is the Forte dei Marmi escape, preserving all the magic of an era with an emphasis on luxury.”

Offering guests the comfort of a private home as a carefree Italian escape, Forte dei Marmi holds a prestigious reputation among affluent Italians, serving as a discrete yet sought after destination for travelers in the know. As one of the first lavish villas built

during the nineteenth century, Pensione America underwent several transformations becoming a thriving pensione in the 1950s. Situated just footsteps from the Liguarian Sea, Pensione America pays homage to its heritage while delivering unparalleled luxury. Each of the 18 signature rooms and suites offer a private terrace or veranda, from the expansive Veranda Suite to the enchanting La Villetta, featuring a private Sicilian tile mosaic plunge pool. Crafted with a dedication to Italian artistry, the interiors showcase bespoke Sicilian tiles by Nicolò Ciuliano, custom bamboo furnishings, and hand-designed wallpaper by Elena Carozzi. From hand-crafted terracotta to Officina Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella amenities, each detail speaks to an elevated yet personalized villeggiatura, a refined escape to the Italian coast.

Pensione America embodies over a century of the Italian dolce vita through its vintage soul and modern indulgence, featuring an indoor pool with Sicilian tiles amidst lush gardens, clay tennis courts at the historic Club Roma, and a private beach club for endless sunshine and spaghetti on the beach: Bagno Assunta. Dining is a celebration of Forte dei Marmi’s past at Pensione America, with options ranging from half-board meals—evoking the charm of traditional pensioni—to private dining experiences in La Villetta, the property’s exclusive independent casita. There, Chef Sabrina Pucci evokes the flavors of the Tuscan coast with local favorites, such as arselle and focaccine.

For images of Pensione America, see here.

About Collezione Em:

Collezione Em is a luxury hotel brand owned by the Maestrelli family, proudly celebrating true Italian design and craftsmanship across its five distinctive hotels. The collection includes the flagship Grand Hotel Minerva and Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence, the recently opened Violino d’Oro in Venice, and the newly opened Pensione America—joining Villa Roma Imperiale in the coastal town of Forte dei Marmi. Each property is deeply connected to the cultural and artistic heritage of its surroundings while offering refined luxury for the gentle soul. The brand’s philosophy of gentle luxury is rooted in personalized service, authentic Italian experiences, and locally inspired, thoughtfully sourced cuisine—brought to life by Sara and Elena Maestrelli.

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