Experience the slow life of a small island in the Mediterranean Sea at La Guardia Hotel. A seafront eco-structure where experience the pleasures of the dolce vita. Natural materials are combined with warm shades to make contact with the environment even closer.

What to do. Take a walk through the extreme vineyards. Dive into the turquoise waters awarded with the recognition of the 5 sails by Legambiente for 10 consecutive years. Get lost in the alleys of Giglio Castello, the only medieval Italian village surrounded by walls on an island. Discover the most hidden coves with a boat tour. And more: windsurf, kayak and snorkeling by the sea and scuba diving among corals, posidonia meadows and expanses of sea fans.

Suite with sea view. La Guardia. This is the name of the hotel. To recall the fact that it is located at the entrance to the port. Ideal place to monitor the navigation and the sea. "From our terrace you feel a bit of a lookout on the seas of the Tuscan Archipelago" says Flaminia Pérez del Castillo, Owner & General Manager of La Guardia Hotel.

Slow rhythms and close contact with nature. Even in design. Wood, stone, cement. "Authentic and imperfect surfaces, just like those of the island that hosts us," explains Flaminia. "The furniture, for example, is made of wood starting from some essences of the Maremma". I asked Flaminia Pérez del Castillo to tell me something more.

How would you describe La Guardia hotel?

La Guardia is a design hotel that offers informal luxury, an essential but refined place where you can reconnect with nature and slower life. And that's exactly what my husband and I were looking for when we decided to leave Rome and our advertising agencies.

A bit of history

Built in 1956 on the traces of an ancient Roman granite quarry, above the Scalettino beach, the La Guardia hotel dominates the port of the island. Audrey Hepburn passed through here in the 1950s, like many other celebrities of the dolce vita. In 2012, the hotel became an operations center to rescue the Concordia cruise ship which was wrecked in front of it. My husband and I bought it and turned it into a Mediterranean buen retiro in 2019.

You define La Guardia an eco-hotel, how does the hotel contribute to the protection of the planet?

We try to reduce our impact on the environment with concrete actions: abolition of single-use plastic, usage of recycled paper only, hot water obtained from solar panels, food from local suppliers possibly organic. We also promote sustainable mobility by encouraging the use of electric bicycles and hiking

What is the philosophy in the kitchen?

Our restaurant explores the gastronomic culture of the smaller islands of the Mediterranean. The island cuisine, be it Italian, Greek or Spanish, has many elements in common and is based on the simplicity of the recipes (a necessity, considering the difficulty in finding supplies), favoring local fish and seasonal vegetables. Our cellar offers over 50 labels from the islands: Salina, Ischia, Capri, Elba, Giglio but also Ibiza or Santorini, always small productions made by hand and therefore defined as “heroic”. A journey within a journey.

10 things not to miss on the Giglio Island

1. Swim in the turquoise waters of the Cannelle beach.
2. Walk from Cannelle to Caldane beach, authentic and wild.
3. A dip in the gentle cliffs of the Arenella beach.
4. A fish dinner on the harbor at La Vecchia Pergola.
5. Typical recipes at Da Maria restaurant in Giglio Castello.
6. Trekking to the Capel Rosso lighthouse.
7. Practice yoga facing the sea on the terrace of the Hotel La Guardia.
8. Getting around by e-bike.
9. Tasting the wine from the Senti Oh winery.
10. A boat tour to discover the most hidden coves, such as Cala della Torricella and Cala del Corvo.

www.laguardiahotel.it

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