Locanda al Colle, Camaiore, Italy
A Tuscan Hideaway Curated Like a Private Home
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● One of Tuscany’s most charming design-led retreats, where art, antiques, and hospitality come together effortlessly.
● A deeply personal project created by owner Riccardo Barsottelli, whose collector’s eye shapes every room and garden.
● An intimate residents-only atmosphere that feels more like staying with stylish friends than checking into a hotel.
A House Above the Tuscan Coast
Perched on a hillside above Camaiore, with views stretching across olive groves to the Tyrrhenian Sea, Locanda al Colle feels worlds away from the polished luxury resorts that dominate much of Tuscany. Originally a 17th-century stone farmhouse, the property has been transformed into one of Italy’s most beloved boutique hideaways. Yet despite its reputation among designers, artists, and returning guests, it remains wonderfully unpretentious. This is not a hotel built around trends. It is a house built around passion. The passion of one man, Riccardo Barsottelli, whose love of art, design, travel, and hospitality has shaped every corner of the property.
A Collector’s Eye
Before creating Locanda al Colle, Barsottelli spent decades working in fashion while living between London, Paris, Buenos Aires, and the United States. Along the way he collected furniture, artwork, photographs, ceramics, and objects that would eventually find a home here. The result feels less like a boutique hotel and more like an evolving private collection. Jean Cocteau ceramics sit alongside Cubist paintings. Scandinavian design pieces coexist with vintage Italian furniture. Contemporary artworks mingle with antique finds discovered in markets and galleries across Europe. Yet despite the diversity, nothing feels staged. Everything feels lived in. Personal. Authentic.
A Farmhouse Reimagined
Working alongside architect Marco Innocenti, Barsottelli carefully restored the original farmhouse while preserving its historic character. Heavy timber beams, stone floors, oak floorboards, Carrara marble, terracotta brickwork, and deep-set windows remain central to the experience. Layered onto this historic framework is an eclectic design language that borrows from Art Deco, Italian mid-century modernism, Scandinavian furniture, and contemporary art. The atmosphere is sophisticated without becoming formal. Stylish without trying too hard. A place where design serves comfort rather than the other way around.
Rooms Full of Character
With just twelve rooms and suites, no two accommodations are alike. Some feature four-poster beds draped in linen. Others open onto private terraces overlooking the sea and olive groves. Several include fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, or secluded loggias designed for long afternoons with a book and a glass of wine. Throughout, heritage details anchor the spaces: exposed beams, worn wooden floors, handcrafted furnishings, and carefully chosen artworks. Luxury comes through quality rather than excess. Rivolta Carmignani linens, travertine bathrooms, olive oil-based bath products, and wonderfully comfortable beds create a sense of quiet indulgence. There are no televisions. No unnecessary distractions. Only views, books, conversation, and time.
Gardens Designed for Slow Living
The terraced Mediterranean gardens are as important as the interiors. Rose bushes, rosemary, lavender, wisteria, olive trees, and sculptural artworks create a landscape that feels both curated and completely natural. At the centre sits a small heated saltwater pool, framed by ancient trees and endless views toward the coast. Guests spend entire afternoons moving between sun loungers, shaded terraces, and hidden corners filled with books and magazines. It is the kind of place where doing very little feels entirely productive.
The Art of Staying In
Many guests arrive intending to explore Tuscany. Many end up staying put. Breakfasts stretch late into the morning with homemade pastries, sourdough bread, fresh fruit, local cheeses, and eggs cooked to order. Lunches remain simple and seasonal. In the evenings, chef Gianluca prepares elegant Tuscan dinners served beneath climbing vines on the candlelit terrace. Menus change daily according to what is available from local producers and markets. Fresh seafood, handmade pasta, seasonal vegetables, fragrant herbs, and excellent local wines form the foundation of the experience. Meals feel intimate and convivial, helped by the fact that the restaurant remains exclusively for residents. No outsiders. No crowds. Just guests gathered around a table overlooking the Tuscan hills.
Beyond the Farmhouse
The location allows guests to experience two very different sides of Tuscany. The beaches of Versilia sit just minutes away, while Pietrasanta — long regarded as one of Italy’s most important artistic communities — offers galleries, sculpture studios, and workshops linked to the nearby Carrara marble quarries. Riccardo and his team happily arrange everything from wine tastings and cooking classes to visits with artists, sculptors, and antique dealers. Yet many guests find themselves reluctant to leave the property for long. Locanda has a habit of making the outside world feel surprisingly optional.
A Place You’ll Want to Return To
The true luxury of Locanda al Colle isn’t found in facilities or spectacle. It lies in atmosphere. The feeling of being welcomed into a beautiful home. The generosity of a host sharing his passions. The scent of rosemary drifting through the garden. The view of the sea at sunset. The conversations over dinner. The art discovered around every corner. Few boutique hotels feel this personal. Even fewer leave such a lasting impression. For travellers who value character over convention, design over fashion, and genuine hospitality over performance, Locanda al Colle remains one of Tuscany’s most enchanting addresses.
