Pelican buys La Badia

A year that records the celebrations to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the famous Il Pellicano hotel, the iconic structure in Porto Ercole that gives its name to the group, and two acquisitions. The luxury hotellerie company proceeds on the path of expansion and aims at structural growth with the goal of reaching ten high-end hotels, through careful location scouting. With this in mind, a partnership was signed in August 2023 between the Pellicano Hotels Group and Aermont Capital, which envisaged the allocation of some €200 million for the purchase and redevelopment of hotels to be relaunched.

"We are proceeding according to schedule," says Marie Louise Sciò, daughter of the group's founder and now ceo of Pellicano hotels. "Our idea is to find unique hotels in Italy in uncommon locations, keeping faith with the DNA we have in our three structures: Il Pellicano, La Posta Vecchia and Mezzatorre.

After the acquisition of La Suvera, outside Siena, the purchase of La Badia has been finalised, an investment of over €43 million for acquisitions and planned renovations. The 3,400 square metre property nestled in the Umbrian hills, just outside the historic town of Orvieto, will open in 2027. La Badia is a former Benedictine abbey whose origins date back to between the 6th and 12th centuries. The property includes a rare dodecagonal tower, a historic Romanesque church, extensive gardens and almost 30 hectares of unspoilt woods and grounds. The hotel, hitherto a 4-star establishment with 27 rooms, will be completely redesigned and upgraded.

"The La Suvera project has grown thanks to the purchase of a number of properties around the property and we have thus exceeded 50 rooms," says the interviewee. "The same operation will be implemented with La Badia. The group has also acquired an adjacent property, a charming structure with a view of Orvieto, which will enrich the overall offer for guests, reinforcing Pellicano's commitment to creating experiences. Facilities will include an outdoor swimming pool, a spa with treatment cabins, a boutique, a tennis court, a fitness area, a restaurant and a bar.

"The search does not stop and we continue to look at opportunities all over Italy,' he says. 'We are evaluating facilities by the sea, but also in the mountains or at the lake. The decision to focus on unusual locations allows us to act in a less competitive context'.