This Italian Summer, Part V
The simple life of Filicudi, and new hotel stuff to know.
Today is largely about the last Sicilian island of my trip, Filicudi. Small, truly eccentric – one that really struck me and stuck with me. It’s interwoven with a review of the hotel that’s a hallmark of the island, and lots of photos. Then, a bunch of hotel news and updates, including a very cool new opening in Spain.
Next, we have my full Sicily itinerary and a breakdown of the Aeolian Islands to help you plan your own trip.
New to Know, a Pre-Paywall Preview
I’ve written many times about the continuous renovations at the Belmond Splendido by Martin Brudnizki, but it has finally come to an end with a grand reopening of a hotel that’s looking as good and chic as ever. In the same vein but an interesting collaboration in my opinion, is a multi-phase renovation of the Belmind Cipriani with Peter Marino.
Aman’s little sister, Janu, which is a not for me but I understand why it’s for you, has announced they’re venturing to the America’s, for a property in Turks & Caicos.
There are new suites at the Capri Palace and while they are “cool,” I unfortunately find them lacking in soul just like the rest of the place in every iteration (I would like to note that I do enjoy attending weddings there).
Sadly, the new Rosewood Amsterdam met my expectations and thus did not make the cut for a new Top Choice hotel in the city. They will always have guests, regardless.
For Inspiration
Who knows if I’ll ever do a moodboard again but I felt inspired this week and do think it breathes color into my vision that Happy Hoteling is a perspective on the world at-large.
Happy Hoteling!
The Simple Life of Filicudi
A few summers ago, I was on a small gommone in the bright waters of Ponza with my friend Cub. I was marveling at the blueness of the sea and wondered where his friends were going that summer. At the time, Cub worked at one of the major Italian fashion houses and thus was co-workers and roommates with the fashionphiles of Rome and Milan. As most would and I always do, I was curious about where these Italian creatives were spending their sacred Ferragosto. They were going to Filicudi!
Spoiler: it’s often Filicudi, it always seems to be a name that comes up in conversation with creatives in my life. And then I realized that this is the place with the multicolored chairs I’ve had saved to my moodboard for years.
When I hear of friends or friends-of-friends going to Filicudi, usually they stay in a house. It’s a group and they spend a week. I want to be into that but I am not, minus the week-long length, and I don’t love feeling stranded without services on a remote hill, where the best views are found.
That’s totally fine, because the place with the multicolored chairs is a hotel. Really, the only hotel on the island. A place most know of, of those who know. Funky, eccentric, simple, seaside – that’s its rep. I’ll take one of each, always, and thus I’ve wanted to stay here badly.
The peak of my Filicudi fever hit when I was also at my TikTok high, and thus, I obviously made a video about it. Largely, people didn’t get it. I guess people really just don’t love color as much as me. But also, someone commented that
had recently written about her stay on and encouraged me to read, which I promptly subscribed to and did.Where some may have been deterred, I was very drawn the place that Jenny was describing so beautifully. I’m not one to expose behind someone else’s paywall, so I’ll leave it that I’m not always into Simple simple, but sometimes I really, really am.
In my first iteration of this Sicilian itinerary, Filicudi was off the table because the hotel was not yet open for the season. When I was debating staying in California longer, this wasn’t a main factor but it wasn’t a non-factor. If I could start the trip a few days later, I could go to Filicudi, and be the first guest of the season.
When I wrote my Italian Summer Bucket List, I intentionally put in “be the first or the last guest of the season” because I wanted to finally do it and make my life more difficult but go to this damn island and stay at this damn hotel and sit in the damn multicolored chairs.