Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Italy / Porto Ercole / Hotel Il Pellicano
Hotel Il Pellicano
Porto Ercole, Italy · Pellicano Hotels · Apex Luxury
Michael Graham, a British RAF aviator, and Patsy Daszel, an American socialite, met at a Pelican Point party in California in the 1950s and opened this cliff-cove club at Porto Ercole in 1965. Roberto Sciò bought it in 1979; daughter Marie-Louise Sciò now runs Pellicano Hotels. Slim Aarons photographed the pool. Chaplin, Henry Fonda, Gianni Agnelli came. 50 rooms plus cottages. Forbes Five-Star, World's 50 Best Hotels 2025 at rank 26.
- 50 rooms
- Opened 1965
About Hotel Il Pellicano
- Founders Michael Graham, a British RAF aviator, and Patsy Daszel, an American socialite, met at a party at Pelican Point in California in the 1950s, inspiring the hotel's name.
- It opened in 1965 as a private club before becoming a legendary hangout for figures such as Charlie Chaplin, Henry Fonda, and Gianni Agnelli, immortalized in photographs by Slim Aarons.
- Italian businessman Roberto Scio bought the property outright in 1979, and it is now led by his daughter Marie-Louise Scio, and its restaurant Il Pellicano holds one Michelin star under chef Michelino Gioia.
History
Hotel Il Pellicano was inaugurated in 1965 on a cliffside cove at Località Sbarcatello, on the Monte Argentario peninsula near Porto Ercole in Tuscany. It was created by Michael Graham, a British Royal Air Force aviator, and Patsy Daszel, an American jet-set socialite, who met at a party at Pelican Point in California in the mid-1950s, the encounter that gave the hotel its name, and first opened it as a private club to host friends and live la dolce vita.
In 1979 the Italian businessman Roberto Sciò bought the property outright, and it is now led by his daughter Marie-Louise Sciò as creative director and CEO of Pellicano Hotels Group. The Grahams' former villa was transformed into 50 rooms and suites, complemented by seven cottages, and the property became a legendary hangout for the design, fashion, and art worlds, immortalized in photographs by Slim Aarons and welcoming guests such as Charlie Chaplin, Henry Fonda, and Gianni Agnelli. Its Restaurant Il Pellicano holds one MICHELIN star.
Restaurants and bars
- Ristorante Il Pellicano — Restaurant · Fine dining
Amenities
- private beach
- pool
- beach
- Spa
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Tennis
- Water sports
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- World's 50 Best Hotels (2025)
Open Hotel Il Pellicano in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Pellicano Hotels hotels
- La Posta Vecchia Hotel — Palo Laziale, Italy · Grand Luxury
- Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa — Ischia, Italy · Grand Luxury
More hotels in Porto Ercole
- Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, Autograph Collection — Autograph Collection · Core Luxury
Pellicano Hotels in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.