"While old-school Italian seaside destinations such as Capri and Portofino can seem stuck, Tuscany’s Maremma is shining ever brighter. At the heart of this stretch of long beaches backed by rolling olive-and-wine country is Orbetello, a laid-back town in Grosseto with something of a Spanish feel, scenically set on an isthmus in a coastal lagoon. And at the heart of Orbetello is Casa Iris, this rising destination’s first truly chic place to stay. With the help of Giorgia Cerulli, the interiors eye behind Rome’s G-Rough hotel, owners James Valeri and Matthew Adams have created a one-off design mix: a brilliant blend of Art Deco, mid-century modern, and ’70s eclecticism in the furniture and fittings picked up at shops, fairs, and markets across Italy. And it’s perfectly in keeping with the meticulous spirit of Casa Iris that Valeri and Adams should have asked a specialist who worked on the Sistine Chapel to restore the frescoes, which date from the 18th to early 20th centuries. But what makes Casa Iris really special is that it is essentially a three-bedroom family apartment—with a powder-blue kitchen where breakfast is served, starring homemade jams from the garden of the Valeri family’s Monte Argentario house. Staying here doesn’t feel remotely like checking in to a hotel. It feels like being allowed inside one of Italy’s most stylish private homes. FLASH POINT Get involved in Orbetello’s post-beach aperitivo scene with some persuasive nibbles at Barakà on Via Vincenzo Gioberti. +39 392-529-8010; casairisorbetello.com. Doubles from about $160." - CNT Editors
