Paradis Pietrasanta: Alain Cirelli's Tuscan dream

In the heart of Pietrasanta, this boutique hotel of refined elegance combines art, hospitality, and gourmet cuisine.

In the heart of Pietrasanta, nestled between the 15th-century walls of the ancient Rocca di Sala and the square leading to the “Little Athens,” stands Paradis Pietrasanta Hotel & Ristorante. A refined four-star boutique hotel born from the restoration of a noble residence, it was designed by Point Trois Architecture and Startt Architettura for Alain Cirelli, the French chef and entrepreneur who has made Tuscany his second home. A place where time slows down and art meets hospitality, in a constant dialogue between history, design, and contemporary taste.

Paradis Pietrasanta Hotel

Behind the doorway on Piazza Crispi, Paradis Pietrasanta reveals itself as a residence of intimate and authentic charm. The twelve rooms, including one suite, are spread across the first and second floors—each unique, yet united by a common thread of natural materials, fine fabrics, and works of art. Warm shades of taupe and beige color the corridors leading to rooms dedicated to Tuscan cities and great philosophers, while the white Carrara marble bathrooms reflect the light with understated elegance.

Three rooms open onto the restaurant’s orange-tree garden, offering a small private terrace designed by landscape architect Jean Mus, the same creative mind behind the outdoor spaces of Paradis Agricole, Cirelli’s countryside estate just a few kilometers from the center.

The hotel is conceived for discreet, personalized hospitality: no telephones in the rooms, but a tablet connecting guests to the reception or the lounge bar. The atmosphere recalls that of an artist’s home, where every detail is carefully chosen and the human touch remains at the heart of the experience.

Ariodante Lounge Bar: a salon of art and velvet

On the ground floor, the Ariodante Lounge Bar welcomes guests with Casamance velvets, iron and Bardiglio marble tables, and artworks by César, Folon, Lorenzo Quinn, and Ciulla. Its name pays tribute to Cirelli’s father, Ariodante—the hero of Orlando Furioso and the protagonist of a Handel opera—a personal homage that adds a touch of poetry to the space.

Here, guests can enjoy an à la carte breakfast (€15), entirely organic and rich in local products: bread from Lenzoni bakery in Camaiore, homemade jams, and sheep’s and goat’s cheeses and eggs sourced from Paradis Agricole.

Lounge Bar Ariodante

During the day, the bar transforms into a contemporary bistro, offering a light lunch menu (menu of the day €32) and a daily brunch served until 3 p.m. From 5 p.m. onwards, the aperitivo hour comes alive with seasonal signature cocktails and small gourmet creations—perfect to enjoy in the orange-tree garden or surrounded by the artworks that adorn the interiors.

Lunch in a Museum: the Restaurant at Paradis Pietrasanta

From the lounge, guests enter the restaurant—once the armory hall of the Rocca di Sala. The space, with its barrel vaults and stone walls, houses a small gypsum gallery featuring casts of ancient statues, including one of Octavian Augustus, alongside furnishings crafted by local artisans.

The kitchen is led by Chef Alessio Bachini, trained in a Michelin-starred environment, who interprets Cirelli’s philosophy through a vision of sustainability and authenticity.

Paradis Pietrasanta

The ingredients come from Paradis Agricole, the agro-forestry estate where seasonal fruits and vegetables are harvested daily, following a true “seed-to-plate” philosophy.

Paradis Agricole

The menu blends Tuscan tradition with contemporary creativity: dishes such as marinated amberjack with fruit and vegetable gazpacho, pappardelle with rabbit and blueberries, turbot with porcini mushrooms and potatoes, and desserts like vanilla and goat’s milk millefeuille or chestnuts with pears. Everything is prepared with a “zero-waste” approach—every part of each ingredient is used, and any leftovers are transformed into feed for the animals on the estate.

Alain Cirelli: the chef-entrepreneur bridging France and Tuscany

Born in 1967 in Chambéry to a family of Italian origins, Alain Cirelli trained in some of Paris’s most prestigious kitchens—from the three-Michelin-star Lasserre to Bernard Pacaud’s Ambroisie—before moving to Italy, where he worked at Enoteca Pinchiorri. From France, he brought discipline and technique; from Italy, he learned a profound respect for ingredients. With Paradis Pietrasanta and Paradis Agricole, Cirelli has transformed his experience into a vision: combining art, agriculture, and hospitality in a coherent, sustainable, and deeply human project.

Paradis Pietrasanta Hotel & Ristorante
Piazza Crispi 4, Pietrasanta (LU)
ph. +39 0584 70411
paradispietrasanta.com