TRAVEL
Hidden at Dalla Gioconda:
A conversation with Co-founder and Designer Allegra Tirotti Romanoff
Gabicce Monte, Italy
16 June 2026
Perched high above the Adriatic in Gabicce Monte, Dalla Gioconda has quietly evolved into one of Italy’s most distinctive culinary sanctuaries. The Michelin-starred restaurant, which debuted in 2021, has organically grown into an albergo diffuso named Hidden—a collection of rooms and suites seamlessly integrated into the historic neighborhood. Guests reach their quarters through a dramatic, art-animated subterranean tunnel that feels entirely cinematic, evoking the sleek, mysterious glamour of a 1970s Bond film.
Photos by Savour Duo
Founded by Allegra Tirotti Romanoff, Stefano Bizzarri, and chef Davide Di Fabio, who spent sixteen years alongside Massimo Bottura at Osteria Francescana, Dalla Gioconda first commanded attention as a Michelin-starred dining destination. Today, it has evolved into a much more holistic project, blurring the boundaries between fine dining, contemporary design, hospitality, and heritage.
Following an exclusive stay at Dalla Gioconda, SCANDINAVIALIST spoke with co-founder and interior designer Allegra Tirotti Romanoff to discuss the evolution of Hidden, and the vision behind an estate that continues to grow far beyond the restaurant that first put it on the map.
“Dalla Gioconda has not forgotten this history. The spirit of being located on the Hill of Music lives on through our playlists and our vinyl inspired menus.”
—Allegra Tirotti Romanoff
The Spirit of the Hill
“The hill of Gabicce Monte was once known as the Hill of Music and was home to the very first disco in Italy,” Allegra explains. “Dalla Gioconda has not forgotten this history. The spirit of that era lives on through our curated playlists and vinyl-inspired menus.”
Rather than literally recreating the past, the references remain subtle and instinctive. Music drifts quietly through the spaces. Disco balls sway gently from the trees at sunset. Vintage objects and fragments of memory appear unexpectedly throughout the property. “They are subtle nods that capture a sense of fun,” she says. “A novelty that honors the past—the elegance of dancing barefoot at a party.”
Even the name carries this sense of continuity, paying homage to the restaurant’s former owner, Mrs. Gioconda. “The name was historic and iconic, so we decided to keep it.”
Photos by Scandinavialist
Photos by Scandinavialist
Designing Atmosphere
One of the most striking aspects of Dalla Gioconda is the feeling that no single discipline dominates. The gastronomy, interiors, landscape, music, and hospitality all exist in active conversation with one another.
“Each of us brought a part of ourselves to the project,” Allegra says of the collaboration between herself, Stefano, and Davide Di Fabio. “We envisioned a place that merged our unique backgrounds — a space to enjoy ourselves that speaks of food, the memory of taste, design, history, and passion.”
This layered approach continues to shape the estate today. “We never wanted to be just one thing,” she says. “Dalla Gioconda is the synergy of everything that makes us happy: atmosphere, joy, nature, hospitality, and design.”
That philosophy is palpable throughout the property. Fragments of history sit beside contemporary interventions, while tactile, handmade materials mingle with vintage artefacts. Here, the endless sea views are framed by carefully composed interiors, all without ever feeling staged.
“We envisioned a place that merged our passions and our essence. A space to enjoy ourselves that spoke of food, the memory of taste, design, history and passion.”
—Allegra Tirotti Romanoff
Photos by Scandinavialist
Photo by Savour Duo
Letting History Speak
As Dalla Gioconda evolved, the project organically expanded beyond the restaurant into Hidden — an albergo diffuso woven across a series of thoughtfully restored buildings within the village.
Throughout the spaces, reclaimed objects, handcrafted elements, and natural materials are layered seamlessly with contemporary design. The colour palette echoes the rugged coastline and lush vegetation of Monte San Bartolo, while the textures are grounded in raw stone, terracotta, warm wood, and tactile fabrics.
The core challenge was creating spaces that felt intrinsically connected to the restaurant while allowing each room to retain its own soul. “We restored ruins, reconstructed architectural fragments, and sought to give each space its own personality,” Allegra explains. “The connection with the restaurant stems from a harmony generated through diversity, meticulous detail, and a desire to let colours and fabrics speak.”
This design process unfolds intuitively, shaped as much by atmospheric feeling as by local history. “I start with drawings, sensations, combinations, and a thread of history,” she says. “I always look to recover a piece of the past, or celebrate something already present within the architecture.”
A Place to Pause
As the project evolved, the ambition was never simply to add accommodation, but to create a more complete experience of the place itself. “We wanted to expand our hospitality project by making the union of these diverse elements even more complete,” Allegra says. “Offering a vacation, a room to read in, a place to have breakfast while looking at the horizon. A place to stop so people can get to know us better.”
This exact pause is woven into the very fabric of the estate. Mornings here begin quietly on secluded terraces with unhurried breakfasts facing the Adriatic. Then, the afternoon sun coaxes the day into a standstill, stretching out time until it melts into a truly spectacular sunset.
For those staying overnight at Hidden, privacy and atmosphere became central to the experience. “Those who stay overnight are giving themselves a moment for themselves,” Allegra explains. “A vacation, a pause. The attention to detail lies in the respect for that choice.”
Photos by Scandinavialist
Regenerating the Village
At its core, Allegra tells us, Dalla Gioconda is not merely a hospitality venture, but an ongoing act of stewardship tied closely to the surrounding territory. “This project is fuelled by a deep love for the local area,” she says. “It was born from a desire to regenerate the village, allowing it to grow and live alongside us.”
As the estate continues to evolve, maintaining that profound emotional connection remains central to its future trajectory. “The project evolves with us as we change and grow,” Allegra reflects. “Maturing without losing our essence, that is our hope.”
Photo by Savour Duo
“This project is fuelled by a deep love for the local area. It was born from a desire to regenerate the village, allowing it to grow and live alongside us.”
—Allegra Tirotti Romanoff