2 61011 Gabicce Monte PU,
Italy
LOCATIONTRAVELPerched on the cliffs of Gabicce Monte, overlooking the Adriatic horizon, lies Dalla Gioconda. For design enthusiasts and culinary travelers, the name represents a masterclass in atmospheric harmony. Once the epicenter of Italy's avant-garde nightlife as the birthplace of the legendary Baia degli Angeli disco, the site has been thoughtfully reborn.
Photo by Stian OlsenToday, Dalla Gioconda stands as a holistic hospitality project—combining a Michelin-starred culinary vision by chef Davide Di Fabio, an albergo diffuso (scattered hotel) lodging concept, and interiors that honor the passage of time.
Following an exclusive stay at this coastal sanctuary, SCANDINAVIALIST sat down with interior designer and co-founder Allegra Tirotti Romanoff to discuss design preservation, the synergy of disciplines, and the art of slow hospitality.
The Spirit of the Hill
Photo by Stian Olsen“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
Although Dalla Gioconda itself was not the original site of Baia degli Angeli, the cultural memory of the hill still quietly shapes the project today.
“The hill of Gabicce Monte was 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 being located on the Hill of Music lives on through our playlists and our vinyl inspired menus.”
Rather than recreating the past literally, the references remain understated. The atmosphere carries a sense of nostalgia without becoming theatrical.
“They are subtle references that capture a sense of fun,” she says. “A novelty that does not forget the past, the elegance of dancing barefoot at a party.”
Even the name itself carries continuity. Dalla Gioconda was named after the restaurant’s former owner, Mrs. Gioconda, whose legacy remains embedded within the identity of the place. “The name was historic and iconic, so we decided to keep it.”
Beyond the Restaurant
Designing with Memory
Reclaiming the Hill of Music: Inside Dalla Gioconda with Allegra Tirotti Romanoff
From the beginning, the project brought together different disciplines and sensibilities. Allegra, Stefano and Davide Di Fabio each contributed their own perspective, shaping a hospitality experience that feels deeply personal rather than overly defined.
“Each of us brought a part of ourselves to the project,” Allegra says. “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.”
That layered approach continues to define the experience today. Dalla Gioconda moves fluidly between restaurant, hotel, music venue and gathering place, where no single element dominates the others.
“We never wanted to be just one thing,” she explains. “Dalla Gioconda is the synergy of everything that makes us happy: atmosphere, joy, food, nature, hospitality and design.”
“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
As the project evolved, it gradually expanded beyond the restaurant into Hidden, an albergo diffuso woven throughout restored buildings and fragments of the village itself.
“We wanted to complete the experience through hospitality,” Allegra says. “A room to read in, breakfast overlooking the horizon, a place to pause and stay long enough to truly understand us.”
Every room was approached individually, shaped by its own structure, movement and history. “Every place speaks to me,” she says. “My desire is to understand its soul.”
Throughout the interiors, contemporary interventions sit alongside recovered historical pieces, allowing each space to carry its own personality while still remaining connected to the wider project.
“We restored ruins, reconstructed pieces that represented them and tried to give every space its own identity,” Allegra explains. “The connection with the restaurant comes from harmony generated through diversity, attention to detail and the desire to let colours and fabrics speak.”
Her process begins intuitively, often through sketches, sensations and fragments of memory. “I start with drawings, sensations, combinations and a bit of history. I always like to recover a piece of the past or something already present in the project.”
Regenerating the Village
At its core, Dalla Gioconda is not only a hospitality project, but also an ongoing act of regeneration tied closely to the surrounding territory.
“This project is fuelled by a great love for the local area,” Allegra says. “It was born from a desire to regenerate the village, which lives together with us.”
As the project continues to evolve, maintaining that emotional connection remains central to its future. “The project evolves with us as we change and grow,” she reflects. “Maturing without losing our essence. That is our hope.”
“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
25 May 206