We are proud to present this next issue in our series focusing on the people, culture and communities that make up our diverse Waterstone Collection. Throughout the series we will continue to introduce you to people who are passionate ambassadors for their local cultures and communities. In this edition we focus on Salvatore Madonna, Owner and General Manager of the Hotel Byron and Hotel Plaza e de Russie on the Tuscan coast.
“I don’t like to use the word luxury; I find it too general. What is luxurious for one person can be so different for another. Personally, I find luxury in authenticity because it cannot be created. Authenticity must come from the people, the area and celebrating what it means to be local. This is one reason I am exceedingly proud to stand behind the Hotel Byron and Hotel Plaza e de Russie. Guests who travel across the globe to experience our relaxing seaside retreats will find themselves surrounded mostly by Italians, speaking to the authentic atmosphere these properties provide."
— Salvatore Madonna, Owner and General
Manager, Hotel Byron and Hotel Plaza e de Russie
Becoming a hotelier meant going back to his childhood roots for this passionate Italian. Staying true to his family heritage on the Tyrrhenian coast, Salvatore Madonna defines luxury as living authentic local experiences – which is just what his elegant Tuscan seaside hotels, Hotel Byron in Forte dei Marmi & Hotel Plaza e de Russie in Viareggio, deliver in spades.
Salvatore compares running his family business to a relationship – like all doting partners, he takes great pride in them and goes to great lengths to ensure his hotels shine -- from personally selecting bottles of wine for their restaurants, to handpicking the pieces of contemporary art that adorn their walls. There is much symmetry between Salvatore and his beloved Hotel Byron and Hotel Plaza e de Russie, found in their shared personal charm, their enamored relationship with Italy, and their appreciation of the arts.
It is the philosophy of both properties to welcome each guest as family. At the Hotel Byron, you will find grace, style, honest hospitality, and an environment where you feel truly at home. Sitting just opposite the sea in the glamorous town of Forte dei Marmi, guests can lounge by the pool, soak up the sun on the beach, bike in to town for designer shopping or a delicious gelato, and enjoy the property’s Michelin starred and award-winning Magnolia restaurant.
Renowned as the ‘jewel of Viareggio’, the sea-front Hotel Plaza e de Russie juxtaposes its historical exterior with the modern luxury hospitality services and elegant contemporary furnishings of its interiors. A famed meeting place for the international jet set, the hotel has been completely redesigned and now offers a trendy Michelin-starred restaurant and elegant rooms alongside the welcoming ambience of a family owned and managed establishment.
Throughout Versilia, the stretch of Tuscan coast that includes Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio, Salvatore’s connections make him the best person to suggest unique local experiences for your clients. For example, Salvatore can arrange a guided “off-road” Jeep tour of the nearby Cararra marble quarries, followed by a visit to the town of Pietrasanta, a favorite with sculptors throughout the ages thanks to its proximity to all that marvelous stone. But there is so much more to Versilia than its marble, from the Apuan Alps and the stretches of sandy white beaches to the vineyards and wineries and the charming walled city of Lucca nearby, it’s easy to see why Salvatore came back to his birthplace.
» See, smell and hear the sea from the moment you wake up in one of our sea-facing rooms
» Enjoy a cappuccino and a slice of homemade cake made by one of our Michelin-starred chefs
» Go on a bike ride into town for some shopping and to spend time with the locals
» Visit the Cinque Terre by boat or hike up to the quarries in our incredible Apuan Alps
» Have a lazy lunch at one of the beach clubs – my go-to is the local dish 'spaghetti alle arselle' (spaghetti with baby clams)
» In true Italian fashion, have an afternoon nap, under the shadow of a cabana on the beach
» Head to Pietrasanta for a nice aperitivo, where you can see many artisans working marble and bronze
» Taste the delicious food at one of our Michelin-starred restaurants and end the day basking in the moonlight in one of the beach clubs facing the sea
