Mediterranean harmony

There’s always something special about an island, a kind of world apart standing distinct and separate from its surroundings. Ponza is no exception. Part of the Pontian archipelago, it stretches into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Gulf of Gaeta to the south of the Circeo promontory. The fascinating forms above and below the waterline testify to the island’s volcanic origins, as do the rugged and predominantly rocky limestone and tuff coastline, the tall white and yellowish cliffs incorporating dark coloured patches of lava, and the craters of the now extinct but still clearly recognisable volcanoes. All around one can admire the crystal clear sea, the emerald green and deep blue waters that wash onto the numerous beaches and coves. Not far from one of these beaches, the famous natural amphitheatre of Chiaia di Luna, stands the Grand Hotel Santa Domitilla. This prestigious property is located in a quiet position close to the town centre and a short walk from the port, a fascinating neighbourhood dating back to the Bourbon period with its pale coloured houses juxtaposed like an architectural jigsaw puzzle. The four-star hotel, equipped with a wellness centre and two seawater swimming pools, is surrounded by a lush garden that blends in with the island’s typical Mediterranean vegetation. Olive trees, bougainvilleas, agaves and oleanders extend like green walls flanking the pathway between the traditional white villa and the modern outhouse, the two volumes of the luxury hotel which stand side by side harmoniously. Harmony is also the key concept behind the recently completed project to resurface part of the resort’s exterior pavings. With its exposure to high vehicular and foot traffic, the area needed a solution combining aesthetics and functionality, a natural material that would fit in with the design of Santa Domitilla without creating excessive contrasts and maintaining a high level of wear resistance and durability. Ceramic tile was the obvious solution, and as the project was carried out in collaboration with the hotel’s owners and the design department of the company Tagina, a terracotta-effect porcelain tile specifically designed for outdoor use (R11) was chosen. The Cotto Tagina collection, in a 2 cm thickness and the Natural colour version, was installed over a 250 square metre area in an alternation of the two sizes 90×90 cm and 60×60 cm to “emphasise the dynamism of the paving”, as Loris Cardoni, one of the ceramic company’s designers, explained. Moreover, in terms of aesthetics, the strong natural material qualities and distinctive shading that makes each tile unique have created a pattern that appears to be “suspended in time”, invisible with respect to the hotel’s kaleidoscope of Mediterranean colours. Moreover, the light reflecting from the surfaces creates an elegant yet vibrant tonal palette that integrates authentically with the fine details and finishes of the Grand Hotel Santa Domitilla.