Arcadia Napoli Hospitality Projects
Napoli 2022
Arcadia Naples: a retreat in the heart of the city
Arcadia Napoli is housed in a 17th-century palace in the historic center, transformed by Francesco Della Femina into a unique hospitality project. The design combines historical memory with contemporary sensibility, offering guests an elegant, intimate, tailor-made retreat. The name recalls the ancient myth of Arcadia, a symbol of harmony and beauty, reimagined here as a metaphor for an experience that is both removed from the urban frenzy and deeply immersed in Naples’ vitality. Each space is conceived as a sensory journey, where design, craftsmanship, and culture interact in balance, creating atmospheres that blend comfort, functionality, and emotion.
The design philosophy
The Arcadia Napoli project embodies Francesco Della Femina’s design philosophy: scenographic yet never excessive, measured yet deeply evocative. Craftsmanship plays a central role, shaping bespoke furniture and details in collaboration with long-standing artisans. The choice of materials like brass, marble and the use of fine fabrics becomes a medium to express elegance and durability. The three en-suite rooms each offer a different atmosphere but share the same hallmark: tailor-made design and meticulous attention to detail. This approach transforms a simple stay into a cultural and emotional experience, where every element is carefully curated to create beauty, intimacy, and timeless sophistication.
Mito
“Mito” is the room inspired by feminine charm and the myth of the sirens. Antique pink walls and a bronze ceiling embrace guests in an elegant, refined atmosphere enriched with marble, brass, and velvet. Every piece was designed by Francesco Della Femina: the antiqued mirror with brass details, bronzed brass bedside tables with pink marble tops, the “Cubing” brass chandelier, and soft pink velvet armchairs. An art photograph of Capri’s Faraglioni completes the narrative, evoking the mythological marine world. The result is an intimate and sophisticated space, poetic in character and timeless in its refined balance of design and storytelling.
Medina
The “Medina” room transports guests to the atmospheres of the Mediterranean and Morocco. The “Medina” wallpaper by Cole & Son and a handcrafted Moroccan pendant lamp create geometric plays of light and shadow across the surfaces. The colors, powder blue and bronze, enhance the warm and welcoming mood. The hexagonal bedside tables, designed by the architect, draw inspiration from Moorish architecture, reinforcing the theme. This intimate space evokes distant travels while resonating with Naples’ own Mediterranean history, offering a sensory encounter between cultures. The result is a room where tradition and design weave a harmonious and evocative dialogue.
Museo
The “Museo” room is a theatrical tribute to the great classical museums. Deep Hague Blue walls contrast with white vaulted ceilings, creating a powerful scenographic effect. Behind the bed, a trompe l’œil depicting a museum hall becomes the focal point, while framed images of classical statues enrich the entrance. Every piece of furniture is bespoke: from bedside tables to the wardrobe, culminating in a refined brass-and-leather vanity desk. This environment transports guests into an intimate journey through classical art, turning the stay into a theatrical experience, where one moves as a protagonist within the evocative atmosphere of a private museum.
