Grand Hotel Pigna is the focus of a transformative redevelopment by Alex Kravetz Design, reimagining a former four-star thermal spa hotel as a refined five-star medical wellness retreat. The project comprises the complete renovation of the existing 10,000m² property, reducing the key count from 96 to 68 to create generous, premium accommodations, including Presidential and Diplomatic Suites.
At the heart of the scheme is a 5,000m² medical and thermal spa, drawing on onsite thermal, mineral, and mountain water sources. Guests will benefit from organic cuisine, advanced diagnostics, and tailored wellness programmes within a calm alpine setting. With full support from local authorities and all property and land transactions completed, Grand Hotel Pigna represents a rare investment opportunity in a strategic Riviera location poised to become a benchmark destination for health and wellness tourism.
The hotel is located in Pigna, a historic village in the Ligurian mountains of northwest Italy, approximately 20 km from the Ligurian coast. Set within a natural amphitheatre of forests, waterfalls, and protected Alpine landscapes, the site offers exceptional seclusion and natural beauty. Liguria is renowned for its Mediterranean climate, cultural depth, and dramatic scenery, with convenient access to key destinations including Monte Carlo and Monaco within one hour, San Remo within one hour, Nice International Airport at 70 km, and Genoa Airport at 180 km, ensuring effortless connectivity for guests seeking both tranquillity and proximity to major cultural and leisure destinations.
Pigna’s medieval village is characterised by a radial urban layout, cobbled alleys, and stone architecture, and has been famed for its therapeutic thermal springs since Roman times. The hotel is situated close to two national parks, offering hiking, mountain biking, and nature-based retreats, alongside access to three natural water sources and panoramic views of mountains, waterfalls, and forested slopes. The immediate surroundings reflect the area’s medieval origins, with narrow winding streets, terraced stone houses, arches, vaults, and thick defensive walls that speak to its historic role as a strategic guard post throughout the centuries.
This enchanting region was immortalised by Claude Monet, who arrived on the Western Ligurian coast in 1884 and encountered a landscape unlike any he had previously captured. From the palm-lined slopes of Bordighera to the medieval villages overlooking the Val Nervia, he described it as “a fairy-tale land… everything here is magnificent, and I want to paint it all.” The tranquil towns of Pigna and Castel Vittorio still preserve the interplay of light, colour, and geometry that inspired Monet’s Ligurian works, and the valley remains remarkably unchanged, retaining the serenity and timeless beauty that sparked his imagination. Today, visitors can trace the very paths he once walked, experiencing the same luminous vistas, terraced hillsides, and crystalline air that shaped his artistic vision – an atmosphere that continues to draw artists, writers, and travellers seeking quiet inspiration.
Regulatory and heritage compliance is central to the redevelopment, with alignment to EU regional frameworks and support from the Ligurian regional government. The project targets leading sustainability certifications including LEED, WELL, BREEAM, and Green Globe, while strictly respecting historic fabric and external character. Guided by a philosophy of “Life Through Design,” the approved concept merges luxury, wellness, sustainability, and cultural sensitivity, transforming Grand Hotel Pigna into a premier destination for health, balance, and renewal, and re-establishing the valley as a beacon of cultural and ecological stewardship, inspiring future generations.
