La Dolce Vita
is our history
Our History
The 1950s and '60s
The name La Canzone del Mare (Song of the Sea) was inspired by the legendary songs of the Sirens in the Odyssey. While Ulysses sailed past the rocks off the shores of an island many identify as Capri, he had himself tied to the mast by his sailors so he could safely hear the spellbinding songs of the magical Sirens, who would lure sailors to their deaths with the sound.
La Canzone del Mare is an important landmark in the history of Capri, the setting for one of the most vibrant and glamorous decades on the island between the 1950s and '60s. Celebrities would flock to the island and spend their summer days basking in the sun around the pool on sun beds and deck chairs.
Romances would begin and end in a single summer here, business deals would be made by vacationing industrialists, and fashion trends like Capri pants and the then-scandalous bikini would be launched. Guests today still enjoy the mix of glamour and leisure for which La Canzone del Mare has been known for more than 50 years.
Gracie Fields
La Canzone del Mare was built on the site of a historic fort set directly into the coastal cliffs by the English singer Gracie Fields, who spent the later years of her life on Capri and was able to overcome a serious illness on this magical island.
La Canzone del Mare was designed to be an exclusive and luxurious location where the singer could retreat and entertain friends surrounded by luxury and entertainment..
One of the singer's most famous hits, of course, was the 1934 "The Isle of Capri" written by Jimmy Kennedy arranged by Will Grosz, which describes a passionate love story that begins at the end of summer under the sky and moonlight of Capri.
