Seatmates: The Avino Sisters
On pink suitcases, Valentino vintage, and building one of the Amalfi Coast’s most iconic hotels
This interview is part of Seatmates, a Window Seat series where tastemakers and creatives share how they move through the world—what they pack, where they stay, and the travel rituals that shape their lives.
Few hotels feel as instantly recognizable as Palazzo Avino. The pink facade, the striped umbrellas, the martini bar with 100 variations, the sense of romance suspended above the Amalfi Coast. Perched dramatically on a cliffside in Ravello, the Pink Palace has become one of Italy’s most beloved properties not simply because it is beautiful, but because it feels deeply personal. Sisters Mariella and Attilia Avino have spent years infusing the hotel with their own sensibilities, transforming a legendary family property into a layered world of art, fashion, vintage treasures, emotional memory, and unmistakable Italian glamour.
Read on to learn how Palazzo Avino became infused with “pink soul,” why memorable hotels are about emotion, not perfection, and what escape actually looks like for two hoteliers.
Tell us a little about yourself.
MA: I am a dreamer with a rational side. I live for beauty and love creating beauty around me. I love design and its different shades. I am a food lover, passionate about traditional recipes and ingredients. I love art and the way it makes me feel, although I am not an art expert. I love fashion; I think it is a strong art manifested in so many ways. I am a vintage ceramics collector and vintage clothing collector. I am obsessed with Valentino vintage pieces. I indulge in research in so many ways.
AA: I live between the rhythm of the hotel and the Amalfi Coast, where I was born and where I still feel most at home. At Palazzo Avino, I work across Sales and Marketing, but in a family property, the roles are never really fixed. You end up being part of so many different stories, from the guest experience to the way the hotel is seen around the world. What matters most to me is authenticity. I love beautiful things, but I am more drawn to places that have a soul. For me, hospitality is not just about perfection. It is about emotion, memory, and what people carry with them after they leave.
Your father built a successful hotel. You built a pink palace with a boutique, an art program, and a martini bar with 100 variations. At what point did Palazzo Avino stop being his and really become yours?
MA: When I started working at Palazzo Avino, back in 2010, it was the magnificent property it is but there was an imprint missing, a more personal touch. Thanks to my family who gave me support and trust, I was able year after year to infuse my soul in it from art to design to the food proposal, from the color palette to the umbrellas, from the boutique to the tableware. I was able to really make it the home I have always dreamt of and of course, more and more the sweet giant (what I call the Pink Palace) became full of pink soul!
AA: I don’t think it ever did. In many ways it will always carry his vision, his courage, his instinct. What changed over time is that we started adding our own layers to that story.
You have different titles and presumably different instincts. When you travel together, who's in charge?
MA: I am in charge of restaurants and shopping blitzes of course!
AA: I am the practical one, so I’m in charge of not getting lost!
You grew up on one of the most coveted coastlines in the world and never really left. Does that make you more appreciative of a place when you travel, or has it made you harder to impress?
MA: I did live between Rome, Milan and Lausanne before heading back home but there is no other place I would love to live!
AA: Probably both. Growing up here gives you a strong sense of beauty, but it also teaches you that beauty alone is never enough. The Amalfi Coast is extraordinary, but what makes a place unforgettable is the feeling it gives you.
You spend the entire season curating other people's idea of escape. What does escape actually look like for you?
MA: I love being home! But I also love to travel to exotic destinations! India was one of my favorite trips, and I cannot wait to go back!
AA: Silence, mostly. The season is intense, full of people and movement and decisions. So when I escape, I want something very simple. Being at home with my cat, a good book. That’s enough.
What’s been your most memorable stay?
MA: Singita Boulders in South Africa
AA: San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel. For me, a stay becomes memorable to me when I can still remember the scent, the light, the breakfast, how I felt in the room, and the people who made me feel genuinely welcome. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to stay with you
Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?
MA: Fogo Island Inn
AA: Japan!
What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?
MA: I am not an efficient traveler! I carry both a carry-on where I keep all my valuable items (bags!) and a checked bag. There are some pieces I cannot travel without: 1) my red lipstick by Mac; 2) a compact foundation by Mac 3) a mini bag where I carry my mobile and passport (I have a pink Mini Chanel which lately became my absolute must); 4) depending on the season, either Chanel ballerinas (I collect them!) or Valentino Boots
AA: Pink suitcase, always. My book of the moment, headphones, and a cap. I usually travel with at least one checked bag and a carry-on from Béis, plus my personalized Away carry-on. I like luggage that feels practical but still very me, and pink makes everything a little more fun. For my personal items I need something spacious. Book, headphones, beauty pouch, lip balm, hand cream, and all the things I convince myself I cannot live without.
What is your go-to airport outfit?
MA: I rarely wear jeans or a sweat suit, so I tend to keep my style even when traveling. I tend to use black more since it feels easier to match when traveling.
AA: Something comfortable with layers, because planes are always freezing. I usually go with black, but there’s always a touch of pink somewhere. Sneakers are non-negotiable when I travel. I want to feel easy and free to move, but still like myself.
Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?
MA: I barely eat—this is the only thing I do and I do prefer not connecting to the wi-fi. Airplanes are the only space where it feels normal not to get connected and I feel it is a mind opener. I can think a lot when I travel.
AA: Before every flight I send a message to my family group chat and to my closest friends. It has become a ritual, especially because I am not the most relaxed flyer. Once I sit down, I fasten my seatbelt, put on my headphones, and go straight to my playlist. Music helps me feel a little more grounded before takeoff.
Last question: aisle or window seat?
MA: On long flight window, on short flights aisle!
AA: Aisle, always. I like to pretend I have some control over the situation, even though I clearly don’t.
For more from the Avino sisters, you can follow Mariella and Atillia on Instagram. Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.
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Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.