It's Official: 'Hotel Portofino' Is Coming Back for Season 3

While I'm still wishing Sanditon had gone on for a few more seasons, I am happy to see Miss Scarlet will be back for a fifth season and that Masterpiece's summer hit, Hotel Portofino, returns for a third season. Parade has the exclusive details about the season 3 premiere, including some first look images for the upcoming season! Take a look!

What is Hotel Portofino about?

Hotel Portofino takes place in the mid-1920s and follows the Ainsworth family after they relocate from England to the Italian coastal city of Portofino to open an upscale hotel. This period drama takes place after World War I when the world is in a global post-war upheaval. The charming Italian seaside town with its warm climate and enchanting culture and townspeople provides the perfect respite for the elite British traveler.

Fun fact: Almost all of the wardrobe in Hotel Portofino is authentic period garb, down to the shoes and jewelry. In some cases, they had to find extras that would fit the costumes instead of fitting the costumes to the actor.

When does Hotel Portofino Season 3 premiere?

Hotel Portofino Season 3 premieres Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS with episodes dropping weekly on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET through Sept. 1.

Where did the first season of Hotel Portofino leave off?

*Spoiler warning* If you haven't watched Season 1, stop reading and head to the PBS app to catch up. By the Season 1 finale of Hotel Portofino, Lucian (Oliver Dench) had proposed to Rose (Claude Scott-Mitchell), Constance's (Louisa Binder) secret was exposed and Bella (Natascha McElhone) had refused to accept Cecil's (Mark Umbers) gesture of supposed goodwill.

What happened in Season 2 of Hotel Portofino?

*Spoiler warning* If you haven't watched Season 2, stop reading and head to the PBS app to catch up.

Created and written by Matt Baker and directed by Adam Wimpenny, Season 2 of Hotel Portofino begins in the summer of 1927. Bella is still devoting her energy to Hotel Portofino, which has overcome early troubles and is starting to flourish. Aside from her hotel duties, Bella is concerned for her children—Lucian, whose marriage to Rose might be facing trouble, and Alice (Olivia Morris), who needs a break from her responsibilities at the hotel. Bella’s husband, Cecil, had not been seen since returning to England at the end of the previous summer. With Cecil’s unannounced return to Portofino, the messy private lives of her children and a visit from a travel guide that could make or break the hotel’s future, Bella does her utmost to keep all the plates spinning.

What can we expect in season 3 of Hotel Portofino?

Bella is preparing for her father and sister’s arrival but is thrown off when Cecil appears requesting a divorce. Over the weeks, Bella must decide her future as well as avoid fascist leader Danioni (Pasquale Esposito). But with the Wall Street stock market crash, things get worse and Bella and Cecil lose everything. Dark secrets are exposed during another adventure on this sun-soaked 1920s Italian drama.

Meet the Hotel Portofino cast

Natascha McElhone (Bella Ainsworth)

Bella Ainsworth is co-owner of Hotel Portofino with her husband, Cecil, and the spirit behind the family’s Italian adventure. Bella has persuaded her father to lend Cecil and her the money to buy and renovate the hotel, believing the fresh start it represents will help her family recover from the traumas of World War I and give her a chance to save her marriage. She is determined to succeed and subsequently finds liberation for herself and others in the novelty of Italy’s climate, cuisine and culture.

McElhone is probably best recognized for her roles on The Truman Show, Californication and Designated Survivor. She currently stars as Dr. Halsey in HALO, the TV series based on the popular video game, on Paramount+.

Fun fact: McElhone was a judge in 2021 for The Booker Prize and had to read literally hundreds of books in a span of months for consideration of the top prize.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About the Paramount+ series, HALO.

Mark Umbers (Cecil Ainsworth)

Cecil Ainsworth, co-owner of Hotel Portofino and Bella's husband, has been excused from active duty in WWI (though he fought in the Boer War) and has gradually lost patience and sympathy with the scars the conflict has left on his children. As the youngest son of an upper-class family, Cecil’s overriding concern is money, and he is constantly initiating ill-advised schemes to fund his dilettante lifestyle.

Umbers previously appeared on shows such as Mistresses, Collateral and Home Fires.

Oliver Dench (Lucian Ainsworth)

Lucian Ainsworth, Bella and Cecil’s son, enlisted at 18 in the last months of the war but was immediately injured and removed from the front line. Physically and mentally scarred by his experiences, Lucian is slowly recovering under the benign influence of Italy. A talented artist, last season saw Lucian organizing painting lessons and artistic excursions for the guests. Though he would have loved to stay in Italy, pressure from his father forced Lucian to get engaged to someone he doesn't love and return to England to take up a proper career. This season, Lucian finds his way back to Italy and to the woman who truly holds his heart.

Fun fact: If you're wondering if he's related to another actor named Dench, then wonder no more: Dame Judi Dench is his great-aunt.

Related: Everything We Need to Know About Sanditon Season 3

Olivia Morris (Alice Mays-Smith)

Alice Mays-Smith is Bella and Cecil’s daughter and the widowed mother of a 6-year-old girl, Lottie, whose father was killed during the war. Alice knows her chances of marrying again are slim, given the lack of available men of the right age and standing. She is unable to live independently on the small income her husband has left her. Religious and class-conscious, she is frustrated with her lot and has mixed feelings about Italy but is gradually seduced by the charms of Italian culture. Count Albani (Daniele Pecci) admires her and is most certainly in love with her. Will she accept his invitations?

Lily Frazer (Claudine Pascal)

Claudine Pascal epitomizes modern womanhood and is liberated by the social changes the war has unleashed and thus takes charge of her destiny.

Fun fact: Frazer is actually British and is a country music fan.

Louisa Binder (Constance March)

Constance March is a young woman from a humble background who arrives to take up a role as Lottie’s nanny and general help around the hotel. She is determined to liberate herself from her unpromising beginnings through an open mind and relentless self-improvement, escaping personal misfortune and seeking adventure and a fresh start in Italy. She and Lucian share an attraction almost from the very beginning.

Fun fact: This is Binder's first regular series role.

Pasquale Esposito (Signor Danioni)

Signor Danioni is Deputy Chairman of the Communal Council. He makes it his business to know the business of everybody connected to the hotel while trying to profit from it.

How many episodes of Hotel Portofino are there?

There are six episodes each in the first two seasons of Hotel Portofino. Season 3 will also contain six episodes for a total of 18 episodes.

How many seasons of Hotel Portofino are there?

There are currently two seasons of Hotel Portofino, with the third season set to premiere in July.

Where did Hotel Portofino film?

Hotel Portofino filmed mainly in Croatia.

Where can I watch Hotel Portofino?

You can watch Hotel Portofino on PBS or through the PBS app with a Passport subscription. The second season of Hotel Portofino will have a linear broadcast on PBS and will also be available to stream on Passport and PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel on Amazon.

Is there a trailer for season 3 of Hotel Portofino?

Not yet, but keep an eye out for updates!

Will there be a season 4 of Hotel Portofino?

No official announcement has been made by PBS regarding a fourth season of Hotel Portofino.

Take a look at images from season 3 of Hotel Portofino

Check out these select images from season 3 of Hotel Portofino.

View the 13 images of this gallery on the original article

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