Everybody loves Italy for its gorgeous art, picturesque landscape and delicious food, but nothing beats Italian hospitality. From north to south, the country is dotted with amazing properties that will warmly welcome you and take care of your every want and need.
We’ve found 11 new hotels that you’ll want to book as soon as you’re ready to return to Italy:
San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel, Sicily
San Domenico has history. Ever since its 1896 opening, everyone who’s anyone has stayed here, including Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and silver-screen sirens Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. The hotel also gets its own time on the small screen, serving as the backdrop for season two of HBO’s White Lotus. Built on the site of a late medieval monastery, San Domenico Palace was converted into a hotel at the turn of the 19th century, only to be rebooted in 2021 by the Four Seasons. Its coveted perch with infinity pool and restaurant helmed by excellent chef Massimo Mantarro continue to make Taormina a must-visit.
Live up la dolce vita at the latest W. Two art nouveau palazzi link up for 162 guest rooms and suites that highlight Rome ieri, oggi e domani (“yesterday, today and tomorrow”) in design, with a lean toward 1970s Italian glamour. Bonus points for the secret garden, plunge pool and rooftop bar, which brings back some glitz to the Via Veneto neighborhood.
Portrait Milano — Lungarno Collection
Europe’s oldest seminary gets a facelift from the Ferragamos, the family of exquisite shoemaker/fashion icon Salvatore Ferragamo whose other properties include Forbes Travel Guide Five-Stars Portrait Firenze — Lungarno Collection and Portrait Roma — Lungarno Collection. The 1620 structure remains intact, with its baroque entrance opening to a nearly one-acre piazza surrounded by a double-colonnaded loggia. Debuting in the summer, the sprawling building also houses restaurants, a shopping arcade and more.
It’s a return to Capri lore with the summer reopening of the 200-year-old famed La Palma, the oldest hotel on the island. While the legendary property keeps its iconic whitewashed walls, frescoes by Roberto Ruspoli decorate the main ceiling and interiors, by designer Francis Sultana, pay homage to the hotel’s yesteryear tradition where artists would leave original works in the rooms.
Outfitted with 45 rooms and suites, each with awe-inducing, vertiginous views, Borgo Santandrea offers a scenic Amalfi getaway. The first luxury hotel to debut in the region in 15 years, Borgo Santandrea ticks the boxes for location (it’s in the beautiful fishing town of Conca dei Marini); design (mid-century Italian), of course; and color (a fresh palette of blues and whites).
Villa Igiea, Palermo, Sicily
Rocco Forte Hotels knows there is nothing quite like Palermo, which is why the family-run brand took over the city’s yesteryear icon Villa Igiea, an art nouveau palazzo overlooking the gulf. The tip-to-tail renovation includes a revamp of all interiors by Rocco Forte design stalwart Olga Polizzi, two stunning terrace restaurants under the watchful eye of chef Fulvio Pierangelini, and a heavenly spa decorated with hand-painted tiles and a menu of body treatments curated by Irene Forte Skincare.
This sumptuous palace in the island’s Arsenale neighborhood (think Biennale central) has Venice on its mind. With a neighborhood philosophy that focuses on sustainability and craftsmanship, Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola dreamed up 66 sumptuous suites and rooms with beautiful color and pieces by Venetian artists, from Murano glass to contemporary furniture. Its VERO restaurant stays true to Ca di Dio’s ethos with vegetables straight from the garden to create Venice-inspired dishes. Amenities include a spa and wellness area, and a sultry Alchemia Bar and Essentia Restaurant.
Il San Corrado di Noto, Sicily
Tucked in Sicily’s Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic former masseria (“farmhouse”) once was owned by Prince Nicolaci. The property is a restored 18th-century manor with 26 suites and eight pool villas. Wellness is a focus: Il San Corrado provides a spa, a tennis court and two swimming pools, including a vast 100-meter-long heated pool — one of Sicily’s largest.
Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino
Belmond revamped this famed Portofino hotel in 2021 and opens its doors on the legendary Piazzetta with a salute to 1950s glamour. Each of its 14 rooms and suites is a celebration of Italy’s golden age — lovely colors inspired by the Ligurian landscape, mid-century furniture and modern design. One suite is inspired by the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ava Gardner. Location is key, and the Splendido Mare has the most envious real estate on the harborfront.
Lakeside grandeur is the only requirement when staying at Lake Como, and no one does it better than Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which is why we can’t wait for the summer debut of sister property Passalacqua. The gorgeous 18th-century villa opens following an extensive renovation. Get ready for lakeside tennis, open-air cinema and a gym nestled in an olive grove.
Castello di Reschio, Umbria
It is a true-life fairytale — a medieval castle and fiefdom in the verdant landscape of Umbria. The Bolza family has been restoring the estate for nearly 30 years, and Count Benedikt Bolza has transformed the castle into a striking 36-room hotel with a blissful spa and all the delightful trappings, like a salt-water plunge pool and hammam. Reschio’s décor cross-pollinates traditional heritage architecture such as original stone walls with modern furniture and pieces from Umbrian artisans. The 3,700-acre backyard is the source for everything from the organic garden, vineyards and apiaries to all kinds of outdoor activities.
