Best Historical Hotels in Italy

Built in 1874 and fully renovated in 2022, the Sina Bernini Bristol stands proudly overlooking the Piazza Barberini and its ornate Triton Fountain. This period grandeur continues inside, with Murano chandeliers, frescoes, silk textiles, travertine marble, damask and brocade. 166 bedrooms have a generous spread of bright colours — notably those in the contemporary Signature category. Relax at the WellBe spa and thermal suite, or over a slow meal at The Flair, the rooftop restaurant with dishes by Chef Alessandro Caputo. A second dining room is found on the first floor, enjoying views over the piazza.

Housed in a 17th-century residence and named after Count Goffredo Manfredi – one of Rome’s most influential public figures – Palazzo Manfredi is the ultimate luxury getaway in the heart of the city. This five-star boutique hotel is so close to the world’s most famous amphitheatre that you can practically hear the gladiators of old from within your suite. Not only does the hotel offer spectacular views over Rome’s ancient sites, it is only a two-minute walk from Colosseo Metro Station, making travelling to and from the hotel a breeze. Inside, first-class hospitality, elegance and impeccable service combine and are evident throughout its palatial suites and rooms, bar and restaurant including the Michelin Starred Aroma led by Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio. Check in to the Palazzo Manfredi for a truly unforgettable experience. Palazzo Manifred is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.

There aren’t many luxury accommodations in the whole of Rome that can top the sheer splendour of this multi-award-winning private townhouse hotel. J.K. Place is situated in the heart of the Eternal City and offers five-star accommodation that is within walking distance of the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and other places of interest. Each of the hotel’s 23 double rooms and seven suites was designed by world-renowned Italian architect, Michele Bonan, and decorated with upscale furniture by some of the best Italian artisans. The J.K. Roma experience is pet-friendly and features all the amenities that one would expect from a world-class hotel.

Imagine checking into a historic residence during your next visit to Rome, complete with elegant drawing rooms, regal bedrooms, a grand library, and genuine antique furnishings. Villa Spalletti Trivelli has all the bells and whistles to make you feel as though you were a guest at a stately home in the early 20th century, whilst simultaneously providing all the necessary modern amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. This five-star hotel doubles as an urban villa retreat and features a majestic Italian garden and relaxing spa to help guests unwind after a long day of sightseeing.

The friendly and multilingual staff of Aldrovandi Villa Borghese always treats their guests like royalty, which is very fitting, seeing as this five-star urban retreat is a former 19th century Umbertine palace. The hotel overlooks Villa Borghese and sports lush, English-style gardens, complete with water features and pavilions, that are sure to transport guests to a place of inner peace and tranquillity. On the inside, the suites absolutely ooze luxury with solid marble bathrooms, antique furnishings, and only the best amenities. Even though the hotel isn’t located in the city centre, the facilities more than make up, as guests can look forward to a spa, sauna, fitness centre, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

The glamorous Rocco Forte Hotel De Russie was established in 2000 and offers a luxury hospitality service to wide-eyed travellers from all around the world wanting to experience Rome in all its glory. The hotel is located on the historic Via del Babuino, only 50 metres from Piazza del Popolo, and is within walking distance of the city’s main tourist attractions, such as the Spanish Steps. Guests can expect top-notch amenities, as well as a host of activities that are sure to make their stay as comfortable and memorable as possible. These include a secret garden, restaurant, spa, and fitness centre.

In a central location with a water taxi stop right outside and a complimentary airport shuttle, this Hyatt hotel is a modern urban-style retreat. It has 119 bedrooms across eight categories, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and a bijou spa incorporating mood showers, a steam room and a sauna. Centric’s restaurant, Osteriva, is a unique highlight; here breakfast and dinner are served in a bioclimatic greenhouse. Or guests can dine overlooking Murano’s Canal Grande, in the Rivalonga Bar + Lounge — the latter takes the form of a peaceful, contemporary garden with frequent live music.

A short Vaporetto ride from the mainland (this hotel has its own private 4-berth pier on the lagoon), NH Collection Venezia Murano Villa provides super views from both of its terraces. Here you can enjoy a glass of wine or a full gourmet meal. But you can also dine indoors, in the modern urban style restaurant with its live cooking station. The hotel has a 24-hour gym, small spa and 104 airy modern bedrooms, all with Sleep Better Mattresses and coffee machines. NH Collection Venezia Murano Villa welcomes families (including your cats and dogs).

In a perfect location overlooking the Faraglioni rock formation, the villa was designed in 1920 by Le Corbusier for a Lombardy engineer. As the American military base during World War II, it hosted dignitaries like Eisenhower and Churchill, before becoming a summer home for the grandparents of the present owner. Converted into a hotel in 1973, it offers luxury accommodation and upgrades. Facilities include wellness packages, spa, gym area, and two swimming pools. Two restaurants serve Neapolitan fare, while a Gin Club and American Bar allow guests to take in the sunset over the bay.

Another establishment in the area of Anacapri, with its artisan shops and chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro, the hotel is steeped in history. First noted in 1850 as a private villa, it became an inn that served workers constructing the Capri-Anacapri road in the 1870s, and then a twentieth-century refuge for a Russian exile who added art and culture. Sold around the time of the Second World War to the family of the present owners, it is now a renowned five-star resort. Rooms retain a mix of antique and modern, but with state-of-the-art amenities. Facilities on-site include a fitness centre, spa, infinity swimming pool, entertainment and a shuttle service (a local bus service also passes by), with wine-tastings and cookery classes that have to be experienced! Guests can absorb the breath-taking views from the terrace and bar, or from the restaurant, which has its own kitchen-garden.

According to legend this hotel is built on a site which was once home to sirens, dangerous creatures who lured nearby sailors to shipwreck on the cliffs with their enchanting music and voices. Whilst you may see some beautiful people with flowing tresses around the hotel, it’s more likely the jet set and Hollywood A-listers these days. This flamboyant hotel is brilliantly OTT in a truly classic Italian way. Interiors are bold and vibrant, taking inspiration from the natural beauty of the surrounding Sorrento. The hotel’s not short on facilities either with a spa, a gym, manicured gardens, a library, a sunbathing platform, a restaurant, a bar, and a club lounge all on site. We would recommend the Superior Sea Rooms for their sophisticated Italian elegance, opulent chandeliers and antiques, and of course, those incredible views over the Gulf of Naples.

This 180-year-old 5-star hotel features 84 rooms and suites each unique in design with original period furniture and many with almost unbelievable seafront views. Originally founded by the Fiorentino family in 1834 as the Amalfi Coast Hotel, the hotel has had a long tradition of upholding warm Italian hospitality and this amazing service is still at the forefront of the business today. The location, on a high cliff near Sorrento town centre, is supposedly meant to be the site of Roman Emperor Augustus’ Amalfi coast villa. The property is surrounded by lush greenery and gardens, whilst the hotel also boasts a spa, a pool, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a top of the range gym. In terms of style, its elegant with a twist of opulence. There are plenty of original features including marble floors, stucco cupids above doorways, and intricate metal fretwork, whilst furnishings are also pretty traditional. Rooms are peppered with antiques, classical busts and ornamental vases. This one is truly fit for an emperor.