Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

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.

This luxurious hotel makes full use of its historical architecture will provide guests with a wide range of lavish amenities and facilities. The emphasis here is on pure relaxation and there are plenty of different areas where guests are invited to simply unwind such as in the solarium and the well-stocked reading room. The large Spanish garden is set with orange groves and olive trees and is a pretty place to take a stroll and work up an appetite before heading to the terrace to indulge in a delicious meal at the Michelin-starred onsite restaurant.

Arrive via Aman Venice’s private jetty into the gardens that lead down to the water. Built in the 16th century, this was once the Palazzo Papadopoli, a grand Baroque masterpiece which retains its original frescoes to this day. The decor is Neo-Renaissance and very opulent, its 24 bedrooms balancing this period grandeur with the modern niceties like Bang & Olufsen flatscreen TVs and Nespresso coffee makers (as this was the first building in the city to get electricity, it’s fitting that it should include some cutting-edge gadgets). Aman Venice has a small spa, Arva restaurant, a bar and a library stacked with books, board games and puzzles.

NH Collection Genova Marina provides deluxe accommodation in the heart of Genoa. There are 140 guestrooms made up of comfortable, contemporary rooms and suites which offer beautiful views, optional balconies and adjoining rooms. There is a spacious dining terrace where guests can dine alfresco overlooking the busy harbour. The hotel’s ideal location makes exploring a breeze while the hotel offers a high-tech gym for guests to get active from the comfort of the hotel. There is plenty of space available on-site for hosting any kind of event thanks to the state-of-the-art business equipment and wedding and event planning staff. There are dining options available at all times of the day thanks to 24-hour room service and the child-friendly selection ensures there is something for everyone. The on-site restaurant, Il Gozzo, is sure to impress with its array of modern and traditional Italian specialties.

Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita is located in the historic Apennine Village in Matera. The hotel is located on the oldest part of the dwellings and faces the spectacular rock-hewn churches and Murgia Park. The hotel offers rooms and suites set into caves, a massage room, excursions into the nearby scenic areas, seaside excursions as well as local wine tasting and Italian bread making courses. You can stay in any of their 18 elegantly furnished rooms all with a traditional touch.

The only 5-star hotel in the Riva Del Garda area, this elegant building from the late 1800s was originally built as a retreat for the well-heeled. The exterior is maintained in its original style, while the interior has undergone major refurbishment, providing a seamless blend of ancient and modern styling. Although located in the centre of the captivating little town of Riva Del Garde, once inside the hotel and its extensive gardens you are surrounded by a serene sense of calm. With two high quality restaurants, and a comprehensively equipped spa and fitness centre, including a Turkish bath, it is the ideal venue to relax and re-charge the batteries.

Hotel Cala di Volpe is found in one of the most popular areas for tourists, known as the Emerald Coast. It takes the form of a village, with its jetty stretching out into the water and was originally designed by Jacques Couelle’s in the 1960s. Boasting a barbecue area, an Olympic-size saltwater pool, direct access to the sea and 121 bedrooms with private terraces, it provides ample opportunity to enjoy the alfresco life. Hotel Cala di Volpe’s Shiseido Spa is uber-modern – fewer than three years old – and the restaurant, Le Grand, provides unrestricted water views.

While dating back to the 18th century, the interior of this property exudes a chic Riviera-style decor. And you can soak up plenty of that Italian sunshine, with an onsite garden (in which you can breakfast) and rooftop terrace, the latter providing loungers and drinks service. Guests can also take it easy, with some time in the wellness suite; it has a sauna, steam room, experience shower and treatment rooms. Hotel Palazzo has 32 bedrooms, including a two-bedroom suite, and is a very short stroll from the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo (one of the foremost mosaic sites).

Four Seasons gives travellers a chance to experience the magic of some of the oldest yet most fascinating cities in the world. It is located in the northern stretch, right at the nexus between the Old Florence suburbs of the nineteenth century and those of the twentieth century. While sitting in the vast tranquil garden, you get to enjoy a panoramic view of numerous historic buildings in Florence. As you step into the stucco-decorated lobby, you are welcomed into a modern and upscale abode furnished with extravagant silk, velvet, marble, and antique décor. The suites are elegantly decorated in Renaissance style. Other luxurious amenities offered here include a state-of-the-art spa with 10 treatment rooms, a pool, steam room and fitness centre for health enthusiasts. For a taste of some of the world’s best cuisines, you can visit the Michelin-starred Il Palagio found within the premise.

Clinging to the cliffs below the main coastal road, this family-owned hotel has achieved legendary status since its opening in 1970. Popular with celebs like Gregory Peck, Peter O’Toole, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, King of Jordan, and more recently Julia Roberts and George Clooney., the San Pietro is suitably glamorous, but discreetly so. The star dust from the fabulous regulars mixed with the attention to detail and friendly service characteristic in a family-run affair, creates an ideal luxury hotel. Facilities here are second to none with everything you would want on site from private boat hire and a Michelin-starred restaurant to a private beach and tennis courts. The rooms and suites echo Positano’s set-up as they graduate down the cliff side in a series of terraces, each with its own private outside space and of course, stunning sea views. Décor is fresh and vibrant with white walls, hand-painted ceramic tiles, and bright textiles in Mediterranean-inspired colours. 

Stay in Bologna’s oldest hotel, just yards from the historic centre. Housed in a Palazzo created by architect Alfonso Torregiani in the 18th century, its build was ordered by a Cardinal who went on to become Pope. Inside are 109 bedrooms, reflecting the property’s past, in antique furnishings and an opulent Regency style of decor. The restaurant serves traditional Northern Italian cuisine with wines from the Grand Hotel Majestic’s own huge cellar and features original frescoes. Guests also have access to a terrace bar, a cocktail lounge with piano music and a spa.

Boasting two Michelin stars, The Piccolo Principe is this establishment’s destination restaurant and sits opposite the seafront. There’s a further dining room, Maitò Viareggio, on the top floor. Both exude five-star elegance and tables are in demand. Located on Pisa’s edge, on the coastal road, guests can combine a historic city trip and a lido break in one (those staying can use the exclusive Teresita Beach club with hotel service). Rooms and suites are neutral and simple, yet plush and deeply refined. The spa includes a Thermarium, Kneipp water-treading pool and Blue Sun tanning shower. The Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte also accepts feline/canine guests.