Best Ultra Luxury Hotels in Italy

A former Dominican monastery, this 15th-century palazzo has been converted into a hotel, with views of the Mediterranean Sea, Mount Etna and its lush gardens. The double Michelin-starred Principe Cerami restaurant, serving exquisite Sicilian menus curated by Etna-born chef Massimo Mantarro, enjoys a romantic setting and is a real highlight of any stay here. Further amenities include a bar and a lounge, a large outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a spa offering treatments using organic products. The San Domenico Palace is within walking distance from the historic centre.

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. 

Brand new in 2023, Bulgari’s Rome residence had a glittering launch befitting the glamorous brand. It’s the second Bulgari hotel to arrive in Italy, spanning 151,000 square feet across six floors. Set on the Piazza Augusto Imperatore, it inhabits a grand 1930s-era building, with stunning views afforded from the chic alfresco terraces. Inside you’ll find lots of marble and hand-blown Murano glass. The spa seeks to evoke the aesthetic of ancient baths, with a columned pool, eight treatment rooms and a suite featuring an onyx bath. And there are five dining venues under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito.

Found on Giudecca island, the Cipriani is but a few minutes away from the tourist centre, accessed via the Belmond’s own luxe launch moored at the edge of its gorgeous gardens. Once on its grounds, you’ll find tennis courts, a 15th-century wing housing period bedrooms with butler service, a private marina and an expansive pool terrace that meets the Grand Canal. Offering lovely lagoon views as you sunbathe and swim, this area has an Olympic size pool, filled with seawater. Another highlight is its Michelin-starred formal restaurant, Oro. Those seeking a more laid-back ambience can dine lagoon or pool-side at two further eateries.

What was once a reef side fortress has been lovingly restored, to create a whitewashed ten-bedroomed boutique hotel right in Monopoli. Original features such as vaulted stone ceilings, fireplaces and limestone floors have been maintained, complimented by handicrafts, carved wood headboards and mod cons including hydro showers. The rooftop terrace is a romantic spot in which to savour some seasonal Puglian cuisine or take a dip in the little sea-view pool that’s sheltered by a rustic stone wall. Massages can be booked in-room or taken in a dedicated outdoor treatment area and breakfast is served in the 16th-century cellar.

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.

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.

Armani Hotel Milano is a 5-star escape and embodies the Milanese essence of sophistication and style. There are plenty of options when it comes to the spacious guestrooms and suites including private balconies and terraces and featuring the exclusive Armani Presidential Two-Bedroom Suite with its rooftop terrace and spectacular skyline views. Exquisite dishes are on offer at the incredible Armani/Ristorante and Armani/Bamboo Bar with its unique Alchemy of Flavours menu – designed to take guests on an unforgettable gastronomic journey. Serenity is achievable in this vibrant city thanks to the Armani/Spa and its sensational treatments. There is also a high-tech gym which is open 24 hours a day. Armani Hotel Milano prides itself on elegant event spaces for hosting anything from a business meeting to a private wedding celebration.

Walking into this sumptuous establishment is like wandering through the set of a lavish Hollywood set with plenty of decadent elements for guests to appreciate. Borgo Egnazia boasts two private beaches as well as four swimming pools and five international restaurants, each of which offers a variety of culinary adventures. Guests will find everything they need here for a holiday filled with the ultimate in pampering, including a Michelin-starred restaurant for food lovers and free daily yoga classes. The most luxurious villas here are elegantly furnished and feature private pools that are set in picturesque gardens.

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.

Belmond Villa San Michele is one of the priciest five-star hotels in Florence located in a serene woody hillside near the village of Fiesole. The hotel is established on a building that was once a Franciscan Monastery. Its currently weathered portico and imposing terrace are said to have been sculpted by the infamous Michelangelo. The peaceful gardens, as well as the massive pool bordered by a lush lawn, are perfect spots to unwind. Being a historical building, the rooms sport vaulted ceilings, bottle glass windows, and some rustic bedsteads. The main restaurant is designed with a veranda that offers a magnificent view of the city. The menu consists mainly of Tuscan dishes prepared by competent chefs.

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.