10 Bucket List-Worthy Italian Hotels

We’ve checked into a handful of these hotels—and quite frankly, we didn’t want to check out. A trip to Italy is a life-changing event in and of itself, but a stay at one of these jaw-dropping spots would turn it into something else entirely. Here, a bucket list of 10 amazing Italian hotels.

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• Aman Canal Grande Venice, Venice

  Sited on the Grand Canal, the just opened Palazzo Papadopoli-turned-Aman-resort looks hands-down insane: Built in the 16th century, it’s surrounded on both sides by gardens, and topped by ceilings painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. All in, it’s clearly a total once-in-a-lifetime hotel.

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• Capri Palace Hotel & Spa, Capri

  While the opulent, chintz-bedecked Grand Hotel Quisisana takes up a lot of the local oxygen, we much prefer this chic little hotel. The food is delicious (the on-site restaurant has two Michelin stars), the spa is fantastic, and you can walk down the hill to get sandals handmade in Capri at the city’s best shoemaker.

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• Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino

  Situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Val D’Orcia, this centuries-old estate south of Siena is truly incredible: Beyond the fact that you walk amidst the remnants of walls from the 1100s, it’s surrounded by Brunello di Montalcino vineyards, there’s a world-class golf course, on-site truffle hunting, and the food is unbelievable. There’s a fancy restaurant, but there’s also a casual pizzeria—and kitchens in the villas where you can feast on bread and incomparably sweet tomatoes.

• Photos by Roberto Patti

• Faro Capo Spartivento, Sardinia

  Sardinia’s oldest lighthouse (built in 1856) is now home to a small, luxury hotel, which is set apart on a promontory that’s only accessible via the hotel’s shuttle. The wild, untouched setting is as gorgeous as the panoramic views of the sea. It’s intimate enough (six junior suites in total, along with two cottages set apart on the property that are topped with glass roofs) that you chat with the chef each day about what you’d most like to eat—and then you can take those meals in the open-air. Abutted by white sand beaches, the property offers snorkeling, scuba diving, along with mountain bikes and the option to ride horses up and down the coast.

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• Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Sicily

  There’s an ancient Greek ampitheater at its back, and unobstructed views of the ocean and Mount Etna at its front, making this a pretty stunning place to rest your head while you tour Sicily.

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• Hotel Caruso, Amalfi Coast

  As if its location in an 11th-century palace weren’t enough, this hotel literally sits above Ravello, with stunning views of the sea at its feet. They offer daily boat rides around the Amalfi Coast (or to Positano), or you can linger in the infinity pool perched above the city.

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• Hotel Splendido, Portofino

  This wonderfully old-world classic—which has the most epic views in the most amazing location—is the sort of place where every need is anticipated. When we were last here, we arrived really late—within 10 minutes they brought up the perfect plate of spaghetti pomodoro and a glass of red wine.

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• Il Pellicano, Tuscany

  Situated along the Tyrrhenian Sea, this former guest house—built in the 1960s by an American socialite and a British soldier (the sole survivor of a crash in Africa in the ‘50s that had captured the heiress’s attention and heart)—still feels like you’re checking in with friends. It’s tasteful, wonderful, and low-key, and boasts stunning views of the sea.

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• Locanda San Vigillo, Lake Garda

  This isn’t the fanciest hotel on the list, but we hear that it’s incredibly special and cool: It sits on the stunning Lake Garda, the restaurant focuses on seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, and its close to Verona, one of the cultural hearts of Italy.

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• Belmond Villa San Michele, Florence

  This is one of those hotels that manages to make itself the destination, rather than Florence—while the city is within striking distance (15-minutes away by car), you won’t really want to leave the hotel’s gorgeous terraced gardens, stunning city views, and chic suites. The villa—which dates back to the 15th century—used to be a monastery, and it is said that Michelangelo carved its façade.