The Latest on Luxury Hotels in Italy

By Mike Hickey Mar 26, 2018 10:40am

A number of hotel openings and renovations have been announced all over Italy in cities such as Como and Rome, as well as in the regions of Puglia, Sardinia and Tuscany. Plus, hotel collections like the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) have added Italian properties to their portfolios. Here is the latest on luxury hotels in Italy.

Vista Palazzo Lago di Como

Slated to debut in June, this luxury hotel will be the fourth from the family-owned-and-operated Italian hotel brand Lario Hotels. The new hotel — a renovated 19th-century lakeside Venetian-style palazzo located in the city of Como— will have 18 rooms and suites, each with large, Italian marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and separate showers. The property will also provide views of the lake throughout — the best of which will be from the guest-only rooftop restaurant, bar and library.

The 22-seat Sottovoce restaurant will serve traditional local cuisine. The bar will have an outdoor space, ideal for enjoying a prosecco or regional wine at sunset. Guests can also reserve a private chef to prepare dinner in their suite.

Guests get a personal concierge who can book private dinners, inform guests of cultural and social events, organize private visits to museums, book a table at restaurants in Como, and more.

Vista Palazzo Lago di Como will become one of six hotels on Lake Como to remain open year-round. Guests can take advantage of the several ski resorts located within two hours of the property, which can be reached by public and private transportation.

Hotel Hassler Roma

After a three-week closure in January, Hotel Hassler Roma, located atop the Spanish Steps, has debuted its updated Presidential Suite San Pietro, which received the latest furniture and fabrics while maintaining much of its original style. The bed was shifted, so now guests can view the whole suite without having to get up.

The property reduced the number of rooms from 92 to 91 but created eight suites (there were 13; now 21). The updated suites have elegant living rooms and bedrooms with walk-in closets and marble bathrooms.

A number of public spaces in the hotel were refurbished as well. The entrance and lobby were outfitted with new Botticino marble flooring and upholstery, and the concierge and reception desks are now finished in brown with golden foil decorations. Additionally, Salone Eva, the all-day dining bistro, and Sala Vietri, the lobby lounge / bar, received new mirrors, lighting and upholstery. The small gate at the entrance of Salone Eva, which has been part of the hotel for over 50 years, has been gilded again with gold leaves.

Castello di Ugento

This new hotel in Puglia in the southern tip of Italy is house in a 17th century castle that’s been in the d’Amore family for almost four centuries. Left empty for decades, the castle underwent a four-year, €10 million-restoration project ($12,429,100) and reopened in October.

The castle is now a cultural destination as it is home to both an extensive art collection and the Puglia Culinary Centre, overseen by star chef Odette Fada, who has appeared on Top Chef Masters and is considered one of the best Italian international chefs. This is an exclusive partnership with the Culinary Institute of America, and the only such collaboration outside of the United States. Classes can be fully customized and cover Italian cuisine and wine pairings.

The restaurant Il Tempo Nuovo serves fresh fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden, also planted with medicinal herbs, and underground, the 500-year-old cistern now houses a wine cellar where tastings take place.

There are only nine rooms and suites, decorated with a mix of antiques, bespoke walnut armoires and contemporary pieces from Italian designers like Cassina, Poltrona Frau, Minotti, Ceccotti and B&B Italia. Plus, the property showcases restored frescoes, aromatic walled gardens, and a museum wing hosting temporary art exhibitions.

Castello di Casole

Belmond — a collection of hotel and luxury travel adventures around the globe, formerly known at Orient-Express — has acquired the Castello di Casole in Tuscany. With rose gardens, an outdoor infinity pool, antique furnishings, and a spa housed in the vaulted wine cellar, this historic castle hotel provides a secluded luxury experience.

Belmond plans to inject $9 million into the 39-room, 4,200-acre property over the next four years, bringing the total room count to 41 along with two new luxury villas. The Castello di Casole is located just 40 minutes from Siena and an hour from Florence, meaning guests have the opportunity to explore Tuscany during their stay.

Belmond currently has seven Italian properties in its portfolio including the Belmond Villa San Michele in Florence, Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, and Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

SLH recently added a number of hotels in the Americas and Europe to its collection of properties, including New York, Spain, Greece, and Italy. The newly added hotels in Italy include:

Villa Eden The Leading Park Retreat

SLH has added the Villa Eden in Merano, a property that puts a focus on the health and wellness, whether it be a relaxing trip or a more immersive retreat. There is a dedicated team of spa therapists and medical professionals that can help to plan bespoke programs focused on guests’ specific health and wellness goals. There is also a pool with Alpine views, yoga classes and bikes available to explore the countryside and town. The restaurant features dishes from South Tyrol, with an option for tailored nutrition plans.

Hotel Vilòn

This hotel in the heart of Rome is a short trip away from the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and the shopping district. The revived historic mansion in the Campo Marzio neighborhood used to be a convent and dates back to the mid-16th century, when it was known as the "House annexed to Palazzo Borghese.”

Throughout the property, guests will find marble bathrooms, velvet furnishings, and elegant works of art – hallmarks of architect and designer Paolo Bonfini. Guests looking to explore Rome can contact the concierge to arrange tailor-made sightseeing trips and exclusive transport.

Villa di Piazzano

This historic, family-run estate, dating back to 1464, is located in the countryside just outside Cortona, a town on the border between Tuscany and Umbria. Originally the hunting lodge of Cardinal Passerini, the Renaissance country estate in the hills has been restored to provide "down-to-earth luxury" to guests.

La Villa del Re

Located on the waters of the Costa Rei beach on the southeast coast of Sardinia, La Villa del Re is an adults-only luxury beach resort surrounded by Mediterranean gardens. The beach resort’s design is inspired by traditional Sardinian architecture, while its rooms fuse contemporary comfort with Italian style. Guests can enjoy the outdoor infinity pool, or relax on the terrace.

Il Melograno

Set in an ancient olive grove in Puglia, this country estate is considered throughout Italy as the first masseria (a fortified farmhouse used to protect Puglia’s rich produce from Saracens) to open its doors to guests. The chef at the 400-year-old property uses ingredients grown in the hotel’s own garden and fresh fare from the Adriatic Sea. The estate also owns 200 protected olive trees and produces its own Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Guests can learn the traditional Apulian pizzica or tarantella dance, sign up for the hotel’s olive oil tasting session, or sight see via vintage car, Cinquecento, or by Vespa.