5 luxury hotels for a summer getaway in Italy

If there's one thing lockdown and pandemic have taught us, it's to rediscover the beauty of Italy by planning small trips, perhaps lasting a weekend, to cities full of culture and history like Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples. Opportunities to explore places other than inside our homes have become so rare in recent months that we turn every outing into a special event, so every detail is carefully curated, from the outfit we sport to the place we decide to stay. As in the best shot of Instagram, everything must be unique, perfect: from the location to the design of the lobby, from the view that you see from our room to the arrangement of furniture, from the menu of the restaurant where we will lunch to the tablescaping.

@italy.views

@is.but.a.dream

@insidemyrome

@thegrittipalace

@woman__streetstyles

@italians.traveling

@stefanotrentinella

@hotelpalazzoguadagni

@lungarnocollection

There are places where all these elements have been carefully studied to give a mix of comfort, sophistication and luxury. They are called Hotel Romeo, The Hoxton, Portrait, Aman Venice, Palazzo Parigi and they are the 5 luxury hotels to book to elevate the style of your getaway in Italy.

Aman - Venice

Where else in the world can you stay in sumptuous rooms frescoed by Tiepolo, amidst bas-reliefs, gilded decorations, silk walls, rococo works of art, contemporary furnishings and sparkling Murano glass chandeliers? And where, if not at the Aman Venice, can you take a break while sitting in the beautiful garden overlooking the Grand Canal, dine at Arva, a concept restaurant with the advice of chef Norbert Niederkofler, or enjoy delicious signature cocktails such as the famous Golden Martini prepared with vodka and tiny 24kt gold leaves in a bar inspired by Lord Byron? For all these things, but also for the spa specializing in holistic treatments, this hotel, located inside the splendid Palazzo Papadopoli, built in 1550 by the merchant family Coccina and then owned by the Savoia-Arrivabene, is the decadent and luxurious refuge beloved by George Clooney, Cindy Crawford, Bono Vox, Anna Wintour and many other celebrities.

Address: Palazzo Papadopoli, Calle Tiepolo 1364, Venice
Book here.

Palazzo Parigi - Milan

When the Ferragnez had just become parents to Leone and were waiting for their apartment in the City Life area to be done, they spent a month at the Palazzo Parigi in Milan. This 5-star hotel in the historic Brera district, five minutes from Via Montenapoleone and La Scala, is housed in the old 16th-century Palazzo Cramer and, as its name reveals, perfectly combines the style and elegance of both the French capital and the Italian city in which it is located. The glass roof is similar to that of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the mosaic floor recalls the decorations of Villa Reale, the pink Baveno marble columns pay homage to Milan's La Scala, while the interior details, curated by Pierre-Yves Rochon, have an undeniable esprit Parisienne. What makes this mash-up of two cultures even more special is the Grand Spa, a true oasis of relaxation, equipped with a large swimming pool, hammam, jacuzzi, sauna, fitness areas and rooms for body treatments with products by the Valmont beauty brand.

Address: Corso di Porta Nuova 1, Milan
Book here.

Portrait - Florence

Whenever they are in Florence, Ron Howard and Tom Cruise stay here, at the Portrait. This small hotel owned by the Ferragamo family (only 36 suites and studios) is a real jewel of refinement and timeless elegance, located on the Arno river near Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria. Once through the front door you are immersed in the dolce vita of the '50s, with original vintage artwork, handcrafted custom furniture, wood broken up by brass and marble accents and interiors in a discreet palette of gray and cream. The plus? The beautiful view of the city that you can enjoy from the windows of the rooms.

Address: Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli 4, Florence
Book here.

The Hoxton - Rome

Now there is a new place to be in Rome. It's called The Hoxton  and it's the first hotel in Italy by the English company Ennismore. The brand, an international leader in the hospitality and lifestyle sector, in collaboration with Fettle Design, has maintained the dusty pink facade as well as the original elements of the building, which dates back to the 1970s, and combined them with rustic parquet floors, lacquered beams, marble, lighting and vintage furnishings. Every detail has been carefully designed: from the lobby with its colorful sofas to the 192 rooms with their nostalgic interiors inspired by the rooms of the great classics of Italian cinema that made Rome famous, up to Cugino, the bar-cafeteria located on the ground floor of The Hoxton, born from the collaboration with the restaurant and micro-bakery Marigold, led by Sofie Wochner and Domenico Cortese. The result, recently opened, is a luxury retreat with a modernist design, a special location in the Parioli area where you can come back and relax after spending the day walking in the park of Villa Borghese, admiring the artworks exhibited at MACRO, walking down the steps of Trinità dei Monti or visiting the other wonders of the Eternal City. 

Address: Largo Benedetto Marcello 220, Rome
Book here.

Hotel Romeo - Naples 

Enjoy delicious cocktails by the infinity pool, have breakfast admiring Mount Vesuvius and the island of Capri, share a dish with friends at the Sushi bar, have a romantic dinner with your love in a Michelin-starred restaurant (Il Comandante) or look out the window of your room and be enchanted by the beauty of the sun setting over the Gulf of Naples. These are just a few of the unique moments that can be experienced by staying at Hotel Romeo, an oasis of luxury and comfort overlooking the city of Naples and rising with its wavy crystal lines where once there were the offices of ship-owner Achille Lauro, owner of the fleet of the same name. Inside, the building, which was completely redesigned by Kenzo Tange Associates, Hotel Romeo combines modern architecture, eclectic design with a permanent art collection (including pieces by Francesco Clemente, Renato Guttuso, but also 17th-century Japanese armor or antique ceramics by Hermès) to offer a unique stay experience. The plus? The Dogana del Sale Spa, which takes its name from the 16th-century building adjacent to the hotel that was originally used as a customs house and salt warehouse. This is an area of 1000 square meters entirely dedicated to wellness with whirlpool baths, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, emotional showers and many other body treatments.

Address: Via Cristoforo Colombo 45, Naples
Book here.