It’s been a while since we traveled to Italy and boy, I miss it!! The non-stop walking on cobble stone streets, daily consumption of gelato, endless amounts of pasta and wine, the list goes on… Ahh, can someone please transport me back?? While I’m reminiscing of this beautiful place, I rounded up the top best luxury places to stay that we got to experience while a month of being there.
ROME
We decided to start the beginning of our trip by getting a luxury apartment from Romelofts.com. (You can find the exact listing here). Saint Peter’s luxury terrace attic was a short stroll from the majestic Saint Peter’s basilica. It has 1 bedroom + 1 sofabed (sleeps 4), 2 bathrooms, two-story terrace that has gorgeous views of Rome and the basilica, especially at night, and a laundry room (huge bonus, because it’s expensive to get your clothes washed). It was such a gorgeous apartment and loved the fact that it was walking distance to some of the attractions like the Vatican, basilica, The Pantheon and more. The best part was sipping on wine on the roof top terrace watching the sunset. This place really makes you feel like you’re home away from home.
When we were finishing our month long Italy trip, we ended back in Rome. We stayed at Crossing Condotti, which only has 5 luxury rooms at this swank, polished townhouse in the most exclusive part of Rome. Just stone’s throw from the Spanish steps, this is truly a hidden gem!! Everything is top notch with its contemporary aesthetic. It offers luxury crisp white linens, L’Occitane bath products, free Wi-Fi, soft drinks and coffee in the guests’ kitchen. This is no shortage of luxury here, so when in Rome… this place is a must if you’re looking for a great boutique hotel.
FLORENCE
Florence won our hearts! This city is amazing and was our favorite all throughout Italy. We stayed at this new luxury 5-star 15th century villa in the hills with the stunning view of Florence. IL Salviatino is a true Italian retreat and won one of the best hotels of Europe from Conde Nast Traveler. This romantic villa is so magical and what you dream Italy would be. Our Dome view junior suite had an amazing view of the dome and such an elegant, Tuscan styled living area. From handmade authentic Tuscan linen, Mirrored Plasma TV, surround sound system, Sit down rain shower with white LED’s, Nespresso coffee machine and complimentary Wi-Fi, this place has no limit on luxury. The spa and pool area has a beautiful setting with the rolling hills of Tuscany and houses one of Florence’s most exclusive perfume houses, Dr Vranjes. Their on-site restaurant is hands down one of the best meals we had in Italy and is a must! With a complimentary 15-minute shuttle ride into Florence, this is a true Tuscan getaway.
SORRENTO
Sorrento was the first stop we made while traveling along the Amalfi Coast and offers a great base for traveling to Capri, Positano, Amalfi and Naples. We stayed at the luxurious La Minervetta boutique hotel that is perched on the sea cliff with breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. This place is extremely stylish and hip with its huge picture windows, colorful details and distinct décor (thanks to the owner’s nephew for such exquisite taste), creating a very nautical vibe. This family-run boutique hotel has 13 immaculate artful rooms that really maximize the views with the floor-to-ceiling windows (All rooms are sea-facing with fantastic views and Peter Thomas Roth toiletries). They’ve got a beautiful terrace, making it a great spot for sipping a glass of preseco and having your daily breakfast with other hotel guests. It does have a pool, but take a walk down the stone stairs and you can go to the private beach club at La Tonnarella (the walk back up the stairs is a workout!) Be sure to have dinner at Delfino on the marina. The best restaurant in Sorrento!
POSITANO
This place was on my bucketlist for years and I’m so glad we got to come here. It looks exactly like it does on the postcards you see, a real gem on the Amalfi Coast. As soon as we arrived by boat, we got to our luxury seaside hotel, Villa TreVille. This villa turned hotel, has 15 luxurious suites overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and is super exclusive with its own private beach. Each room comes with your own balcony, a sitting area, free minibar, full breakfast, club lounge bar with unlimited alcohol, free Wi-Fi, pool and private boat to take you to and from the center of Positano. Many notable celebs have made this their holiday stay including Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli and Richard Burton. Not only should Positano be on your bucketlist, but also should Villa TreVille. Simply amazing, if I could give it 6 stars, I would!
RAVELLO
This area is situated on Italy’s famed Amalfi Coast and we stayed at Palazzo Avino, a stunning 5-star hotel what was once a 12th century private villa for an Italian noble family and opened as a hotel in 1997. This luxurious property is rated one of the finest hotels and tucked away in the medieval hilltop village of Ravello (1000 ft) perched high on the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. This is the second largest hotel we stayed at, offering 32 rooms and 11 suites and has a one-star Michelin dining, which is phenomenal! The picturesque view is absolutely gorgeous and the best view from the Amalfi Coast. The rooms and suites are decorated with hand made Vietri tiles and Frette linen and Bulgari toiletries. The hotel even has its own private beach club, which offers a free shuttle to and from the hotel. Ravello is a very quaint town that offers the ultimate romance getaway for lovers!
CAPRI
We traveled to Capri, making this the last stop of our Amalfi Coast trip. It’s a beautiful island boasting of luxury designer shops, blue grotto (dark cavern where the sea is glowing of electric blue) and home of handmade leather sandals. We stayed in Anacapri at Capri Palace Hotel and Spa, which is part of The Leading Hotels of the World. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from our hotel balcony, the glamorous pool has a view of the Isle of Ischia. This property has 57 elegantly furnished rooms, and 15 suites; with some having their very own swimming pool and garden. The hotel is just steps from Monte Solaro Chairlift which is a must see/do. The Capri Beauty Farm (Spa) is a 5-star spa that has a huge celeb following, which has developed and patented a unique method called “La Scoula delle Gamba” which aims to improve blood circulation and lymphatic flow in the legs, which helps prevent and treat the cause of cellulite. Their private beach club, il Riccio is just a short shuttle ride (free) down to the sea that also has a One Michelin star restaurant on-site. It’s definitely a relaxed, beautiful property with a glamorous feel. The sunsets are unreal from this location.
Have you stayed at any of these amazing places? Are there are any that we need to check-out on our next trip to Italy? (Planning a trip as we speak!) 🙂
*While vacationing for a month here, we were given a complimentary stay at all the places listed above, but all opinions and images are our own.
CIAO! XX
