A Taste of La Dolce Vita: Italian Hotels That Embody the Art of Living Well
From a lakeside wellness haven to a restored borgo in the hills of Montalcino, these exceptional Italian hotels capture the effortless elegance, slower pace and timeless pleasures that define la dolce vita.
- Words by: Sophia Baccanello
Italy is no secret. It is neither undiscovered nor off the radar. It is a destination that needs no introduction, and one that has more than earned its reputation. This season, it once again finds itself at the top of travellers’ wish lists, not through herd mentality, but because it offers something so many of us are searching for: a slower, more considered way of living.
Italy has long mastered the art of enjoyment. It is a place where alarms are forgotten, days revolve around the next exceptional meal, and aperitivo hour begins whenever the first chilled drink is placed before you. Hospitality is second nature, making you feel as though you have arrived not at a hotel, but at a home far from your own. It is the destination of choice for those who travel in pursuit of great food and remarkable wine, where every meal feels like a celebration of the region that produced it.
There is a reason Italy has earned such enduring admiration, and we can say with confidence that it is not going out of style. From the hills above Italy’s largest lake to the tip of the Sicilian isle, every region offers its own identity and character. There are rolling vineyards, sun-drenched hillsides and stretches of coastline where crystalline waters make doing absolutely nothing feel like the greatest luxury of all. With September just weeks away, the summer heat is finally beginning to relent, making this arguably the best time to visit, when the crowds thin and the country becomes far more enjoyable to explore. After all, we’re not quite ready to say goodbye to the holiday season just yet.
Castiglion del bosco, Montalcino
The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance has long captivated those dreaming of long evenings beneath the Tuscan sun. However, there is one property that reigns supreme, Castiglion del Bosco. Nestled into the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia and within a 5,000-acre estate in Montalcino, the property originated in the 1100s and was respectfully restored by the Ferragamo family. The medieval borgo feels almost untouched, with the hotel seamlessly woven into what was already there. Envisioned as a home, it preserves this feeling throughout each individual suite. The interiors are the work of Chiara Ferragamo, with restored Italian antiques flanking the rooms, four-poster beds dressed in intricate textiles and each room differing in its own character, yet remaining intimate and authentically Tuscan.
The history of the property remains woven throughout. The 12th-century castle still crowns the estate, while the chapel, previously frequented by pilgrims, houses a 14th-century fresco, adding another layer of romance. Beyond the borgo and its two pools overlooking the wine paradise of Montalcino in the distance, lose yourself along trails weaving through woodlands and ruins, with little else around. Yet if you are in need of a sporting endeavour, the hotel is also home to The Club at Castiglion del Bosco, Italy's only private golf club and a masterpiece designed by golfing legend Tom Weiskopf. Here, the course gently follows the curves of the land, culminating in a bottle of Brunello for whoever can secure an ace on the final hole. The 18-hole course is a masterclass in quiet luxury, with impeccable service and rich green grounds that somehow survive the suffocating heat of the summer. It is a course beloved by golfers, with the clubhouse waiting to serve you a crisp Aperol Spritz post-round as a job well done.
Finally, once your thirst has been truly quenched, the vineyards await. The estate has produced Brunello di Montalcino since the early 1900s and proudly stands among the 25 founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello. Explore its 62 hectares of vines, the cellar and the almost villainous lair housing the lucky few growing Brunello collection. It is the blueprint for escapism, a sanctuary where wine, golf and relaxation take precedence, resulting in inevitable sadness once it comes time to descend from the hills.
Castiglion del bosco, Montalcino
A Junior Suite starts at €1,450 in low season and €2,050 in high season.
Palazzo Artemide, Ortigia, Sicily
Sicily, famed for its centuries-old alleyways, Baroque art and, of course, the slightly misbehaving Etna. Worlds away from mainland Italy, Sicily is a melting pot of ancient history, wild landscapes and bold flavours shaped by centuries of foreign influence. Yet on the southeastern tip of the island, you’ll find something even more special: Ortigia. A small island forming the historic centre of Syracuse, accessed by bridge, here white-stone architecture lines the coastline and welcomes a slower, more authentic side of Sicily, one that perhaps manages to escape the White Lotus crowds.
Palazzo Artemide, considered Ortigia’s oldest hotel and named after the Greek goddess Artemis, sits beside the Duomo on Via Roma, occupying a historic palazzo where vaulted limestone halls, original stonework and antique details meet a more contemporary Italian sensibility. Neoclassical furnishings and elegant colours compete for attention with views across Piazza Minerva or the internal courtyard below, a sheltered nook for that summer read. Step outside and you are immediately amongst the honey-hued streets, Baroque façades and sun-drenched piazzas of the old town, where it would be a crime not to indulge in a dip in the Ionian Sea. Back at the hotel, Amunì serves Sicilian flavours and aperitivo, while the rooftop garden offers a quieter perch above the historic streets. It becomes almost a pied-à-terre within the very fabric of Ortigia, allowing you to live, rather than simply visit, this captivating corner of Sicily.
Cape of Senses, Lake Garda
A lakeside holiday in Italy might conjure visions of Como, but its larger counterpart, Garda, offers more breathing room without sacrificing the glamour. Perched 600 feet above Lake Garda’s eastern shore, Cape of Senses offers sweeping views across the water, with the mountains rising dramatically beyond. It is a postcard-perfect panorama, perfectly positioned for both sunrise and sunset, with every room afforded a front-row seat. Adults-only and resolutely spa-focused, it is conveniently located for both Verona and Venice, making it an easy getaway even when time is not on your side.
A close second to the view is the property’s 21,000-square-foot Senses Spa, a holistic sanctuary comprising two pools, multiple saunas, a Technogym, treatment rooms and spaces dedicated to relaxation. For something a little more immersive, try your hand at Aufguss, a theatrical towel-waving sauna ritual, or Qigong, an ancient practice designed to realign the body’s energy. It is the sort of place that encourages you to prioritise relaxation, slow down and reconnect with your senses, which, if we are honest, we are all guilty of letting fall by the wayside. Built on what was once a neglected olive grove, Cape of Senses has been carefully woven into the landscape. Mornings can be spent amongst the olive trees, enjoying quiet espressos and freshly baked pastries, before a day lounging from one sunbed to another. If the urge to explore strikes, local hiking and biking trails wind through the surrounding landscape. And should you find yourself craving a little more bustle, the lakeside towns of Torri del Benaco and Bardolino are just a short ride away, perfect for a dip in the lake and a change of pace if you need a break from sunbathing.
After whatever the day has drawn you to, Al Tramonto welcomes the setting sun with delicacies from the region. With obligatory focaccia and Lake Garda’s own olive oil setting the tone, the menu’s specials evolve each night, with traditional dishes and elevated interpretations of local favourites, all best enjoyed with a glass of Soave wine from the region or one of their flavour-bending cocktails. Cape of Senses is where you go to restore, leaving you wondering why, by the shores of this lake haven, you hadn’t come sooner.
Santavenere, Maratea
We can all agree that the Amalfi Coast is hardly uncharted territory. It is known, and loved, for good reason. But those in the know are taking things a little further south, to its quieter younger sibling, Maratea, one of Italy’s last remaining lesser-known stretches of coastline. There is only one hotel to stay on the Tyrrhenian shores, Santavenere, which celebrates its 70th birthday this year. Hidden between Campania and Calabria, it is perched in the hills, with cascading Mediterranean gardens leading down to the sea, surrounded by pine-clad hills and citrus groves. Whitewashed arches adorned with bougainvillea and terracotta roofs peek through the vast greenery that surrounds them, a welcome oasis amongst the rugged coastline.
Within, you’ll find emerald patios where leisurely breakfasts seem to stretch on forever, light-filled vaulted rooms that welcome in the sea air, and a pool framed by a canopy of cypress trees, all overlooking the seemingly never-ending sea. Wander down to the private beach and you’ll find a coastline unspoilt by rows of parasols and beach clubs, relatively untouched and a true rarity in Italy. As nightfall begins to descend, three restaurants vie for your attention, each offering a different take on the cuisine we can all agree is superior. There’s elevated dining at Le Lanterne, embracing the rhythm of the seasons; fresh Neapolitan pizza beneath olive and lemon trees at Gli Ulivi; or, coastside at Il Carrubo, where fresh, seasonal seafood is obligatory.
If Maratea is the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian, Santavenere firmly establishes it. Think of it as the Amalfi Coast before the crowds arrived, a slower, more under-the-radar take on the Italian summer. And if Maratea was good enough for Bond in No Time to Die, then I think that speaks volumes.
Villa La Massa, Chianti
After months of burning the candle at both ends, there could be no better place to reset than a former Medici villa dating back to the 13th century. If you are going to slow down, it might as well be done in style. Villa La Massa sits regally along the Arno River, surrounded by exceptionally manicured grounds, an iris garden, olive groves and cypress trees, with ten hectares of parkland embracing the property, enough to let you live like Italian nobility for a few days.
With six distinctive residences, including a restored ancient watermill and the estate’s original winter shelter for its lemon trees, it is a place to slip out of your usual reality, wandering from frescoed, coat-of-arms-adorned rooms to soaring vaulted ceilings. With art and culture at its heart, allow yourself to be guided through special-access visits to galleries in the area, try your hand at painting or cooking classes, or venture down to the hotel’s 15th-century cellar for a cultured wine tasting. For the more decadent among us, perhaps plan a visit in October for truffle hunting in the scenic woodlands of the nearby Strozzi Estate.
Nevertheless, the priority here is the promise of a stay you can truly call your own. Arno Spa invites you to prioritise yourself, with original brick vaults and antique terracotta floors providing the setting for bespoke treatments, a sauna and Turkish bath. Perhaps begin with a morning yoga session, or spend the day beside the outdoor pool, while L’Oliveto ensures neither thirst nor hunger ever rears its head. When evening falls, watch the sunset dance across the terrace overlooking the River Arno at Il Verrocchio, sampling refined tasting menus or bowls of handmade pasta generously grated with black truffle. Villa La Massa is a place that preserves an era of regality, inviting you to banish everyday anxieties, take time to smell the iris and savour that glass of wine.
