New and Exciting Hotels in Italy to Check Out

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Piedmont: Casa di Langa

In the heart of northern Italy’s Piedmont region, overlooking 100 acres of working vineyards and rolling hills, is Casa di Langa, a new 39-room boutique hotel. From a commitment to carbon neutrality to the use of 100 percent recycled water for irrigation, geothermal heating throughout, zero single-use plastic and solar panels, the property’s owners are dedicated to offering a sustainable and luxurious experience. Fàula Ristorante, overseen by chef Manuel Bouchard, focuses on traditional cuisine and innovative creations utilizing local ingredients sourced from their own gardens and local producers. At Sorì Cocktail Bar, guests can indulge in wines from around the world and neighboring vineyards, including rare bottles from its sister wineries Vietti and Enrico Serafino.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Liguria/The Italian Riviera: Villa della Pergola

Overlooking the Gulf of Alassio but far from the crowds of the Italian Riviera, Villa della Pergola is an intimate 15-suite property. A Luxury Relais member under the Relais & Châteaux umbrella, the hotel, surrounded by the botanical garden Giardini di Villa della Pergola, has been lovingly restored by architect Ettore Mocchetti. Each room boasts a unique look with a different aesthetic, color palette and furniture. Nove, run by chef Giorgio Servetto, offers three tasting menus and a la carte offerings echoing traditional flavors of Liguria and Piedmont with a contemporary and refined approach.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Umbria: Hotel Castello di Reschio

Autumn in Umbria is set to be spectacular with the opening of Hotel Castello di Reschio, a 10th-century castle turned sumptuous Italian escape. Set on 3,700 acres of rolling hills, gardens and vineyards, the intimate 36-room property (with nine additional villas) is the multigenerational passion project of the Bolza family, who have meticulously restored the estate to its original splendor with the help of local artisans. Enormous carved stone fireplaces, intricate stucco details and exquisite trompe l’oeil paintings adorn the spacious suites and public areas, along with bespoke furnishings and lighting designed by the family architect, Count Benedikt Bolza. A subterranean spa in the original wine cellar, an idyllic pool shaded by umbrella pines and an equestrian center complete with elegant dressage horses are all unique draws, as are cooking classes—often with truffle hunting and foraging excursions involved. Given Reschio’s location on the Umbria-Tuscany border, gastronomy is central to any stay here, and the terraced Ristorante Al Castello is the place for refined Italian fare at sunset, while the Ristorante Alle Scuderie—with its buzzy Centrale Bar—is perfect for wood-fired pizzas and an aperitivo. The glass-ceilinged Palm Court is the spot for afternoon tea, while Il Torrino in the former watchtower serves the best post-swim sandwiches, cocktails and homemade gelato. For a mix of medieval history and architecture with stunning contemporary design and unparalleled attention to detail, Hotel Castello di Reschio is your best bet.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Sicily: Villa Igiea

One of summer’s most exciting openings is Villa Igiea, an historic art nouveau palazzo-turned-boutique bolthole that’s part of the Rocco Forte Hotel collection. Their seventh property in Italy—and second in Sicily—has been meticulously renovated and restored by hotelier Sir Rocco Forte and his design director sister, Olga Polizzi, with the help of interior designers Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen of London’s Nicholas Haslam. The result of their painstaking attention to detail is a stunning 100-room grand hotel overlooking the Gulf of Palermo where guests are transported back to a stunning belle epoque era. Rooms are richly appointed in tapestries and velvet, with locally produced ceramics and frescoes found in libraries and niches throughout. A spa visit is central to any stay here with signature treatments and Sicilian products by Irene Forte administered in a light-filled sanctuary adjacent to the hotel’s magnificent gardens. Equally enticing are Villa Igiea’s dining options: Chef Fulvio Pierangelini oversees three restaurants, including the more formal Florio, with its terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vaulted Terrazza Bar is the place for an aperitivo, while Alicetta Pool Bar serves light bites, wood-fired pizzas and housemade gelato. Palermo is often overlooked as visitors make beelines for the beaches and Taormina, but Villa Igiea is the perfect perch for exploring this vibrant Sicilian city.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Sicily: San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel

With just 111 guest rooms and suites (19 have private plunge pools), the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel is built on the site of a 14th-century Dominican convent. Perched on a rocky promontory high above the Ionian Sea, the Taormina property boasts spectacular views in every direction. Set amid lush gardens reimagined by acclaimed Italian landscape architect Marco Bay, the interiors pair contemporary art with antiquities and architectural relics. “Everything past guests have always loved about San Domenico Palace has been restored, with familiar faces and vistas at every turn,” says the hotel’s general manager, Lorenzo Maraviglia, who has returned to his home country following years abroad to introduce Four Seasons to Sicily for the first time. “It’s been a meticulous evolution that honors the site’s past while elevating every aspect to a new level of personalized service, extraordinary experiences and the opportunity to create memories to last a lifetime. We are incredibly grateful to Gruppo Statuto for their investment and proud of the fact that it’s an Italian company that undertook this massive renovation project using only local craftspeople. This is Italy at its best.” With executive chef Massimo Mantarro at the helm of the hotel’s four signature restaurants, Principe Cerami, Rosso, Anciovi and Bar & Chiostro, the best of Sicilian cuisine is yours for the taking. Savory pastas like marinated cuttlefish tagliatelle over homemade spaghetti with cuttlefish ink and a zucchini blossom fondue and a penne alla Norma with eggplant and ricotta cheese are two of the must-try dishes on the mouth-watering menu.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Florence/Tuscany: The Place Firenze

First opened in 2003 as part of the J.K. Place brand, the Place Firenze is the brainchild of Italian entrepreneur Carlo Babini and his family. Years later, it was time for a new look and new offerings to appeal to modern travelers. “The time has come to embark on a new adventure, celebrate what makes us different and recognize the contribution of talented general manager Claudio Meli in forging such a unique identity in the world of Italian hospitality,” explains Babini. Studio Luigi Fragola provided a serene, contemporary new design concept for this elegant Florentine home on the historic Piazza Santa Maria Novella. “The aim was to create an urban design scheme with a contemporary feel that was nevertheless immersed in the historical context of the hotel’s location,” says Luigi Fragola, “to enact an alchemical fusion of old and new in order to rejuvenate a much-loved classic.” The Terrace all-day restaurant located right on the piazza is shaded by parchment-hued parasols with red fringe, offering a breezy new look for al fresco dining. The Kitchen & The Bar indoors serves Tuscan cuisine by chef Asso Migliore that is simple yet divine.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Florence/Tuscany: Helvetia & Bristol Firenze

Just steps from the majestic Duomo and the galleries of the Uffizi, the reimagined Helvetia & Bristol marries 19th-century glamour with contemporary design after a restoration that has been six years in the making. The original Helvetia palazzo has been seamlessly joined with the adjacent Bristol wing—a building that once housed Banco di Roma—and its beautiful parquet oak floors, sumptuous velvet curtains and enormous canopy beds are reminiscent of a bygone Grand Tour era. The hotel’s 25 new rooms and suites have been designed by Anouska Hempel, whose flair for luxurious fabrics and finishes is in full effect. Together with the finest Italian craftspeople—Moleria Locchi, glassmakers from Murano; Antico Setificio Fiorentino, local makers of tapestries and silks; to name but a few—the 89 rooms of this Starhotels Collezione property have gone from good to positively sublime. The recently completed Bristol Winter Garden, with its art deco skylight, walls of mirrors and chinoiserie detailing, is the place for a formal yet festive meal, while Cibrèo Caffè is the casual, convivial spot for breakfast or an evening aperitivo. The hotel’s spa—soon to be the largest in central Florence—is built on the site of former Capitoline thermal baths of the Roman Florentia and promises to entice sybarites and history buffs alike. For a romantic step back in time, book now to marvel at this meticulous makeover that is clearly a labor of love.

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags:

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags:

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags:

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags:

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags:

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags:

An Italian Renaissance

After a difficult 18 months, Italy is back and better than ever with these exciting new hospitality offerings

Written by Christina Ohly Evans and Natasha Wolff

Tags: