Italy wakes again and yearns to see visitors return. There is sunshine and optimism as Italy emerges from the crisis showing its best side and embracing the discerning traveler. History and heritage matter so much here but Italians do not want to be defined only by the past. So, as parts of normality return, there is a focus on following creative steps to keep visitors safe and to shape memorable holidays. This means health and safety of the highest standard without fuss and intrusion so that tourists truly encounter “La Dolce Vita” – literally “the sweet life”.

Here are five special hotels giving the best of the Italian experience. Dedicated staff in each are poised to provide hospitality of the highest order as they once again welcome visitors.

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Augustus Hotel & Resort, Forte Dei Marmi

Everything at the Augustus Hotel in Northern Tuscany is gracious and spacious. With the Apuan Alps forming a dramatic backdrop, the exclusive location offers discreet access to the private beach while soft shade, rustling palms and the scent of pine trees cocoon guests who choose to linger in the extensive gardens.

 

Echoing the hotel’s history and the many famous guests who have stayed here, privacy matters at the Augustus making it perfect for summer escapes. Its laid-back atmosphere acts as an antidote to 21^st century pressures. Enjoying a sunset Negroni in a private tent on the beach (socially distanced, of course) creates lasting Mediterranean memory.

 

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lago di Como

With its lakeside symmetry and feeling of harmony and relaxation, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo offers a setting where all of the beauty of Lake Como is laid out before guests. The views and changing light patterns gazing across the hotel’s new T Beach and floating pool on the water towards Bellagio and the mountains beyond fill the senses and combine to provide a timeless experience of natural beauty and grandeur.

 

The hotel took the crisis with the approach “Limits become Opportunities” and created these. Within its classic Italianate architecture it also offers rooms transformed into private offices for socially distant work during your long-term stay. It also took over the facilities of nearby historic Villa Sola Cabiati and offers privatized stays or to host exclusive events by allowing guests to glimpse 18^th century living with 21^st century standards of service.

 

Gritti Palace Hotel, Venice

The waters in Venice have regained their natural blue as mass tourism takes a break and the city breathes again. Guests sitting on the Il Doge Terrace at the renowned Gritti Palace, can absorb living history as they contemplate the Grand Canal and all the unique features of this city on the sea.

 

Following an extensive and sympathetic renovation, the hotel is everything and so much more than its setting requires. With its noble tradition stretching from the 15^th century Doge of Venice through a line of Venetian nobility, it offers guests the feeling of being in a private residence where the whole look and feel is just right.

 

Capri Palace Jumeirah

Nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of the island of Capri. Escapism is not new here – the Romans built palaces to get away from the heat and noise of the city. The Capri Palace Hotel provides more than just a nod to the idea of such a journey towards tranquillity; it wants its guests to feel they are in a place where everything works towards their comfort, relaxation at their renowned spa and visual stimulation.

 

The attention to detail in the manicured gardens and with their many viewpoints creates a feeling of distance from today’s pressures and provides an opportunity for renewal. The color palette reflects the blue of the surrounding sea while contemporary art gives the hotel its modern edge.

 

Belmond Hotel Splendido, Portofino

Here is a distinguished hotel that guests rarely visit only once. With its origins as a 16^th century monastery, it is a place that resonates with the past.

An unrivaled, elevated setting over the sea and the greenery of the surroundings sums up the Italian Riviera experience of magical light, clean air, health and rejuvenation. The hotel focuses on the beauty of its interior and exterior spaces and has extensive gardens in which to wander.

 

The cuisine is exceptional and there is a long-held commitment towards sustainability with the sourcing of local produce including fish fresh from the sea. The attentive service matches the need to today’s guests to take some serious “time out” away from the noise and pressures which make us crave our vacations.