For centuries, Italy has attracted people from all across the world. Its dreamy light and sumptuous landscapes seem made for romance and its three millennia of history and culture seduce just about everyone.
From Rome’s ancient grandeur to Florence’s Renaissance masterpieces and the poetic maze of Venice, Italy’s art cities are inspiring in every way.
Whether it’s a single-centre stay, a bespoke itinerary, or even a journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, travel can be as relaxed or adventurous as you wish.
Coastlines are wonderfully varied, with the dramatic Amalfi cliffs, Capri’s glamour and the crystalline waters of Lake Como, Sardinia and Sicily.
In Tuscany and Umbria, enjoy Italy’s countryside, where you’ll find vineyard-laced hills, truffle-rich forests and stays in characterful hotels set in castles or old stone buildings.
Food and wine shine across all regions—Naples with its legendary pizza, Sicily with its soulful pasta alla Norma and bold wines flowing from Chianti to Barolo and Montalcino.
There are more World Heritage sites in Italy than in any other country. You can wander Roman ruins, hike in the Dolomites, snorkel in Sardinia, gaze at Lake Garda or ride into Venice aboard the timeless luxury of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
For a gastronomic treat you can’t go wrong with Tuscany, home to olive groves, truffles and the vineyards of Chianti. Though if you’re looking to escape the crowds, its neighbour Umbria should be high on your list. For culture, book ahead to see da Vinci’s The Last Supper in fashionable Milan; watch Aida performed by a cast of hundreds in the Arena di Verona; or wander the Uffizi in fabulous Florence.
Or perhaps you’d prefer the Amalfi Coast, where vertical cliffs plunge into impossibly blue seas and storybook towns emerge from the folds of thick and scented lemon groves. Or a stay in Sicily, where pristine beaches compete for attention with fine-dining restaurants and mighty Mount Etna. Whatever your reason to visit, Italy’s dolce vita never fails to delight.
Spring and autumn are great times to visit Italy, when the weather is more temperate and the crowds less overwhelming. Spring sees wildflowers carpet the countryside while September and October witness grape and olive harvests and markets brimming with truffles and chestnuts. Key events include Venice Carnival in the two weeks leading up to Lent, and outdoor concerts and performances held throughout the summer in Ravello and Taormina.
An icon of the Costa Smeralda, Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, offers refined luxury beside one of Sardinia’s most exclusive beaches, with elegant suites, exceptional dining and immersive experiences on land and sea.
A serene sanctuary suspended between sky and sea, Borgo Santandrea invites guests into a world of understated Italian elegance on the Amalfi Coast.
Offering spectacular views across rolling Tuscan countryside to the wine-producing hill town of Montalcino, this 800-year-old estate is the film-set Tuscany of popular imagination.
Not only is Il Castello one of the most luxurious hotels in the Forte Village portfolio, it’s also the most traditionally Sardinian in design, with an exterior hewn from the island’s red stone and a wide range of rooms that are simple but elegant, combining a cream and white palette with splashes of turquoise, hand-woven rugs and local ceramics.
This enchanting, ivy-clad Relais & Châteaux hotel looks out across the rolling hills and vineyards of Franciacorta, a sparkling-wine-producing region in the Italian lakes, just south of Lake Iseo and less than an hour’s drive from fashionable Milan.
Deep in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, this gorgeous 750-acre estate includes a magnificent 18th-century villa, a Green Michelin Star restaurant and a breathtaking infinity pool built into the original quarry stone.
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