Italy is renowned for its homegrown hotels. While other countries can sometimes feel dominated by the same international brands, the classic, family-run properties of, say, Tuscany, Puglia, and the Amalfi Coast can hold their own against the finest in the world. And though industry heavyweights may slowly be gaining a foothold on Italy’s scenic shores, locally owned and operated properties once again dominated the Top 10 Italy Resort Hotels category in the 2019 World’s Best Awards.
Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.
The resorts of Italy have been drawing well-heeled travelers from around the world for more than a century, and this tradition of high-end hospitality means that many of its iconic properties have been owned and operated by the same families for over 100 years. Others, such as Palazzo Avino, the iconic pink property in the cliff-side town of Ravelo, started out life as private homes and were subsequently converted into hotels. All, however, retain the warmth and personality our readers look for in an Italian resort hotel. As one respondent said of Palazzo Avino, “This is one of the great family-owned hotels in Europe. The service and attention to detail are out of this world — Italian hospitality is on full display from arrival to departure.”
Read on for the full list of the best Italian resort hotels — and for the reveal of this year’s No. 1 resort in Italy.
10. Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi
Score: 91.85
More information: hotelsantacaterina.it
9. J.K. Place, Capri
Score: 92.00
More information: jkcapri.com
8. Villa d’Este, Lake Como
Score: 92.56
More information: villadeste.com
7. Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
Score: 93.07
More information: grandhoteltremezzo.com
6. Castello Banfi Il Borgo, Montalcino
Score: 93.50
More information: castellobanfiilborgo.com
5. Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento
Score: 94.36
More information: excelsiorvittoria.com
4. Borgo Egnazia, Savelletri di Fasano
Score: 95.29
More information: borgoegnazia.com
3. Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino
Score: 96.00
More information: rosewoodhotels.com
2. Palazzo Avino, Ravello
Score: 96.15
More information: palazzoavino.com
1. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio
Score: 96.33
More information: villaserbelloni.com
There can be few properties with a stronger sense of place than Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Built in the mid-1800s, when Lake Como was first established as a resort destination, the hotel remains steeped in the elegance of the mid 19th century. The interiors are a master class in grand Neoclassical design, complete with Murano glass chandeliers, stucco columns, marble staircases, and Persian carpets. Moreover, the hotel’s position on a secluded stretch of Bellagio lakefront gives guests the unique sense of tranquility that originally made Lake Como’s name. “The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in” was a refrain we heard again and again from the World’s Best respondents who voted for this grande dame property. As one reader put it: “What I think is amazing about the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni Bellagio is that it has been owned by a family and not a chain for more than 100 years — and you can really feel it.” This means the service feels gracious and truly personalized, combined with a setting that’s at once opulent and supremely comfortable.
