The 10 Most Charming Hotels In Italy, According To The 2025 Duco Awards

Forbes

01-04-2025

Ava Gardner Suite at Belmond Splendido Mare in Portofino
When celebrating some of the best Italian hotels, DUCO selects their annual winners as part of their highly curated initiative to showcase the best of the country. Unlike most prestigious travel events, which focus on the global travel industry, DUCO is dedicated to promoting Italy as a single destination. Its primary goal is to attract visitors to Italy and provide unique experiences that highlight Italian hospitality. DUCO focuses on the destination itself, serving as an essential reference point for the high-end travel community.
As hundreds of leaders in the travel industry descended upon the city, the Award winners, representing the best hotels and experiences, were announced on March 24 at the Annual Travel Summit. Among the other top winners announced was the Best Hotelier award, which went to Silvio Vettorello, the General Manager of Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como.
Here are the nominations and winners for the Greatest Italian Hotels with over 50 rooms and the Most Charming Hotels in Italy with under 50 rooms.
The stylish and celebrity-studded Splendido Mare is located front and center in Portofino harbor. The intimate guesthouse, with 14 rooms, is positioned directly on the town's main Piazzetta and is perfect for shopping. There is a buzzy street-level lobby and bar perfect for people-watching.
Aeriel view of Borgo Santo PIetro in Tuscany
Relais Borgo Santo Pietro was once a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims in the heart of Tuscany. Today, it merges a 5-star luxury hotel and spa concept with a 'farm to plate' philosophy on a 300-acre estate. With 22 rooms, the 800-year-old farmhouse hotel feels like home, with open fires, fresh flowers, and a brick wine cellar.
Poolside at Casa Angelina on the Amalfi Coast
Sitting atop the dramatic winding cliffs of Italy's Amalfi Coast, the 36-room Casa Angelina is a stunning seaside boutique hotel. Located conveniently between Amalfi and Positano and carved into the cliffside near the quaint fishing village of Praiano, this modern and minimalist escape is a refreshing escape.
Hotel Il Pellicano
This glamorous small hotel with 50 rooms is set on the spectacular Tuscan coastline of Monte Argentario. It is perched romantically at the cliff edge and features dramatic sea view rooms. The hotel's main building and cottages are surrounded by centuries-old olive trees in a large garden.
Relais & Chateaux Il Falconiere
Arranged around a 17th-century country house and spread between an old farmhouse and a new contemporary villa, the 31 rooms and suites each have unique decor. The Michelin-starred Il Falconiere restaurant occupies the former conservatory. The olive oil and wine produced on the family property are found in the treatments at Thesan Etruscan Spa.
J.K.Place on the island of Capri
JK Place is one of the only hotels in Capri located right on the ocean. It has 22 unique rooms and suites. Many rooms have small balconies facing the sea, and the penthouse suite has a long private terrace with a panoramic view of the Gulf of Naples.
Lupaia | Torrita di Siena in Tuscany
This ancient Italian country estate dates back to 1622 and is located halfway between Florence and Rome in the Tuscan wine region of Montepulciano. The 12 rooms and suites are arranged like a small village, and every room has a private outdoor space with views of the Tuscan countryside.
Palazzo Avino located in Ravello
One of my favorite places on the Amalfi Coast, Palazzo Avino, is a showstopping 12th-century property at the top of the hill in Ravello. Known as the Pink Palace, the iconic resort is run by the fabulous sisters Mariella and Attilia Avino.
Via a dramatic, winding cliffside drive only 37 miles from Naples Airport, the very private boutique hotel has 43 guest rooms and suites. It has an outdoor heated pool and spa, a Michelin-star restaurant, and a rare beach club on the sea with a pool, restaurant, and swimming platforms.
Portrait Rome suite
Owned by the Salvatore Ferragamo family, this property offers the exclusivity of a private mansion paired with the top-notch services of a five-star hotel. This 14-suite property is in the heart of Rome, close to the Spanish Steps. There is also a beautiful rooftop lounge offering breathtaking views of the city.
Singer Palace Hotel rooftop i Rome
Located near many of Rome's most iconic sites, this Art Deco palazzo offers 29 rooms, including 11 suites. It also has a beautiful rooftop restaurant and bar with dramatic views of the city.
Poolside at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia
Borgo Egnazia, nestled in the Itria Valley near the sea, is built to resemble a traditional Pugliese village. Narrow walkways connect its low-stone buildings and villas. The main building has 63 guest rooms, and the 28 casas each have three bedrooms.
Borgo Santandrea
The super chic, 45-room Borgo Santandrea is located in a 1960s modernist structure high in the cliffs, built into the rock overlooking the old fishing village of Conca dei Marini. The hotel also has the Michelin-starred Alici Terrace restaurant.
Rooftop terrace at Bulgari Rome
The Bulgari has 110 contemporary rooms and suites, and is located on the Piazza Augusto Imperatore, in the heart of the Campo Marzio shopping district.
Three-Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito oversees the various dining concepts, including The Restaurant - Niko Romito, the Bvlgari Bar, the Lobby Lounge, the Bvlgari Spa and Bvlgari Dolci, the first Bvlgari chocolate and pastry shop in Italy. It is the massive rooftop terrace that is the showstopper or the ultimate aperitivo.
FORESTIS hotel in the Dolomites
With jaw-dropping views of the Dolomite peaks, this property was designed as a sanatorium for the Austrian monarchy and then used as a summer retreat for the Vatican. The 100-year-old structure added three towers of suites and a large glass-and-stone spa. The hotel has 60 rooms spread across multiple levels and three unique towers.
Four Seasons Hotel Florence
This art-filled Renaissance palazzo and conventino surrounds a centuries-old private park. The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze offers 116 bright rooms and suites. It is the only hotel in the heart of Florence with a massive 8,511 sf on-site spa.
Grand Hotel Parkers Naples
The Grand Hotel Parker's has been overlooking this city for over a century, next to Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The 67 rooms and suites are furnished with antiques in the Imperial style, many with views of the city and port. There are two rooftop terraces to enjoy fantastic city views, including George's Restaurant, the only one in Naples with two Michelin stars.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
This legendary stunner offers 80 elegant Art Nouveau rooms. The hotel also has three outdoor swimming pools, a spa, and a fitness center, as well as three restaurants, a cocktail bar, and a wine bar for a decadent, glamorous evening. Oh, and the floating swimming pool is an instant icon in the lake.
Hotel de Russie Nijinsky Suite
Hotel de Russie has 120 spacious, old-school elegant guest rooms, of which 34 are suites. Positioned between two of Rome's most famous piazzas, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo, the historical secret garden is a culinary destination where the most famous faces go for aperitivo. Celebrity chef Fulvio Pierangelini oversees the Jardin de Russie restaurant.
Les Sirenuse in Positano
From its elevated cliffside position just outside the pedestrian-only center of Positano, this iconic stunner has 59 rooms. It is run by the legendary Antonio Sersale and his wife, Carla. It offers posh guests an Aveda spa, a buzzy pool terrace with sun loungers, and one of the most romantic restaurants in the world, the Michelin-starred La Sponda restaurant.
Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco
Located in Montalcino, this 900-year-old property of restored farmhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries offers 42 suites, 11 villas, two restaurants, a cooking school, and a Spa. The estate also features the Brunello di Montalcino winery and Italy's only private golf club.
Italian Hotels