Image courtesy of Forestis
Italy is always in season. Regardless of how many times you go, you’ll undoubtedly discover something new. The country is ancient, classic and always evolving.
We tapped a few of our top advisors for their tips on the best places to stay in Italy. Fresh off the heels of DUCO, an exclusive, invite-only conference for travel advisors in Milan, our Fora Advisors are ready to share the bucket-list-worthy properties they have their eye on (plus a few favorites they've already been to).
Palazzo Talìa — Rome
Images courtesy of Palazzo Talìa
We're scheming a trip to this 26-room 15th-century palazzo, which is slated to open in May. An all-women team of architects brought the hotel’s vision to life. Baroque design gets a chic, modern update. Expect four-poster beds, plush custom furnishings, handsome wooden floors and a stately color palette (eggplant purple, moody burgundy, tranquil teal).
“I am most excited to see all of the revitalized frescoes and tiled floors,” Fora Advisor Natalie Kurtzman said. “There is an amazing spa with a pool, and guests will enjoy their breakfast in the courtyard.”
Plus, the hotel is perfectly located: “Steps from the Trevi Fountain, but a world away.”
In the evening, head to the hotel’s glorious Tramae restaurant, where hyper-seasonal ingredients star in elevated Roman and Italian cuisine, courtesy of chef Marco Coppola. Then enjoy a nightcap beneath frescoed ceilings — or in the romantic courtyard — at Bar of the Muse.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Castello di Vicarello — Tuscany
Image courtesy of Castello di Vicarello
For a Tuscan countryside moment, head to the family-owned and run Castello di Vicarello. This five-star castle estate is located in Italy’s Maremma region, between Rome and Florence, amid organic vineyards and olive groves. Guests stay in one of 10 suites, which are outfitted with original stone and brick walls, in addition to a curated selection of antiques.
“It’s the perfect embodiment of classic Tuscany,” Fora Advisor Claire Herzog said. “Think cypress trees, rolling green hills and obviously amazing wine.”
Indeed, the estate produces its own wine, which is best enjoyed over a candlelit, farm-to-table meal brimming with organic ingredients sourced from the onsite garden.
Claire also said that Castello di Vicarello’s “personal design touch makes you feel like your most fabulous friend invited you to stay at their country house." The owners, Baccheschi-Berti family, are well traveled, and it shows. Treasures acquired from the family’s travels in Indonesia only add to the castle’s suites’ tastefully elegant personality.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Forestis — Dolomites
Image courtesy of Forestis
The Dolomites, Italy’s idyllic mountain range in the country’s northeast, is beautiful any time of year. There's snow and skiing in the winter, and gorgeous alpine hikes in the summer. And at Forestis, you can experience both. The hotel is sleek and effortless, with a luxuriously restrained aesthetic that draws from its natural surroundings (pale wood, soothing hues, wall-spanning windows).
“I've eagerly watched the Dolomites for some time now, drawn to their allure of design-forward properties nestled within untouched mountain beauty,” Fora Advisor Melanie Pink said.
Forestis was awarded the prize for best hotel at DUCO, which isn’t surprising, Melanie noted. She’s inspired by the hotel’s magical alpine views, sleek nature-inspired spa and forest-to-table dining. The exquisite restaurant has a step-like design scheme that ensures guests’ privacy. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the breathtaking mountain expanse just outside, which somehow makes the food — at once meticulous, modern and respectfully traditional — taste that much better.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco — Tuscany
Image courtesy of Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco
Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco is located in Val d'Orcia, a stunning countryside expanse that also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel consists of 42 suites and 11 villas.
Fora Advisor Alex Torgueman has wanted to stay at this sprawling retreat ever since he became a travel advisor seven years ago. He finally got the chance, and it did not disappoint. Alex stayed in the four-bedroom, two-story Villa Gauggiole.
“We experienced beautifully curated activities during our stay such as truffle hunting with a truffle-everything lunch at Il Passaggio, a winery tour with wine tastings from each specific region...and a cooking class with the chef in our villa,” Alex recalled. “Each activity was very special.” (Alex’s favorite wine is Brunello di Montalcino, which is produced in the region, so the wine tastings were especially enjoyable.)
The dining, too, is excellent. There’s the cozy Osteria Canonica (great for pizza, pasta and salads) as well as the Michelin-Starred Campo del Drago. Also don’t miss the spa, Alex advised, which uses Florence-based Santa Maria Novella products.
Fora Perks:
€95 food / beverage or spa credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, & an upgrade whenever possible.
Borgo dei Conti Resort — Umbria
Images courtesy of Borgo dei Conti Resort
The bucket-list-worthy 13th-century estate is set amongst olive groves and ancient trees. The 50-room property has recently undergone an extensive renovation, and is set to reopen in July.
Umbria enchanted Fora Advisor Kim Hannum the first time she visited. (She lunched with Brunello Cucinelli, the cashmere king, in Solomeo, “a dreamy little hamlet.”) When she returns, she’s heading straight for Borgo dei Conti Resort, which is a mere 15 minutes from Solomeo.
The Relais & Châteaux gem hosts two exquisite restaurants, a lounge, a pool bar as well as numerous indoor and outdoor wellness experiences (sauna, Turkish bath, forest bathing, rigorous physical training…).
Pair your stay here with The Place, Borgo dei Conti Resort’s Florentine sister property, or Londra Palace, its Venetian sibling.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Connect with one of the advisors above to plan and book your summer escape.