The Top 10 Resort Hotels in Italy in 2017

By John Wogan
Updated: July 10, 2018
Courtesy of Palazzo Avino

The splendor of Italy’s diversity is apparent in its landscapes: the rolling, cypress-dotted hills of Tuscany; the small villages hugging the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast; the rocky, sun-splashed island of Capri. And just like the country itself, the resorts on this year’s list offer a wealth of options for the perfect Italian getaway.  

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share 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.

Arguably the center of summer chic in Italy, the island of Capri remains as popular as ever with readers, with two resorts on the list this year. Caesar Augustus is known for its spectacular terrace bar, which has panoramic views of the Bay of Naples and the neighboring island of Ischia. J.K. Place Capri, meanwhile, is beloved for its Michele Bonan–designed interiors, which make the hotel feel more like a supremely sophisticated private villa. In nearby Positano, the family-run Le Sirenuse has been welcoming guests to its perch above the Tyrrhenian Sea since 1951. “My favorite place to hang my hat on the Amalfi Coast,” said reader Jeffrey M. Vilarino. “The owners are very kind. Exquisite taste in décor.”

Tuscany is home to two winners this year, including Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco. The resort, which features 23 rooms and 11 villas, is set on 5,000 acres of rolling grassy fields and vineyards that epitomize the fantasy of this region in Italy. Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco also celebrates the region’s culinary bounty: there’s La Canonica Cooking School, where guests can learn to master traditional dishes and cooking techniques, and Osteria La Canonica, which serves up specialties such as panzanella salad, braised tripe, and pappardelle pasta with wild boar ragu. Check out all 10 hotels below, including the No. 1 property — another Tuscan gem.

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10. Belmond Hotel Grand Timeo, Taormina

Courtesy of Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo

Score: 92.74

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9. Palazzo del Vice Re, Lake Como

Courtesy of Palazzo del Vice Re

Score: 93.16

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8. Castello Banfi — Il Borgo, Montalcino

Courtesy of Castello Banfi - Il Borgo

Score: 93.94

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7. Le Sirenuse, Positano

Courtesy of Le Sirenuse

Score: 93.97

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6. Belmond Hotel Caruso, Ravello

Courtesy of Belmond Hotel Caruso

Score: 94.05

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5. Caesar Augustus, Capri

Courtesy of Hotel Caesar Augustus

Score: 94.47

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4. Palazzo Avino, Ravello

Courtesy of Palazzo Avino

Score: 94.62

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3. J.K. Place Capri

Courtesy of J.K. Place Capri

Score: 95.03

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2. Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino

Courtesy of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Score: 96.80

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1. Castello di Casole — A Timbers Resort, Casole d’Elsa

Courtesy of Hotel Castello di Casole – A Timbers Resort

Score: 97.12

This 10th-century castle is now one of the most luxurious resort hotels in Italy — and made it to the top of this year’s list for the second year in a row. Its 4,200 acres offer postcard-perfect Tuscan vistas, and with only 41 rooms, readers love the sense of intimacy. The design elements — Murano glass fixtures, reclaimed terra-cotta tiles, beamed ceilings — speak to the resort’s regional roots, as does the spa, which is the estate’s former wine cellar, with barrel-vaulted ceilings and restored stone walls. After a few days here, it’s easy to (almost) forget about modern life. 

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