A list of the most romantic places in Italy for newlyweds.
A honeymoon in Italy always sounds glamorous and seductive to me – Venice, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily! This country has such a rich history, art treasures, elegant cities, picturesque coastal towns, majestic mountains, stunning islands, and some of the world’s best-loved food and wine. Not to mention so many beautiful places to stay. As well as being a year-round destination, Italy works well for a leisurely three-week trip as well as a short, intense mini-moon. In winter, you can visit great art cities without crowds, in summer, you can go to the beach, and the rest of the year you can do anything.
The Italian Riviera
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, northern travellers gravitated towards the Italian Riviera because of its mild microclimate, refreshing sea air, and spectacular natural beauty; Byron and Shelley, as well as Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra, later visited. Although it’s one of the most popular Italian holiday destinations (avoid July and August), resorts like Santa Margherita, Rapallo, and Portofino retain their retro glamour and charm. On the Riviera, the Belmond Splendido in Portofino, which stands on a hill outside the town, is the place to stay.
The Splendido Mare, located right on the famous piazzetta, is an intimate setting with a recent revamp that is glowing frisky and fresh. With its grandstand views of the sashaying latter-day jet set, the restaurant’s signature risotto with pesto and shrimp is a perfect complement. In addition to the ridiculously pretty (and ridiculously over-crowded) Cinque Terre, Camogli, Rapallo, Portovenere and Lerici are located along the Riviera di Levante (east of Genoa). There are plenty of low-key gems on the Riviera di Ponente, stretching all the way to the French border. You can stay at Villa della Pergola, set in beautiful gardens in the hills behind the coast, in Albenga, Cervo and lovely Alassio. It’s a wonderful romantic spot with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Puglia
A mostly flat land of raw beauty and low-key charm, the heel of Italy’s boot boasts gnarled olive trees and wild flowers that bloom in rich, deep-red soil, accompanied by conical trulli and solid masserias, many of which serve as smart hotels today. The new Tuscany has managed to avoid the worst of the crowds despite being dubbed such. There are also whitewashed città bianche like Ostuni, Martina Franca, Locorotondo, and Matera, the ancient city famous for its cave dwellings.
Puglia is fringed by pristine white sands and lapped by both the Ionian and Adriatic seas, making it a brilliant beach-and-country holiday double-act. There is a lot of vegetables, fish, and seafood on the menus of the local trattorias, and liberally topped with fruity olive oil. A five-star hotel experience awaits at Borgo Egnazia, which has a wonderful spa, a private beach, and several Michelin-starred restaurants. There’s also Masseria Cimino, a rustic little sister of Masseria, which guests can reach from the road with a laidback vibe.
The Italian Lakes
In his book Percy Bysshe Shelly describes Lago di Como as ‘beautiful beyond anything I have ever seen’, but Maggiore and Orta are also beautiful, otherworldly, and undeniably romantic lakes. Poet’s favorite has a particularly glamorous ring to it, with spectacular villas and lush gardens dotted along its coastline, some of which are open to visitors.
There is nothing like the elegant Villa d’Este on the western shore; it stands in magnificent grounds and has its own jetty from which you can take a boat to explore the lake and the delightful towns of Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna. Hotel Verbano on Lago Maggiore’s Isola dei Pescatori is one of the most romantic places to stay. A spectacular combination of dramatic mountains, charming towns, and spectacular gardens make it an ideal place to hide away. Or head to quiet, dreamy Lago d’Orta, which stretches north from postcard pretty Orta San Giulio, and stay at Moorish-style Villa Crespi to feast on Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s take on saffron spaghetti with sea urchin and suckling piglet overlooking the water, then slip into a four-poster bed like a cocoon.
The Amalfi Coast
Some of the most spectacular coastline in the world can be found on the gnarled, pointing finger of land that juts into the Tyrrhenian Sea just south of Naples. There are so many photo opportunities along the celebrated Amalfi Drive, the local food is excellent and the hotels are incredible.
If you want to start your honeymoon, stay at Casa d’Anna in decadent Naples, then move south to Positano, a ridiculously picturesque stage set of pastel-hued houses tumbling into the sea. If you’d like to be right in the action, stay at the exquisite Le Sirenuse or stay at Ravello’s Belmond Caruso. From the standalone, clifftop Romeo and Juliet chalet at the Santa Caterina, you can take in the twinkling lights of the town and the infinite sparkling sea from complete privacy. On the Costiera, life moves at a very leisurely pace; days are filled with gentle sightseeing and shopping, lazy lunches, boat trips, and dips in the shimmering sea. After a sunset Campari Spritz and dinner, perhaps La Sponda at the Sirenuse, one of the most romantic dining rooms in Italy, you slip into something a little more sophisticated.
Sardinia
Sardinia has powdery beaches and waters that resemble the Caribbean. The Costa Smeralda is a perfect honeymoon destination because of its breathtaking natural scenery, splashy beach clubs and international jet-set crowd. Retreats like the legendary Hotel Cala di Volpe provide romance like no other. You will find 300 white-sand beaches along the calm, turquoise-green waters in the Maddalena archipelago, and the 25-bedroom Petra Segreta is much more discreet.
In contrast to the glitz of the east, Albhero, on the west coast, is a charming old town with pastel houses and cobbled streets, and it is surrounded by beautiful beaches. On the ramparts and seafront, there are numerous restaurants and cafes offering lobster and bottarga – particularly delicious when paired with a glass of crisp rosé while watching the sun set. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent their summers at Villa Las Tronas, which is located on a rocky shore near the town.
Sicily
Although Sicily has some rough edges, it offers extraordinary diversity, making it an ideal honeymoon destination. Aside from a volcano, the island has an incredible history, a gorgeous landscape, fabulous beaches, idyllic islands, and amazing food. You can see it all in two weeks, or you can take it at a more leisurely pace. On the tiny, verdant Aeolian island of Salina, Capofaro offers lighthouse suites so that you can experience island life for a few days. Visit Selinunte and Segesta Greek temples (less crowded than Agrigento) and the Rocco Forte-owned Villa Igiea in vibrant, crumbling Palermo, couscous di pesce in Trapani and taste couscous di pesce in Trapani.
Visit Ragusa, Modica and Noto for the best almond granita on earth at Caffè Sicilia in Noto. From the ravishing Monaci delle Terre Nere , a grand country house with a contemporary twist and a barefoot-chic vibe, you can wind up in dreamy Taormina, one of the most magnificent honeymoon destinations on the island. An in-your-face view of the volcano is an excellent setting for a last dinner of linguine with lobster at Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo.
Rome
In few places are the physical remains of the past so much a part of the present as in Italy’s capital. The Eternal City has been around nearly three millennia, and is a symbol of romance on a grand scale. Modern life is surrounded by crumbling ruins and Renaissance palaces, and the beauty of it all left poets Keats, Byron, and Shelley swooning. There are countless atmospheric places to stay, including sophisticated Portrait Roma, with a panoramic rooftop terrace with stunning views, and arty, eclectic B&B Buonanotte Garibaldi, with a secret garden. In a princely palazzo just off via Condotti, the Residenza Napoleone III, with its two suites stuffed with museum-worthy antiques, is the ultimate hideaway.
You can avoid sightseeing burnout by leaving plenty of time between the Vatican and the Colosseum et al for neighborhood trattorias, pavement cafés, quirky shops and wandering the quiet, creeper-clad backstreets and quiet piazzettas between the Vatican and the Colosseum et al. With your love, you can hire a vespa and ride around like Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn did in Roman Holiday, take a stroll up the leafy Aventine hill to watch the sunset from the Parco Savello, or take a boat on the lake at Villa Borghese for a lazy afternoon.
Venice
There is no denying that La Serenissima is one of the world’s most romantic cities, and it is the perfect honeymoon destination per eccellenza. Watery views, echoing footsteps, pastel-hued palazzi, and even the cheesy serenades of the gondoliers – they all tug at the heartstrings. It is possible to break away from the crowds as long as you are willing to get very lost, even though the volume of visitors can be oppressive. You can see the major sights in the morning, and then wander the quieter corners of Cannaregio and Castello or explore the lesser-known islands such as Torcello (with lunch on the terrace at Locanda Cipriani) and Sant’Erasmo, where you can walk through vineyards and pass fields planted with asparagus and artichokes.
Discover the Rialto fish market, climb San Giorgio Maggiore tower for sweeping views, taste delicious cichetti, and attend an opera at La Fenice back in town. It is romantic to glide silently along the backwaters of this stunning city at night in a gondola. Book into the Gritti Palace for sumptuous rooms with Grand Canal views – its terrace is ideal for morning cappuccinos or evening cocktails. A series of decadent, themed rooms await guests at Boutique Ca’ Maria Adele, located in the quiet, arty Dorsoduro neighborhood.
Tuscany
There is nothing more romantic than La Bella Toscana, a timeless landscape of gentle hills, vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees, charming villas and ancient castles surrounded by soft golden light. Borgo Santo Pietro, one of Italy’s greatest secluded retreats, situated in 200 acres south-west of Siena, is a great place to honeymoon. In one of the garden suites with a private pool, you can hang up your car keys and spend bucolic days relaxing in the spa, riding a Vespa, learning to make cheese, and dining on vegetables from the kitchen garden and lamb from the farm.
Visiting Florence for several days is well worth the time, especially if you stay in one of Anouska Hempel’s seductive suites at the Helvetia & Bristol, where there are so many Renaissance treasures, thriving food scene, and excellent shopping. It is also recommended to visit medieval Siena for lunch at Osteria Le Logge, and to wander through the Chianti vineyards, tasting along the way. The Val d’Orcia lies south-east of Siena, where you can take a dip in the therapeutic thermal waters of Bagno Vignoni, hike the Monte Amiata slopes, and explore Pienza, Montepulciano, and Montalcino. A short break at the beach is a great option at the legendary Hotel Il Pellicano.
Abruzzo
There is a sense of romance etched in rugged mountains, sweeping plains and silent valleys dotted with medieval villages in this remote region of Italy. The region has a timeless quality that is captivating. A third of the region is given over to nature reserves inhabited by free roaming wolves, indigenous flora and fauna and even the occasional bear.
Located 4,101 feet above sea level, the Sextantio Albergo Diffuso occupies a series of stone houses in an ancient hamlet set in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, where you can immerse yourself completely. The region’s lively capital, L’Aquila, has a charming historic center with minimalist, chic interiors and rustic food served beside an open fire. Culture is also available. In Abruzzo, food is a highlight of any trip, with no-fuss restaurants serving lamb and mutton, seasonal vegetables and pulses, and robust, velvety Montepulciano d’Abruzzo reds to complement them. For a full-on treat, book a table at local chef Niko Romito’s three Michelin-starred Reale, housed in a converted 16th-century monastery in Castel di Sangro. It also has nine luxury-meets-sparan bedrooms.
