Hotel Splendido/Splendido Mare

This 19th-century villa grafted onto the remains of a 16th-century monastery has been a hotel since 1901 and, since the early 1950s, one of those fabled retreats of the international rich and famous, of rock stars and Oscar winners. It’s perched in a panoramic position atop the headland just before the last curve of the road into town (yes, it’s a good 10-min. walk to Portofino harbor—and an uphill haul back—but there’s a regular shuttle). Outrageous legends of romance abound here, such as the man who hired a helicopter to shower a deluge of rose petals on his sunbathing sweetheart. The spacious junior suites come with parquet floors, king-size beds, and antique-styled furnishings that hide the high-tech entertainment centers. Some come with a small terrace, and a few are set into the very private next-door building fronted by a grape arbor. A series of olive-lined, rosemary-scented paths wrap around the panoramic pool terrace and stretch along the hillside to various little lookouts. Though the Splendido closes down in winter, its sister, Splendido Mare (eight doubles and eight suites on Portofino’s harborfront piazzetta), stays open year-round.

Facilities:
2 restaurants (regional cuisine in an indoor/outdoor terrace dining room; poolside lunch buffet); bar (piano bar in the evening); babysitting; bikes; concierge; exercise room; nearby golf course; outdoor heated seawater pool; room service; sauna; spa; outdoor tennis courts; watersports equipment/rentals

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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