Belmond Hotel Splendido

Belmond Hotel Splendido sits on a wooded hillside above Portofino, roughly a ten-minute walk down to the famous harbour piazzetta on the Italian Riviera in Liguria. The building began as a Benedictine monastery and was converted into a hotel in 1901, and its terraced gardens, climbing bougainvillea, and umbrella pines have framed views over the Tigullio Gulf for generations of guests. Architecturally it blends a pastel-painted villa facade with antique-furnished interiors, and the atmosphere remains discreet, glamorous, and old-world rather than minimalist. Accommodation ranges from Classic and Deluxe rooms to Junior Suites and sea-view Suites, many with private balconies or terraces overlooking the bay and the village rooftops below. The heated saltwater infinity pool, set among the gardens, is one of the property's signatures, complemented by a small fitness centre and a spa offering massages and beauty treatments. Dining centres on La Terrazza, where Ligurian and Mediterranean dishes such as pesto, fresh fish, and regional olive oil are served on an open terrace with panoramic harbour views, while the poolside grill and an intimate bar provide lighter options and aperitivi at sunset. Breakfast is generous and served with the same sweeping outlook. Service is a defining feature: a large, attentive staff, twenty-four-hour concierge, and a complimentary shuttle that ferries guests between the hotel and Portofino's harbour, sparing the steep climb. The hotel has long drawn film stars, royalty, and writers, yet it also welcomes families and couples seeking a quiet, refined base. From the Splendido, visitors can reach the boutiques and seafood restaurants of Portofino in minutes, walk the coastal path toward San Fruttuoso abbey, or take boats along the Tigullio coast to Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo. Open seasonally, typically from spring into autumn, it ranks among the most celebrated luxury addresses on the Ligurian coast.