HONEYMOONS IN ITALY: THE 10 MOST ROMANTIC ITALIAN BREAKS

‘We’re honeymooning in Italy – in Venice, on the Amalfi Coast, in Sicily!’ It always has a glamorous and seductive ring to it. There’s such variety in this country; extraordinary history, a wealth of artistic 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 fabulous places to stay. Italy works as well for a leisurely three-week trip as for a brief, intense mini-moon and has the advantage of being a year-round destination. Winter is the time to visit the great art cities, to find them devoid of crowds, sizzling summer is for the beach and the rest of the year works for just about everything.

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  • THE ITALIAN RIVIERADrawn by its mild microclimate, salutary sea air and spectacular natural beauty, the Italian Riviera became fashionable among northern travellers in the 19th and early 20th centuries; Byron and Shelley were fans, and later, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra. These days, it’s a very popular Italian holiday destination (avoid July and August), but resorts such as Santa Margherita, Rapallo and Portofino still carry an exclusive air of retro Dolce Vita glamour. The place to stay on the Riviera is the glorious, retro-glam Belmond Splendido in Portofino, which stands on a hill just outside the town.But for something more intimate, check out the Splendido Mare, located right on the famous piazzetta and glowing frisky and fresh after a recent revamp. The restaurant’s signature risotto with pesto and shrimp is a perfect accompaniment to the grandstand views of the sashaying latter-day jet set. From here you can explore the Riviera di Levante (east of Genoa), preferably by boat: Camogli, Rapallo, Portovenere and Lerici, as well as the ridiculously pretty (and ridiculously over-crowded) Cinque Terre. The Riviera di Ponente – stretching all the way to the French border – is less swanky but full of low-key gems, including Albenga, Cervo and lovely Alassio where you can stay at Villa della Pergola, set in beautiful gardens in the hills behind the coast; it’s a wonderfully romantic spot and the restaurant has a Michelin star.
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  • PUGLIAThe sun-soaked heel of Italy’s boot is a largely flat land of raw beauty and low-key charm where gnarled olive trees and wild flowers spring from the rich, deep-red soil, providing a vivid backdrop for conical trulli and solid, low-lying masserias, many of which now house smart hotels. And in spite of being dubbed the new Tuscany, it has somehow avoided the worst of the crowds. Honey-hued Lecce is the region’s cultural gem while the white-washed città bianche of Ostuni, Martina Franca and Locorotondo are great day-trip destinations. And just over the border in Basilicata is extraordinary Matera, the ancient city famed for its sassi, or cave dwellings.Puglia is fringed by pristine white sands and lapped by the clear, warm waters of both the Ionian and Adriatic seas, making it a brilliant beach-and-country-holiday double act. The food is earthy with abundant vegetables, fish and seafood, liberally dressed with the local fruity olive oil, starring on the menus of the local trattorias. Glamorous Borgo Egnazia offers a full-on, five-star hotel experience with a fabulous spa, private beach and several restaurants, including one with a Michelin star. Alternatively, Masseria Cimino, its more rustic little sister, has a laidback vibe, and guests can access the property up the road.The 10 prettiest towns in Puglia, ItalyDESTINATIONSThe 10 prettiest towns in Puglia, ItalySOPHIE KNIGHT
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  • THE ITALIAN LAKESPercy Bysshe Shelly once said of Lago di Como that it ‘exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty’, but the lakes of Maggiore and Orta are also exceptionally lovely, otherworldly and undeniably romantic. The poet’s favourite has a particularly glamorous ring to it, with spectacular villas and lush gardens dotted along its coastline – some of which, such as Villa Balbianello, are open to the public. Sophisticated Villa d’Este on the western shore is one of the world’s great hotels; it stands in magnificent grounds and has its own jetty from which you can hop on a boat to explore the lake and the delightful towns of Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna. There are few more blissfully romantic spots to hole up in than Hotel Verbano on Lago Maggiore’s Isola dei Pescatori, a spectacular combination of dramatic mountain scenery, pretty towns and fabulous gardens. Or head to quiet, dreamy Lago d’Orta, which stretches north from postcard pretty Orta San Giulio, and book into Moorish-style Villa Crespi to feast on chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s take on saffron spaghetti with sea urchin and suckling piglet overlooking the water, before falling into a cocoon-like four-poster bed.Lake Como: Italy’s greatest lakeLAKES & MOUNTAINSLake Como: Italy’s greatest lakeGETTY IMAGES
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  • THE AMALFI COASTThe gnarled, pointing finger of land that juts into the Tyrrhenian Sea just south of Naples has some of the most spectacular coastline in the world. Every torturous bend along the celebrated Amalfi Drive reveals a photo op better than the last; the bright, sunny local food is some of the best in Italy and the hotels are to die for. A couple of days based at art-filled Casa d’Anna in decadent, edgy Naples is a possible way to start a honeymoon before moving south to Positano, a ridiculously picturesque stage set of pastel-hued houses tumbling towards the sea. To be in the thick of things, check into exquisite Le Sirenuse or head up to quiet Ravello and the Belmond Caruso with its famous infinity pool. For total privacy, book the standalone, clifftop Romeo and Juliet chalet at the Santa Caterina, from where the views take in the twinkling lights of the town and the infinite sparking sea. Life moves at a very leisurely pace on the Costiera; days revolve around gentle sightseeing and shopping, lazy lunches, the odd boat trip and dips in the shimmering sea. Then you slip into something a little more sophisticated for a sunset Campari Spritz and dinner, maybe La Sponda at the Sirenuse which, lit by thousands of candles, is one of the most romantic dining rooms in Italy.The best hotels on the Amalfi CoastPLACES TO STAYThe best hotels on the Amalfi CoastGETTY IMAGES
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  • SARDINIAIf pristine powdery beaches and translucent, Caribbean-like waters push your buttons, Sardinia is the place to go. The fabled Costa Smeralda, with its beautiful natural scenery, splashy beach clubs and international jet-set crowd, is good for a blow-out honeymoon with retreats such as the legendary Hotel Cala di Volpe offering high-end romance in spades. Petra Segreta, a 25-bedroom hillside hideaway, is much more discreet and from here you can drive to Palau and catch the ferry to the peaceful Maddalena archipelago, where 300-plus immaculate white-sand beaches are lapped by turquoise-green waters.The charming old town of Alghero on the west coast, with its pastel houses and cobbled streets, is a complete contrast to the bling of the east, and is also flanked by fabulous sweeps of sand. Restaurants and cafés dot the ramparts and seafront and local dishes include lobster and bottarga – particularly delicious when eaten while watching the sun sink into the sea, a glass of crisp rosé in hand. Villa Las Tronas sits right on the rocky shore just outside the town and was once the summer retreat of Italian royalty as well as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.GETTY IMAGES
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  • SICILYWhile it may be a little rough around the edges, a honeymoon in Sicily offers extraordinary variety, guaranteeing a trip full of memorable experiences. The island packs in a wealth of history and culture, glorious countryside, fabulous beaches, idyllic islands and incredible food and wine. Not to mention an active volcano. It’s just about possible to see it all in an intense, two-week gallop, or you can take things at a more leisurely pace allowing, maybe, for a few days of island living in one of the new lighthouse suites at Capofaro on the tiny, verdant Aeolian island of Salina. Explore vibrant, crumbling Palermo (staying at the new Rocco Forte-owned Villa Igiea), feast on couscous di pesce in exotic Trapani and explore the magnificent Greek temples at Selinunte and Segesta (less crowded than Agrigento).Take in the Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Noto, stopping at Caffè Sicilia in Noto for the best almond granita on the planet. Etna merits a couple of days; the ravishing Monaci delle Terre Nere , a grand country house with a contemporary spin and a barefoot-chic vibe, is a brilliant honeymoon retreat, and from here you can wind up in dreamy Taormina. The terrace of the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo , with its in-your-face views of the volcano, is a fabulously romantic spot for a last dinner of linguine with lobster.ANA LUI
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  • ROMEItaly’s capital does romance on a grand scale. The Eternal City has been around for nearly three millennia and in few other places are the physical remains of the past so much part of the present. Great chunks of antiquities are integrated into modern life, with crumbling ruins standing alongside Renaissance palazzi and Baroque churches; the beauty of it all left the poets Keats, Byron and Shelley swooning. There are countless atmospheric places to stay, including sophisticated Portrait Roma, its panoramic roof terrace affording incredible views, and arty, eclectic B&B Buonanotte Garibaldi, which has a secret garden. But the ultimate hideaway must surely be the opulent Residenza Napoleone III, two suites stuffed with museum-worthy antiques in a princely palazzo just off via Condotti.Although the centro storico is surprisingly compact, try to avoid sightseeing burnout by leaving plenty of time between the Vatican and the Colosseum et al for neighbourhood trattorias, pavement cafés, quirky shops and wandering the quiet, creeper-clad backstreets and quiet piazzettas. Fun things to do with your amore include hiring a vespa to whizz round channelling Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, climbing up to the Parco Savello on the leafy Aventine hill with a bottle of bubby to watch the sunset, and spending a lazy afternoon exploring the Villa Borghese where you can hire a little rowing boat on the lake.Rome: Italy’s exquisite, shape-shifting cityINSPIRATIONRome: Italy’s exquisite, shape-shifting cityhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/3kwnKDmEsykGETTY IMAGES
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  • VENICEHoneymoon destination per eccellenza, La Serenissima is undeniably one of the most romantic cities on the planet. The watery vistas, echoing footsteps, pastel-hued palazzi – even the cheesy serenades of the gondoliers – it all tugs at the heartstrings. And while the volume of visitors can be oppressive, it’s possible to break away as long as you are prepared to get very lost. The key is to be up with the lark to see the major sights then spend the rest of the day wandering the quieter corners of Cannaregio and Castello or discovering the lesser-known islands such as near-deserted Torcello (with lunch on the terrace at Locanda Cipriani) and secret Sant’Erasmo where you can walk through vineyards and past fields planted with asparagus and artichokes.Back in town, explore the Rialto fish market, climb the tower of San Giorgio Maggiore for sweeping views, sample delicious cichetti and catch an opera performance at La Fenice. And yes, do take a gondola ride: there are few things more romantic than gliding silently along the backwaters of this breathtaking city at night. For sumptuous bedrooms with Grand Canal views, book into the Gritti Palace – there is nowhere better for your morning cappuccino or evening prosecco than its terrace. Over in quiet, arty Dorsoduro, right behind the Salute church, Boutique Ca’ Maria Adele has its own landing stage and a series of decadent, themed rooms.A photographer’s guide to VeniceDESTINATIONSA photographer’s guide to VeniceGETTY IMAGES
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  • TUSCANYLa Bella Toscana is that most enduring of romantic destinations, a timeless landscape of gentle hills and vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees, pretty villas and ancient castles, all bathed in a soft golden light. One very good reason to honeymoon here is Borgo Santo Pietro, one of Italy’s great secluded retreats, set in 200 acres south-west of Siena. You could hole up in one of the garden suites with a private pool and hang up your car keys spending bucolic days being pampered in the spa, zooming around on a vespa, learning to make cheese, and feasting on vegetables from the kitchen garden and lamb from the farm at Michelin-starred Meo Modo.Florence, with its wealth of Renaissance treasures, thriving food scene and excellent shopping, merits a visit of several days, staying perhaps in one of Anouska Hempel’s seductive suites at the Helvetia & Bristol. A day in medieval Siena, with lunch at Osteria Le Logge, should also be high on the list, and oenophiles can meander through the famous Chianti vineyards, tasting en route. South-east of Siena lies the beautiful Val d’Orcia where you can take a dip in therapeutic thermal waters at Bagno Vignoni, walk the slopes of Monte Amiata and explore the hilltowns of Pienza, Montepulciano and Montalcino. And if a short break at the beach appeals, legendary Hotel Il Pellicano is one of the coolest summer hangouts in the Med.GETTY IMAGES
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  • ABRUZZOOne of Italy’s most isolated regions and a dream for the adventurous at heart. Romance here is etched in rugged mountains, sweeping plains and silent valleys dotted with medieval villages. It has a timeless quality that is bewitching. A third of the region is given over to nature reserves inhabited by freely roaming wolves, an abundance of indigenous flora and fauna and even the odd bear. For full immersion 4,101ft above sea level, stay at labyrinthine Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, which occupies a series of stone houses in an ancient hamlet set inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Expect minimalist, chic interiors and rustic food served beside an open fire. There’s culture too; L’Aquila, the region’s lively capital, has an attractive historic centre. Food is a highlight of any trip to Abruzzo with no-fuss restaurants offering menus based on local organic produce – lamb and mutton, seasonal vegetables and pulses plus robust, velvety Montepulciano d’Abruzzo reds. 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 luxe-meets-spartan bedrooms.
  • Source: cntraveller.com