Portofino's Hotel Splendido Has A Stunning Villa To Book This Summer
The Villa Beatrice, a short walk from the Splendido, was originally designed by Gino Coppedè, a renowned and prolific architect in early 20th-century Italy.
Courtesy of Belmond
Portofino has long been a gliterrati playground and its desirability shows no sign of diminishing after more than 60 years in the jet-set spotlight. Each season superyachts compete for one of the limited number of berths in its tiny harbor; reservations at dining hot spots Cracco, Chuflay and Da Puny are snapped up the moment temperatures begin to rise, and for decades the village's artisan and specialty boutiques have been sought after by visitors who could shop anywhere—style icon Gianni Agnelli liked to purchase loafers at Mingo Portofino. where you can do the same today. This summer there'll be another reason for deep-pocketed travelers to stop by when the Hotel Splendido Belmond debuts a new property, a private one-key villa, which will be a first for the luxury travel company.
The seaside palazzo, called Villa Beatrice, is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and sits on a private spit overlooking the sea. The hills around Portofino are home to some of the most exclusive private homes in the world, including the estate owned by Dolce & Gabbana, the fashion designers. The Dowager Duchess of Westminster owns a vineyard here that produces the local white, vermentino.
The Villa has three floors and an additional Torretta, or tower level.
COURTESY OF BELMOND
For decades the most famous place to stay in Portofino has been the aptly named Hotel Splendido, a Belmond property since 2014, and owned by LVMH since 2019. Winston Churchill, a connoisseur of many things and someone who knew how to pick his Riviera resorts, stayed here as did Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Vivien Leigh, Ava Gardner and more recently, George Clooney.
British actress Vivien Leigh at the Hotel Splendido in 1954. Photo by Mario De Biasi/Mondadori via Getty Images
Mondadori via Getty Images
Centuries before Portofino became a requisite A-list stop, it was a coveted prize for power players on the Italian peninsula. The Romans were thought to use Portofino as a harbor; in the 1500s Saracen pirates, determined to wangle a foothold in the area, attacked a strategically placed Benedictine Abbey so often the beleaguered monks had to flee from their home with the heavenly panoramas. (The abbey eventually became a private residence, then in 1902 the site of the Splendido.) Napoleon stationed troops at Castello Brown, a medieval castle with Roman roots perched high above the village. Later European aristocrats came to holiday; in the 1920s, Elizabeth von Arnim's best-selling novel, Enchanted April, gave the burgeoning resort a widespread renown. The English actor Rex Harrison vacationed in Portofino and helped put it on the celebrity map during Italy's dolce vita heyday, where it has remained every since
A view over the Gulf of Tigullio.
Courtesy of Belmond
The Hotel Splendido's Villa Beatrice, which will open this summer, overlooks the mesmerizingly beautiful Gulf of Tigullio, and offers exceptional views and private access to the sea. This former family home, built for a Ligurian shipbuilding magnate, Attilio Odero, spreads out over three levels (with a Torretta, or tower floor) and includes four suites, a rooftop terrace, and a separate cottage called La Casetta with an additional suite. The villa was originally designed by Gino Coppedè, a renowned and prolific architect in early 20th-century Italy, whose buildings in a Rome neighborhood blending Art Nouveau and other distinct architectural styles, turned it into one of the Eternal City's cultural attractions, subsequently called Quartiere Coppedè.
A sitting area.
Courtesy of Belmond
A terrace overlooking the sea.
Courtesy of Belmond.
Martin Brudnizki, an architect famous for his sleekly glamorous interiors and luxury hospitality design, oversaw the the multi-year renovation of the villa. The palazzo's external Coppedè frescoes were restored, marble bathrooms revamped, and the decor styled with antiques, contemporary pieces and artwork with connections to the region. Brudnizki said in a statement that the goal for Villa Beatrice was to create a space that blends modern sophistication with the history of the Ligurian coast 'where guests feel as though they've been welcomed into a cherished family villa.' Amenities at the property include butler service, a plunge pool with sun deck, a pavillion for yoga or spa treatments, gym, and a terrace for outdoor dining. Guests can also arrange for a private chef.
The hotel will introduce its renovations to the main buiding this summer.
Courtesy of Belmond
The Splendido itself, which has also been undergoing a multi-year update under the direction of the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, debuts its renovated main building this summer. In addition to new rooms and suites, the hotel will have restyled guest areas including cocktail, lounge and coffee bars, a refreshed breakfast space, and a permanent Dior Spa with a roof terrace. Splendido updates completed in 2023 include the stunning (saltwater) pool where you can swim and take in views of the Portofino coast, and the redesigned La Baronessa Suite, fashioned as if it were a sumptuous retreat in a Ligurian palazzo. It has its own garden and provides direct access to the pool.
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