Splendido, A Belmond Hotel: Legendary 16th-century Benedictine monastery overlooking Portofino harbor with heated saltwater infinity pool and Dior Spa

Perched high on a lush, terraced olive hillside overlooking the glittering crescent of Portofino harbor and the Gulf of Tigullio along the Italian Riviera in Liguria, Italy, Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino opened within a historic 16th-century Benedictine monastery. Reimagined by master designer Martin Brudnizki and operating as Belmond’s flagship Italian haven, the 70-room palace is world-famous as the playground of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Humphrey Bogart, and the Duke of Windsor. An iconic heated saltwater infinity pool overlooking the bay, the Michelin-acclaimed fine dining restaurant Ristorante La Terrazza, the tranquil Dior Spa in the tiered gardens, and private wooden gozzo boat charters establish Splendido as the crown jewel of the Italian Riviera.

Arrival introduces travelers to aristocratic Ligurian seaside majesty: white-gloved bellmen greet guests beneath wisteria-draped pergolas with chilled Portofino spritzes and panoramic vistas of superyachts in the harbor below. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Portofino nautical, cultural, and hiking pursuits: chartering the hotel’s private mahogany gozzo boat to cruise past the colorful fishing villages of Camogli and San Fruttuoso Abbey (with its underwater Christ of the Abyss), taking scenic cliffside walks along the headland to the Portofino Lighthouse (Faro) and Castello Brown, strolling down the private terraced botanical path to the bustling Piazzetta of Portofino (10 minutes on foot), swimming in the heated saltwater infinity pool, and reserving a sunset table at Ristorante La Terrazza.

Monastery living balances Riviera glamour with serene wellness: the Dior Spa features private treatment cabanas nestled amidst olive and lemon groves, steam room, sauna, and skincare rituals by Christian Dior. Dining is world-renowned: refined modern Ligurian gastronomy at Ristorante La Terrazza (featuring trofie al pesto, wild sea bass, and Ligurian Grand Crus), poolside wood-fired pizzas and fresh crudo at the Pool Grill, and evening piano melodies with vintage negronis at the Splendido Cocktail Bar.

Accommodations comprise 70 rooms, junior suites, and luxury suites (including the famous Dolce Vita Suite) ranging from 35 to 120 square metres. Each room features custom Martin Brudnizki decor, hand-painted botanical murals, private balconies or terraces framing Portofino harbor and the Mediterranean, king beds, and Carrara marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs.

Romance seekers, design connoisseurs, and luxury travelers seeking 16th-century monastery grandeur, Portofino harbor views, and Belmond elegance in Italy should book Splendido without hesitation. Travelers seeking modern concrete mega-resorts should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 1,450 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 on Google across 1,620 reviews.