conde nast traveller lake garda

Poets and politicians, divas and dictators, they've all been drawn to captivating Lake Garda (Lago di Garda). In fact, 7% of all tourists to Italy head for the lake’s shores, taking to its wind-ruffled waters in the north and village- and vineyard-hopping in the south. Surrounded by three distinct regions – Lombardy, Trentino Alto-Adige and the Veneto – the lake’s cultural diversity attracts a cosmopolitan crowd. Mitteleuropeans colonise northern resorts such as Riva del Garda and Torbole, where restaurants serve air-dried ham and Austrian-style carne salada (salted beef), while in the south, French and Italian families bed down in Valtenesi farmhouses and family-friendly spa towns such as Sirmione and Bardolino.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Il Vittoriale degli Italiani

Lake Garda West Bank

Poet, soldier, hypochondriac and proto-Fascist, Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863–1938) defies easy definition, and so does his estate. Bombastic, extravagant and…

Museo di Salò

Opened in the mid-2010s and housed in an old monastery a block back from Salò’s ferry dock, Musa’s exhibits are split between a permanent collection that…

Grotte di Catullo

Occupying 2 hectares at Sirmione's northern tip, this ruined 1st-century-AD Roman villa is a picturesque complex of teetering stone arches and tumbledown…

Cascata del Varone

An unusual 100m waterfall that thunders through a vertical limestone tunnel rather than off an open cliff. With the help of metal walkways, you can enter…

Parco Archeologico Rocca di Manerba

Protected by Unesco, the gorgeous 'rock of Minerva' juts out scenically into the lake just north of Moniga del Garda. The park contains the remaining low…

Monte Baldo

The long mountain ridge that towers above the northeast shores of Lake Garda is known as Monte Baldo. Ironically, the name doesn’t refer to its baldness …

Republic of Salò

In 1943 Salò was named the capital of the Social Republic of Italy as part of Mussolini and Hitler's last efforts to organise Italian Fascism in the face…

Isola del Garda

It's not often you get to explore such a stunning private island, villa and grounds. Anchored just off Salò, this speck of land is crowned with impressive…

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Oct 19, 2020 • 2 min read

A brand new way to explore Italy’s largest lake is coming soon: a 140km-long trail that circles beautiful Lake Garda in the north of the country is opening for…

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Lake Garda and beyond

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda

Set high on a terrace above Lake Garda, surrounded by Alpine pastures and mystic woodland, sits Lefay Resort & Spa Lago Di Garda. Family-owned and brimful of Italian flair and charm, it is crafted into the mountainside above Gargnano, a pretty town with lemon trees lining the lakefront, and offers a deeply tranquil place to discover your wellness journey. However it is not just the beautiful location that draws people to this award-winning wellness retreat, but rather Lefay’s unique wellness method, which seamlessly blends classical Chinese Medicine with modern Western scientific research. You come here for energy-rebalancing treatments and vitality-boosting therapies like cupping and moxibustion, all under the expert supervision of Dr Carlo Barbieri and his team. Their brilliant Spa extends over 4,300sqm and features six different saunas, five relaxation areas, a large state-of-the-art gym and an infinity pool overlooking Lake Garda. With cuisine a cornerstone of any great health programme, food plays a very important part of the overall wellness offering at Lefay, with their Vital Gourmet cuisine offering a modern take on the traditional Mediterranean diet. Only fresh and seasonal ingredients are used, and there is also the option of a detox menu for those who want to watch their weight. Lefay Resort & Spa Lago Di Garda truly is a warm and gentle-souled place to retreat to, that will leave you un-hunched, lighter on your feet and fuller in your heart. It’s no wonder so many of our valued clients return year after year – after all you can never have too much of a good thing.

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Types Of Programmes Offered At Lefay Resort & Spa Lago Di Garda

Besides being one of the most beautiful wellness resorts in Italy, Lefay Lago Di Garda offers a wide variety of wellness prgrammes to choose from. Whether you want to focus on detox and stress management, fitness and weight loss, or reverse the signs of ageing, there’s bound to be a programme that suits your needs. Here are some of our top picks: 

Weight Management

Weight management programmes at Lefay Resort Lake Garda, such as Lefay Weight Management  or the Intensive Weight Management programme offer slimming treatments and advice to help you lose weight and keep the pounds off after you return home.

Lefay Resort has various detox programmes, like the Lefay Detox or the Intensive Detox programme , which will help to rid your body of harmful toxins and cleanse your mind, body and spirit.

If you suffer from a sleep disorder such as insomnia, the Lefay Sleep programme might be the best choice for you. It includes acupuncture and massage treatments to help your body rest.

The Immune System & Gut Health programme aims to restore the balance and proper functioning of your digestive system to help improve the state of your gut, thereby strengthening your immune system and improving your overall health.

Anyone short on time or just seeking a gentle and relaxing break should consider Lefay’s Discovery programme . This programme includes massages, hydro-aromatherapy and phototherapy that will help reduce the strain and stress, completely rebalancing and rejuvenating your body, mind and spirit.

Lefay Resort’s Fitness programme is perfect for those wishing to improve their fitness levels. This programme aims to increase your fitness levels, relax tense muscles and improve your posture.

Anti-Stress

Finally, for those looking to outrun the effects of ageing and feel young again, consider an anti-ageing programme, like the Longevity or Beauty of Body and Mind programme . If you didn’t already have a reason to travel to Italy, now you have one. If you are ready to embark on the wellness journey of your dreams while relaxing at Lake Garda, contact us at Healing Holidays to book your spa retreat at Lefay Resort & Spa Lago Di Garda.

Including transfers, accommodation, breakfast and a 3 night programme

Stress Management I Holistic Healing I Anti-Ageing I Pampering

• Insider's Tips

Prestige Junior Suite

Bright & spacious, these suites are located on the ground floor and open onto the gardens, directly overlooking Lake Garda. Features: 50 sqm | Bio-climatisation | King or Twin Size bed.

Deluxe Junior Suite

The suites are on the first floor and have a private balcony from which you can admire the beautiful views of the lake: the perfect solution for those who are seeking total privacy in a charming and relaxing atmosphere. Features: 50sqm | Bio-climatisation | King or Twin Size bed.

Family Suite

This Suite is the best solution for those who want to enjoy a holiday with their children or for those who need two bathrooms and two separate bedrooms within the same suite. Features: up to 73 sqm | Terrace or private balcony with lake view | Bio-climatisation | King or Twin size bed in the main bedroom & Twin beds in the second bedroom.

Exclusive Suite

These suites offer the freedom of a private living room and the pleasure of a Jacuzzi overlooking the lake. Features: up to 83 sqm | Terrace or private balcony with lake view | Bio-climatisation | King or Twin Size bed | Walk-in wardrobe room with safe.

The Sky Suites offer panoramic views of Lake Garda, privacy and a luxurious space for relaxation. They feature a large living room, a private sauna and an outdoor Jacuzzi® on a terrace suspended between lake and sky

Royal Pool & Spa Suite

The highest expression of the new Lefay concept of luxury: the Royal Pool & Spa Suite overlooks a private garden and a private Infinity pool with spectacular views of the lake, It has spacious interiors and offers unique services such as a private Spa area and a dedicated concierge service.

The Spa extends over 4,300sqm and features six different saunas, five relaxation areas, a large state-of–the-art gym and an infinity pool overlooking Lake Garda.

Food is a vital part of Lefay's wellness philosophy. Their Vital Gourmet cuisine offers a modern take on the traditional Mediterranean diet using only fresh and seasonal ingredients. There is also the option of a detox menu.

LA LIMONAIA

Light and airy in design, the restaurant is reminiscent of the traditional lemon-houses that surround Lake Garda. Here, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is served offering a contemporary twist on Italian classics.

The cuisine at Gramen enhances the best natural ingredients and the naturally beneficial properties of each single element, without using meat, dairy products or derivatives. The tasting menus are inspired by the Energy and Therapeutic Garden that surrounds the restaurant: five areas with different cultivated or wild herbs. 

Spend a pleasant day by the pool, in an oasis suspended between the lake and the sky, sipping your favourite drink or enjoying a snack.

• Water aerobics
• Bio-gymnastics
• Walking trails and running circuit 
• Psycho-physical rebalancing activities 
• Various cultural excursions
• Paolino’s Kids Club
• Infinity pool
• Lounge bar & fireplace room
• Cigar lounge
• Tisaneria (for tisanes, aka: herbal infusions)
• Fitness centre
• Outdoor garden with walking trails

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago Di Garda is set high on a hill overlooking the iconic Lake Garda.

Directions to Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda

Travelling by plane

• Verona Airport - approx. 1 hour and 30 mins (88 km)
• Milan Bergamo Airport - approx. 2 hours (100 km)
• Milan Linate Airport - approx. 2 hours and 15 mins (150 km)

• Our Reviews
• Feefo Reviews

Lefay Resort & Spa Review by Anna

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda is a five-star luxury destination spa, quite literally bu…

Lefay Resort & Spa review by Tracy

Our wellness advisor Tracy Wilson travelled to the stunning Lake Garda to experience the life-chang…

Dawn - June 2022

Thank you Frances. It was beautiful. The lake etc magnificent!  Treatments (maybe a few too many. Not having been to a spa before) Staff were delightful. Hotel aspect great. It’s lovely hotel. Pool was beautiful. I swam 30 minutes every day. Massage was fantastic. Food took a little getting used to. The most important learning was that I now know what I should not eat to get away from my funny stomach. I am thrilled.

NICOLA - AUGUST 2020

Excellent and personal service. I loved my holiday and Frances was extremely helpful and responsive. Gorgeous resort and facilities. I would go again.

TIMOTHY - FEBRUARY 2020

Great service and great holiday recommendation. Fabulous spa hotel.

Catherine - September 2019

Fabulous hotel and spa treatments were wonderful. Staff were all great. The location is beautiful and you really relax and unwind. Very good stretching classes. 

Eileen - April 2017

I and my husband have had the most wonderful week, taking the time to lose some weight and reconnect with ourselves. The practice and theory of Chinese medicine is integral to the ethos of the Spa and programmes. The staff were just wonderful and ever so accommodating. Dr Barbieri and colleagues were both helpful and professional. Each member of staff within the resort made us feel very comfortable and made a real effort to engage with us. The gym was fantastic and well equipped whilst the pools both (the heated indoor/outdoor and the lap pool) were pristine.

We had an amazing time during our stay and couldn’t recommend it enough.

Jo - March 2017

It’s rare to find such a place as Lefay, in such a beautiful location, the hotel exudes elegance, refinement and sophistication, everything you’d expect from a 5 star resort and more. One of Lefay’s best attributes is its homely and welcoming feel, from the staff, to the décor, the whole aura surrounding Lefay is one of comfort and peace.

The spa was world class, the treatments unbeatable and the food is cooked to perfection. I cannot say enough about this place, I simply loved the week I spent there. Perfect.

Paula - MARCH 2016

My stay at Lefay Resort was perfect and exactly what I needed. The staff were so helpful, my room lovely, and of course my fitness programme was exactly what I was hoping for, I really noticed results and most importantly I feel so much more motivated to work harder now that I'm back home.  Thank you for your recommendation and ensuring everything went so smoothly for me.

• "Pack lightly, as you’ll spend most of your days in your robe and slippers, swim or gym wear, and they even provide flip-flops" - Frances Geoghegan , Owner & Founder
• "Unless on a Detox or Weight Loss programme, don’t be afraid to try more comforting Italian dishes off the main menu – your senses will thank you!"  - Tracy Wilson, Wellness Advisor

Haute Grandeur Global SPA Awards - Best Health & Wellness Spa 2019

World Luxury Spa Award - Best Unique Experience SPA 2019

Tatler Spa Guide Award - Best for East-West Fusion 2017

Although healing holidays offer a best price guarantee we often receive special offers with very limited booking windows from our partners. as these are sometimes not reflected on our website it is always worth checking with us to ensure that the cost you are being quoted is the very best available., free night offer*.

• Stay for 4 nights and pay for only 3 nights Valid for stays on specific dates in 2024. T&C's apply.
• Stay for 5 nights and pay for only 4 nights Valid for stays on specific dates in 2024 . T&C's apply.
• Stay for 6 nights and pay for only 5 nights Valid for stays on specific dates in 2024 . T&C's apply.

Early Booking Discount*

Receive a 10% room discount when you book at least 100 days in advance Valid for stays until 31 Dec 2024. T&C's apply.

Added Value Offer*

• Book a 3-night stay and receive 1 free entrance per person to the resort's Salt Lake “La Luna nel Lago” 
• Book a 5-night stay and receive spa credit worth 100 EUROS per person
• Book a 7-night stay and receive an upgrade from a Prestige Junior Suite to a Deluxe Junior Suite on arrival [subject to availability]
• Book a 10-night stay and receive early check-in & late check-out [subject to availability] Valid until 31 Dec 2024

* These offers are combinable.

Please note : Programme prices listed are inclusive of any applicable special offers

Lefay Spa Discovery

Lefay resort & spa lago di garda | italy.

Anyone short on time seeking a gentle and relaxing break should definitely consider Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Discovery programme.Over the three nights, you will enjoy a range of spa treatments, including massages, hydro-aromatherapy and phototherapy that will help reduce the str…

Lefay Immune System & Gut Health

Poor gut health has a direct impact on our overall health and wellbeing and numerous studies have shown links between gut health and the immune system, mood, mental health, autoimmune diseases and even skin conditions.To help counteract this, Lefay has developed the Immune System & Gut Health p…

Lefay Longevity

Lefay's holistic approach to anti-ageing is exactly what makes their Longevity programme so effective, their focus isn’t just on reducing the outward signs of ageing, but also on improving the health of the inside of your body too.Following a consultation with one of their Doctors, a pers…

Lefay Fitness

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Fitness is the perfect programme for those wishing to improve their fitness levels.Through a combination of personal training and various treatments, including osteo-craniosacral massage, this programme aims to increase your fitness levels, relax tense m…

Lefay Anti-Stress

Anyone seeking to reduce the impact of stress on their overall health and wellbeing should think about trying Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Anti-Stress programme.Through a combination of nutrition and various treatments, including acupuncture, moxibustion and breathing activities, yo…

Lefay Detox

If you are looking to remove harmful toxins from your body in a short period of time then Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Detox programme could be the right one for you.Through a combination of nutrition and various detoxifying treatments, your body will not only be cleansed of harmful…

Lefay Weight Management

If your aim is to lose a few kilos in a short period of time then you might want to consider Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Weight Management programme.Over five nights, you will enjoy a personalised diet, personal training and various detoxifying and slimming treatments to help you a…

LEFAY BEAUTY OF BODY AND MIND

The Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda Beauty Of Body & Mind programme is ideal for those who are looking to reduce the signs of ageing.Over five or ten nights, you will enjoy a range of treatments, including facial cleansing rituals, aculifting and anti-ageing massages that will help make yo…

Lefay Sleep

Do you suffer from a sleep disorder such as insomnia? Then you may want to consider trying Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Sleep programme.Over five or ten nights, you will enjoy a range of treatments, including acupuncture, moxibustion and massages that will help you to get a better n…

Lefay Intensive Detox

If you are looking to undertake a very deep cleanse of the body and mind then Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Intensive Detox programme could be the right one for you.Through a combination of nutrition and various detoxifying treatments, your body will not only be cleansed of harmful t…

LEFAY INTENSIVE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda’s Intensive Weight Management programme is not a quick fix; it’s a specialised retreat that recognises that many factors contribute to people’s weight issues.Over ten nights, you will enjoy a personalised diet, personal training and various sli…

Visiting Practitioners At Lefay Lago Di Garda In 2024

Find out more about the expert practitioners who will be visiting Lefay Lago Di Garda in 2024.Heike…

Wellness Experts at Lefay Lago Di Garda

Find out more about the expert practitioners who will take care of you at Lefay Lago Di Garda.DR CA…

Banana Protein Bar Recipe

Lefay's Executive Chef Matteo Maenza has created a recipe for homemade banana protein bars for …

Daily Facial Skincare Routine

A good skincare routine requires regulation and discipline. It demands time, attention and several …

Stress: The Inner Balance To Overcome It

The World Health Organization calls it the evil of the century. In the UK, 74% of adults suffer fro…

Healthy Seafood Pasta Recipe From Lefay

Lefay's Chef Matteo Maenza has kindly shared with us a healthy and delicious seafood pasta reci…

The Benefits Of Moxibustion

Few elements are as obscure or controversial as that of fire. It has been described as the revoluti…

The Best Retreats For Gut Health

Maintaining a healthy gut is very important for maintaining optimal health levels. The gut works di…

How A healthy Lifestyle Can Help With Depression

ANCIENT VIEWS OF DEPRESSIONEver since the dawn of modern civilisation, we have been fighting depres…

Lefay Lago Di Garda - Tatler 2020 Spa Guide Review

Check out Tatler's 2020 Spa Guide review of Lefay Resort & Spa, Lago Di Garda below. C…

Lefay Lago Di Garda - Conde Nast Traveller Spa Guide 2023

The Conde Nast Traveller Spa Guide 2023 is out, and you can read the review for Lefay Lago Di Garda…

The Times - Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda

At the Lefay Resort on the shores of Lake Garda, Elaine Kingett, 72, tries an ambitious new science…

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda - Tatler Spa Guide 2021

Check out Tatler's 2021 Spa Guide review of Lefay Resort & SPA Lago Di Garda below.&nb…

Lefay - Conde Nast Traveller 2019 Spa Guide Review

Check out Conde Nast's 2019 Spa Guide review of Lefay below. Click on the link below to downloa…

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Review: Lefay Resort & Spa, Italy spa review

Reviewed by Susan d'Arcy

Set the scene

If you want a detox that doesn’t feel like denial, this eco-chic resort provides an elegant solution. Tapped into a mountainside overlooking Lake Garda , Lefay offers an intelligently tweaked version of la dolce vita, so it appeals as much to smart Euro couples on a ‘proper’ holiday (whom you'll find hogging the pool) as supermodels preparing for cover shoots (you’ll see them cloaked in bathrobes heading for the results-driven treatments). It manages this sleight of hand by bridging the ancient and the innovative with an ethos that is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but embraces cutting-edge science. The people in white coats here really are qualified doctors rather than wannabes but they’re not going to treat you like children so if you decide to go off-piste from your customised menu. 

What's the backstory?

Airline entrepreneurs may not be the obvious candidates to launch an environmentally friendly wellness destination but with the arrival of the 21st century Alcide and Liliana Leali, founders of Air Dolomiti, wanted to make a more meaningful contribution to tourism. Their ambition was to showcase a new concept of luxury wellbeing, where space, nature and science-based wellbeing advice were centre stage. A respect for the environment is a cornerstone of their future-proofed blueprint, which means sustainable and sympathetic architecture (the resort’s design is based on the tiered lemon groves, typical to the region), the use of local materials and energy-efficient heating and lighting systems were non-negotiables. For example, the resort now produces more than 75 per cent of its own electricity. Lefay opened on Lake Garda in 2008 and since then has won more than 70 international awards. In 2019, the couple opened a satellite spa in the Dolomites , which has quickly become a hit too. 

What’s the wellness concept?

Lefay SPA Method blends TCM and Western techniques under the guidance of a handpicked scientific committee that includes some of the most renowned medical experts in the world, with specialisms ranging from gut health to gynaecology. Programmes cover the most prevalent health issues, such as stress, sleep deprivation and weight management. The committee regularly upgrades the offering to reflect the latest technology, research and global conditions so post-Covid, the spa has launched an Immune System and Intestine Programme. It aims to build resistance to infection through a combination of traditional Chinese therapies, such as acupuncture and tui na massage, and personalised diets, to support gut microflora. Arrival consultations are with qualified doctors, usually trained in both Western and complementary medicines, who tailor treatments to a guest’s personality as well as their ailments. Prescriptions will usually include Lefay’s own excellent herbal teas and nutritional supplements. 

What are the signature treatments?

A vast list of treatments includes everything from cupping to cryotherapy. Try the rebalancing tui na with moxibustion for an appreciation of how powerful holistic massage can be in restoring equilibrium and confidence. It’s also worth booking a postural evaluation with one of the excellent physiotherapists.

Which therapist should I book?

Marco Pistore’s calming nature, extensive knowledge of holistic practices and intuitive ability to understand a guest's issues elevates even a walk to a thought-provoking therapy. Ask him to guide you through the resort's incredible Five Elements meditative trail. Personal trainer Veronica Tonni’s charm and humour help to keep guests motivated through exercise regimes that she has edited to realistic durations to enable busy people to keep up long term. 

What makes it different?

The range of facilities is vastly superior to most spas . Apart from 21 treatment rooms, half with lake views, there are heated indoor and outdoor pools, training, ice and thalassotherapy pools and a garden whirlpools. There are six relaxation zones and seven saunas, including a glass-fronted Finnish sauna with panoramic lake views in the adults-only spa. The high-tech gym is vast, with various workout areas, a huge personal training studio and smaller yoga and tai chi studios. Outside, the resort’s enchanting 27 acres of Alto Garda National Park has workout stations and myriad walking and jogging trails. Many guests dress up for dinner: there’s a beauty salon for hair, nails and make-up. 

What else do they offer?  

The cuisine is mainly Mediterranean and the ethos moderation and personal accountability rather than set rules and weighed portions. Guests have loosely customised meal plans and all food is organic and nutrient dense. Dishes are tasty and artfully presented and you won’t go hungry – or thirsty. If you want a drink, there’s a wide selection of temptations – including some excellent regional wines. Most meals are taken in La Limonaia, which has wide decks with lake views as well as glitzy virginal white interiors. There are also pool and lobby bars and a cigar lounge (no kidding). Book at least one meal at the excellent Gramen, the resort’s plant- and fish-based fine-dining experience, with imaginative tasting menus inspired by the Energy and Therapeutic Garden that surrounds the restaurant. Stay outdoors for massages in private gazebos, glorious mountain hikes and to immerse in nature within the resort’s lush, landscaped grounds.

Where do you stay?  

The 96 suites are an ode to stealth-wealth minimalism, decorated in natural tones that take their cue from the surrounding mountains and lake. They feature eco-friendly fabrics, with furniture and floors made from walnut and olive woods. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light, and all rooms overlook Lake Garda and have a balcony or terrace. Stone and pink marble bathrooms have bathtubs and showers, stocked with Lefay Spa’s vegan toiletries, made from natural ingredients and medicinal plants. Public areas are glossy, generous spaces, with leather furniture, striking contemporary art and floor-to-ceiling windows that entice you out onto the terraces.

Book a session in the ‘salt lake’ for your day of arrival. This private floatation pool is in a huge, candle-lit cave (so none of the usual claustrophobic feelings) with loungers and experience showers that are a route-one to relaxation. It epitomises Lefay’s appeal: it makes wellness a sensuous pleasure, perfect for couples where one partner is a ‘non-believer’. 

Healing Holidays ( healingholidays.com ) can arrange a 3 night Discovery programme from £1,445.00 per person sharing, including transfers, full board and treatments

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveller are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Condé Nast Traveler

13 Travel Books to Read Before Your Next Trip to Italy

Posted: October 28, 2023 | Last updated: October 28, 2023

Since you’re reading this article on Condé Nast Traveler , you’re likely someone who believes in the transportive power of good writing—and of travel books in particular. Whether it’s a vividly-rendered novel, or a well-researched deep dive into the history, subculture, or food of a place, a good travel-y read can easily inspire your next trip.

As the cold weather starts to creep into many parts of the world, many of us here at Traveler have Italy on the brain, dreaming of Amalfi 's crystalline waters, of melting gelato in Rome , of the warm Tuscan sun . Are you dreaming of la dolce vita too? Here’s a short list of books set in Italy that’ll motivate you to, well, book a trip. (Get it?)

Few places in the world invoke as much swooning and intense wanderlust as Italy , and this list of books features stories of various stripes: gripping thrillers, fascinating and readable histories, romantic true stories of love and loss, and unputdownable page-turners that’ll get you through a long layover . There’s something here for everyone, and a good handful of these titles have been adapted into movies (and one TV show), which underscores the point that these are some lush, cinematic, and extremely vibey books.

Read on to pick some travel books to add to your bedside table—and your overpacked suitcase .

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The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

What it’s about: This captivating novel, set in the 16th-century, spins a story inspired by a little-known daughter of the Medici family, Lucrezia, who was wedded to a duke as part of a political marriage and, just a year after the wedding, was found dead. Inspired by Lucrezia’s titular marriage portrait, Maggie O’Farrell (no stranger to fictionalizing historical trivia ) writes in prose both lavish and readable, daring you to put down this strange and delicious book. With plenty of narrative twists and palazzo intrigue, this book will drop you into the middle of Renaissance Florence and never let you go.

The mood it’s giving: Running through an Italian palace in a very heavy gown, weighing you down like you're in a nightmare—in the best way possible

The book’s first line: “Lucrezia is taking her seat at the long dining table, which is polished to a watery gleam and spread with dishes, inverted cups, a woven circlet of fir.”

The Medici: Power, Money, and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance by Paul Strathern

What it’s about: For a more factual understanding of the influential family that shaped the Italian Renaissance, you can’t go wrong with this 464-page tome. This evocative and masterful account of the dramatic history of the Medicis also covers their patronage of the day’s greatest minds (Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Galileo, among others), offering context and knowledge upon which you can draw during your next visit to Florence and greater Tuscany.

The mood it’s giving: The thrill and shock of Succession , but Florentine and, you know, real

The book’s first line: “It is Sunday 26 April 1478 in Florence, and the church bells ring out from the towers above the rooftops of the city. Lorenzo the Magnificent, accompanied by his circle of favourites, is making his way through the colorful crowds towards the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.”

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

What it’s about: This beloved classic of English literature, a satire of English society in the Edwardian era first published in 1908, opens at a hotel in Florence, Italy: Charlotte Bartlett and her cousin Lucy Honeychurch are positively incensed that their rooms face a drab courtyard (how dreadful!). Another guest and his son offer to switch accommodations with theirs—and what follows is a series of semi-fortunate events that will make you want to book a room with a view of the Arno and get into some Italian hijinks yourself. (The Merchant Ivory film adaptation is also stellar, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith.)

The mood it’s giving: That moment where Kim Kardashian is crying because she lost her diamond earring in the ocean in Bora Bora and her sister Kourtney telling her, “Kim, there’s people that are dying”—but in Florence

The book’s first line: “‘The Signora had no business to do it,” said Miss Bartlett, “no business at all. She promised us south rooms with a view close together, instead of which here are north rooms, looking into a courtyard, and a long way apart.”

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

What it’s about: For a contemporary take on the set-up introduced by A Room with a View , pick up Kevin Kwan’s delightfully frothy Sex and Vanity . The protagonists are named Lucie and Charlotte as well, and Kwan’s latest novel Forster-ly satirizes the uber-rich Asian and Asian American diaspora that the author has long lampooned in his Crazy Rich trilogy of books. Only time will tell though, if sex and vanity are as timeless as a room with a view—but as far as cotton-candy vacation reads go, you can do far worse than bringing this paperback onto a chartered yacht.

The mood it’s giving: Crazy Rich Asians decadence goes to Capri (and the Hamptons)

The book’s first line: “[an email with the subject line: la dolce vita] Lucie!!! I’m sooooo happy you’re coming to my wedding in Capri!”

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

What it’s about: There are many ways to do Italy on a budget, and there are just as many (if not more) ways to do it extravagantly. Perhaps that’s why our collective cultural imagination so often links the fantasy of the Italian Riviera with how the rich and famous behave—and behave badly. All that to say, Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins is a sweeping and swooning book that brilliantly dissects the power plays and petty dramas of our contemporary demigods (Hollywood stars), as well as the Italian seaside villages that everyone can access, even if it means swimming to get there.

The mood it’s giving: That one series of unbelievably glamorous photos of Paul Newman at the Venice Film Festival in 1963

The book’s first sentence: “The dying actress arrived in his village the only way one could come directly—in a boat that motored into the cove, lurched past the rock jetty, and bumped against the end of the pier.”

The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit by Helena Attlee

What it’s about: Fancy a visit to a marmalade kitchen in Sicily? To bergamot groves in Calabria? To lemon houses by the banks of Lago di Garda? You’ll get all that and more in this sumptuous and sensual history of citrus throughout the Italian peninsula. Helena Attlee blends her deep knowledge of the country with insightful gastronomical observations—and recipes!—to make an immensely readable and giftable volume that’s as fragrant as a helping of delizia al limone on a terrace in Amalfi.

The mood it’s giving: As sharp and sparkling, tart and satisfying as a limoncello spritz

The book’s first line: “At dawn, I lifted a corner of the curtain in the stuffy couchette and realized we had already crossed the border. We were somewhere near Ventimiglia on the Italian Riviera, and there were lemons growing beside the station platform, their dark leaves and bright fruit set against a backdrop of nothing but sea.”

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

What it’s about: We can’t talk about la dolce vita without bringing up The Talented Mr. Ripley , the novel wherein young Tom Ripley goes to Italy and falls in love with the indulgent, carefree lifestyle of Dickie Greenleaf (and, in some readings, Greenleaf himself)—so much so that he kills the young heir and assumes his identity. The 1999 film adaptation is better known for depicting the sunny sprezzatura of a Mediterranean holiday, but in all formats, the story is always rife with tension and monied decadence.

The mood it’s giving: Chic knit polos and swim trunks wet with saltwater that may or may not be stained with blood

The book’s first line: “Tom glanced behind him and saw the man coming out of the Green Cage, heading his way. Tom walked faster. There was no doubt the man was after him.”

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy by Frances Mayes

What it’s about: Yet another go-to-Italy-and-change-your-life classic, Frances Mayes’s memoir truly changed the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if this book—and the 2003 film adaptation —are responsible for a sizable chunk of Italy’s GDP. But yes, this story has surely inspired many non-Italians to visit the cypress-studded Tuscan countryside, hoping to come upon a rundown villa in need of restoration and love, just as Mayes does in this travel writing classic.

The mood it’s giving: A leisurely walk through a Tuscan farmer’s market, where you come upon the most sweet-tart tomato you’ve ever had, its sun-bright juice coating your lips

The book’s first line: “‘What are you growing here?’ The upholsterer lugs an armchair up the walkway to the house but his quick eyes are on the land.”

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke

What it’s about: If Under the Tuscan Sun is an easy-going drive through the Italian heartland, then From Scratch is a journey of highs and lows along the hilly and rugged terrain of Sicily. Actor and writer Tembi Locke’s memoir tells her personal history of falling in love with her Italian husband, building a life together in Los Angeles, grieving him after his death due to cancer, and rebuilding her life with their daughter in Sicily. The book is heartfelt and Locke’s language is generous and graceful. If you’d rather binge the story on your screen, there’s a 2022 Netflix adaptation too. Either way, both will leave you weeping into your tub of gelato.

The mood it’s giving: Making eye contact with the love of your life, being reminded that life is bittersweet—so beautiful and so short

The book’s first line: “In Sicily, every story begins with a marriage or a death. In my case, it’s both.”

The Truffle Underground: A Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and Manipulation in the Shadowy Market of the World's Most Expensive Fungus by Ryan Jacobs

What it’s about: Have you ever tasted a truffle? I mean, a true truffle that bursts with the flavor of Italian terroir? If you have, then you’ll relate to the author Ryan Jacobs when he describes tasting a white truffle: He felt transported, “momentarily, into an alternate universe, a place where flavor mattered more than truth and virtue.” And it’s true that pursuit of flavor stomps out virtue, as Jacobs reports it in this deep investigative dive into the industry and sub-world of truffles—where rival truffle hunters poison each other’s truffle-hunting dogs, where hunters carrying rifles protect their hunting grounds from spies, where counterfeits dupe even the most well-trained experts. Read this book, and you’ll understand why your dinner of tagliatelle al tartufo costs 50 euros.

The mood it’s giving: A crime documentary, but about truffles! I really can’t sell this book any better than the facts can

The book’s first line: “Threads of fungus swirl through the heat and dark of the rocky soil. They spend years twisting, extending, contorting, in perpetual search of nutrients to bring back to their host tree.”

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante

What it’s about: Ask anyone about good books and Italian culture, and the name Elena Ferrante is bound to come up. The pseudonymous writer’s four novels—known as the Neapolitan Quartet, beginning with the epidemic My Brilliant Friend —seemed to be everywhere in the last decade in the English-speaking world, due in no small part to the genius translation work of Ann Goldstein from the original Italian. Their collaboration shines once again in The Lying Life of Adults , a novel set in Naples (where else?) that depicts “Naples of the heights, which wears a mask of refinement, and Naples of the depths, a place of excess and vulgarity,” as narrated by a 14-year-old girl named Giovanna.

The mood it’s giving: The most observant and clear-eyed diary entries of an insightful young girl in Napoli

The book’s first sentence: “Two years before leaving home my father said to my mother that I was very ugly. The sentence was uttered under his breath, in the apartment that my parents, newly married, had bought at the top of Via San Giacomo dei Capri, in Rione Alto.”

In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri

What it’s about: On its surface, Jhumpa Lahiri’s In Other Words is a series of short essays and reflections about the task of learning Italian. But once you crack open this elegant volume, you’ll see it’s so much more: Lahiri first wrote the book in Italian (to all the better master the language), and the English translation was provided by Ann Goldstein (yes, who translates Ferrante as well); more unusual, both the Italian and the English stand side by side in the book, on opposite pages. Reading how Lahiri’s fluency and confidence with Italian flourishes alongside the evolving English translation is enough inspiration for anyone to at least pick up a tourist phrasebook for Italian. Dov’è la libreria?

The mood it’s giving: Drinking in the mystique and genius of your most brilliant friend from your first year of college whom you met in that Italian 101 class

The book’s first sentence: “Voglio attraversare un piccolo lago. È veramente piccolo, eppure l’altra sponda mi sembra troppo distante, oltre le mie capacità. | I want to cross a small lake. It really is small, and yet the other shore seems too far away, beyond my abilities.”

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

What it’s about: It’s now a tale as old as time: An eloquent and cerebral narrator recalls the time how he, as a young man in the 1980s, stayed at his family’s home in Northern Italy and was drawn to the graduate student his parents took under their wing for the summer—and how their mutual attraction led to a profound exploration of desire, intimacy, and what it means to lose it all. Of course, the 2017 film adaptation is better known for its atmospheric cinematography (think sun-baked peaches, glimmering Lombardian lakes, the worn-in grandeur of Villa Albergoni in Moscazzano) but the source material is better at conveying the intense limerence of young romance, the kind that a scenic Italian backdrop renders all the more heady and bittersweet.

The mood it’s giving: Summer, somewhere in Northern Italy, cascading melodies on the piano floating out from the villa’s windows and out onto the pomegranate orchard

The book’s first sentence: “‘ Later! ’ The word, the voice, the attitude. I’d never heard anyone use ‘later’ to say goodbye before. It sounded harsh, curt, and dismissive, spoken with the veiled indifference of people who may not care to see or hear from you again.”

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Luxury Hotels, Spas and Venues in Milan and Lombardy

See our selection of luxury hotels and spas in Milan and Lombardy, Italy . The Condé Nast Johansens team of Local Experts inspects each property year-on-year, so you can be sure to receive a premium experience.

For an elegant and sophisticated city break, Milan is simply unbeatable. The home of Italian fashion, this dynamic city offers world-class shopping and a buzzing café scene. For art and culture lovers, there are fantastic galleries and the world-famous cathedral. Venture into the Lombardy region, and you’ll be rewarded with verdant mountains and the stunning lakes of Maggiore, Como and Garda . It’s the ideal place to recharge your batteries in one of our luxury spas, or treat yourself in the lap of luxury, in one of our five-star hotels.

Please use our site to send a booking enquiry directly to a property and enjoy savings, special offers, a warm welcome on arrival, room upgrades and VIP privileges.

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Speronari Suites

Milan and Lombardy , Italy , Milan and Lombardy , Italy

Nestled among the rooftops of 'old Milan,' Speronari Suites is located between Via Torino and Via Falcone, an area known for its cornucopia of trendy boutiques and exhibition spaces. Arrive at Milan Linate Airport (approximately eight kilometres away), hop in a taxi and within 25 minutes you're transported to the luxury and serenity of this 19th-century palace comprising 22 super-stylish suites... More info

Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga

Milan and Lombardy , Italy

Within the embrace of lush forest looking down to Lake Garda, moments from charming Gargnano, Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga holds a privileged position. Originally this was a hunting lodge for Count Giuseppe Feltrinelli built in the late 19th century. Lovingly restored by the current owners, it's now a sophisticated country house hotel filled with vestiges of its past, classic furnishings, a... More info

Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga Hotel

Speronari Suites Hotel

Condé Nast Traveler reveals its Hot List for 2024

• The Lana, Dorchester Collection in Dubai and The Guild restaurant were notable openings

Condé Nast Traveler – the global premier travel publication – revealed its Hot List for 2024 on Wednesday, compiling its annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships.

The winners were compiled by CNT editors, following a year’s worth of traveling the globe.

‘Sports tourism, train travel’: Condé Nast Traveler identifies biggest travel trends for 2024

Here is an overview of what they found:

Celebrity Ascent, Emerald Sakara and Explora I. and Icon of the Seas were among those that topped the list of best cruise ships, noted for impeccable amenities, services and interiors.

Chishuru and The Devonshire in London, Datil, Paris, Coqodaq, New York along with The Guild and Soul Kitchen in Dubai were all noted as best new restaurants.

The best new hotel openings around the globe were also noted:

In India, Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur topped the list.

Regent Hong Kong and The Tokyo EDITION in Ginzaa were all top new hotels mentioned.

Dubai, Doha, London among top cities where international travellers loved to splurge in 2022

Middle East

In Dubai, newly-opened The Lana, Dorchester Collection – replete with the very first Dior Spa – marked the prestigious addition of the brand’s entry in the Middle East.

In Paris, 1 Place Vendôme is the first hotel from Swiss fine jewelry and watchmaker Chopard and the Scheufele family who have owned the brand since 1963. It is a members’ club as much as a hotel – only accessible to guests and their visitors.

The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, Cannes – a favorite with the festival set – as well as Mandarin Oriental in Greece all topped the list of new and refurbished openings.

Bulgari Hotel Roma, Rome, Palazzo Roma, Rome, The Peninsula Istanbul too made the cut.

Singapore tops ranking for most expensive city in the world for luxury living

United States

The Fifth Avenue Hotel New York along with Dawn Ranch, Sonoma, California and Fontainebleau Las Vegas were all notable openings.

United Kingdom

Broadwick Soho, London and Raffles at The OWO both topped the list of new openings.

Farasha Farmhouse in Morocco, Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island and Nikkei Cape Town, South Africa topped the Hot List 2024.

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