Splendido, a Belmond Hotel.

Perched on a terraced hillside above Portofino’s harbor, this former 16th-century Benedictine monastery remains the definitive anchor of Italian Riviera glamour. Following a comprehensive 2025 redesign by Martin Brudnizki, the interiors now blend mid-century craftsmanship with hand-painted frescoes and light pastels, though the soul of the property remains tied to its storied past. Nearly every room faces the sea, but the hotel’s focal point is the cantilevered saltwater pool that hangs dramatically over the gulf. Guests can retreat to the tiered gardens for a treatment at the Dior Spa or take the complimentary shuttle down to the Piazzetta to visit the hotel’s sister property, Splendido Mare. Evenings center on La Terrazza, where piano music accompanies elevated Ligurian classics and panoramic views of the yacht-dotted bay. It is unhurried, cliffside luxury at its most cinematic.