Hotel stories

The stories behind the hotels we compare: who built them, what makes them special and who they suit best. Read the story, then see how each one compares.

Positano, Italy

Le Sirenuse

A family villa turned legend, named after the sirens’ islands.

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Positano, Italy

Il San Pietro di Positano

A cliffside hotel with a lift down to its own beach.

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Lake Como, Italy

Villa d’Este

A cardinal’s 1568 palace with a pool floating on the lake.

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Lake Como, Italy

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

A 1910 Art Nouveau palace looking across at Bellagio.

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Santorini, Greece

Canaves Oia Suites

Old wine caves turned white suites above the caldera.

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Santorini, Greece

Katikies Santorini

White terraces and three infinity pools on the Oia cliff.

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Mykonos, Greece

Cavo Tagoo

A 1985 hotel in an old quarry, with an aquarium pool bar.

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Mykonos, Greece

Santa Marina

A beach resort on its own Ornos Bay peninsula.

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Lisbon, Portugal

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

A 1959 grand hotel by the park, full of Portuguese art.

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Lisbon, Portugal

Bairro Alto Hotel

Four 18th-century buildings on Praça Luís de Camões.

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Algarve, Portugal

Vila Vita Parc

A 1992 clifftop estate with two-MICHELIN-star Ocean.

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Algarve, Portugal

Pine Cliffs Hotel

Above Praia da Falésia, with a beach lift and golf.

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Mallorca, Spain

Cap Rocat

A 19th-century fortress turned adults-only hideaway.

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Mallorca, Spain

Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor

The legendary 1929 Hotel Formentor, on its own beach.

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Amalfi, Italy

Hotel Santa Caterina

A Gambardella family villa above Amalfi since 1904.

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Amalfi Coast, Italy

Borgo Santandrea

A 2021 cliffside hotel with its own beach and dock.

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