Montemarcello   Ameglia, Italy
Opened
2014
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
Cliffside thermal relais
Life unfolds as a secluded clifftop retreat, tucked into regional parkland high above the Gulf of Poets.
What it’s good at
Notable
Terraced cliffside grounds hold heated pools, whirlpools, and an outdoor Finnish sauna.
What they say
Also in The 50 Discovery.
Presiding over the spectacular Gulf of La Spezia coastline … sits in three hectares of beautiful grounds in Liguria.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Steep park trails wind through olive groves down to Punta Corvo beach, while Montemarcello village sits just uphill.
The rooms
Rooms are arranged across the stepped hillside, and selected suites open onto private terraces facing the sunset.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The pools and spa
Two heated pools step down the terrace lawn, and massages take place in an open-air gazebo above the sea.
Dogs stay too.
At the table
Incanto serves dinner beneath curved timber arches, and outdoor tables sit under white stretch canopies facing the sea.
How it began
Helicopters airlifted seven-meter timber beams down the cliff to rebuild a 1950s hotel that sat abandoned for fifteen years.
Good to know
Stay here
Poets Gulf Relais & Spa
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.