Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
Villa Gelsomino Exclusive House
Frescoed patrician villa
Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
Opened
2020
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LuxeOutside the door
Frescoed patrician villa
This secluded nineteenth-century villa operates like an intimate private home, with five suites set above the harbor.
What it’s good at
Notable
A restored 1874 patrician villa with original ceiling frescoes and Genoese terrazzo floors.
Listed
Soaring nineteenth-century rooms display original Liberty details and antique crystal chandeliers.
Listed
Memory foam mattresses furnish suites where private breakfasts arrive on sea-facing balconies.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Villa Gelsomino is only moments removed from the beach and the town center, on a hillside overlooking the harbor.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Santa Margherita's harbor and beaches sit just downhill, a short stroll below the quiet terraced grounds.
The rooms
Suites retain soaring ceilings and original frescoes. Select rooms open onto private balconies looking toward Portofino.
At the table
A private chef prepares Ligurian dinners using zero-kilometer ingredients, served in the frescoed salon or out on the loggia.
How it began
A local family built the villa in 1874 after making their fortune in the Antilles, commissioning frescoes of Caribbean sailing ships.
Santa Margherita Ligure
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The app
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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.