Grand Hotel Imperiale : Forte Dei Marmi, Tuscany, Italy

Please note: Grand Hotel Imperiale requires a 7 night minimum June 1st-September 4th.

The town of Forte dei Marmi sits along a gorgeous stretch of Tuscan coastline, so it’s reasonable to expect a luxury hotel that owns a private slice of that beach to be somewhat beachy and sun-drenched in aspect. Grand Hotel Imperiale’s setting in the center of a decidedly non-sandy pinewood, 200 meters inland, defies this expectation. The result is a hotel that, despite its coastal setting, is less about flip-flops and beach towels and more about the sort of classic elegance that seems to come so naturally to Italians.

The interiors are rich with pastels and creams, a color palette that complements the lemony confection of oceanfront sunshine. The 46 rooms bypass most of the regional signifiers in favor of airy, unadorned sophistication. Guests who find themselves in a suite with a private balcony shouldn’t waste the opportunity to eat breakfast while enjoying the morning breeze off the ocean.

For dinner, the concierge will gladly reserve you a table at one of Forte dei Marmi’s upscale eateries, but the hotel is hardly lacking in on-site culinary options, with three restaurants serving gourmet cuisine, seafood and seasonal Mediterranean fare. The wellness offerings are similarly robust, whether you’re after a swim in the outdoor pool, a basic massage, or a full diet and stress profile by a nutrition professional. If you do end up venturing out of the sheltering pines, your first stop should be a personal tent on the hotel’s private beach. And if Forte dei Marmi and the beach don’t offer enough variety of landscape, don’t hesitate to venture farther afield; the Ligurian coast lies to the north, and Florence due east.