Grand Reopening of Belmond's Splendido Hotel in Portofino - A Glamorous, Movie-like Resurrection of the Celebrity-Favored Haven
As the sun sets over the picturesque Ligurian coast, Belmond's Splendido Hotel becomes a love letter to Portofino itself, with its magic enduring more than ever. After a comprehensive redesign by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS), the historic 16th-century monastery-turned-luxury hotel reopens this summer, inviting guests into an atmosphere that feels at once personal and cinematic.
The reimagined Splendido Hotel honours its rich history while embracing contemporary luxury. The design draws heavily from the Ligurian landscape, local palette, and the glinting shards of sunlight on champagne glasses and the sea. The hotel's pastel-hued facade maintains its iconic status, symbolizing the timeless allure of Portofino.
Interiors feature traditional local craftsmanship, such as the Midollino Weave, inspired by Chiavari rattan tradition, and Albissola ceramics, highlighting Ligurian artisan techniques. Furnishings come from local estate sales and auction houses, with many pieces restored and painted in the Genoese style, further rooting the aesthetic in regional heritage.
The hotel's public spaces have been thoughtfully redesigned. The lobby boasts whitewashed walls and a hand-painted botanical mural, adding a fresh, artistic touch. The new bar, Baratta Sedici, captures Portofino’s glamorous spirit, featuring a cocktail menu with vintage spirits and fine wines. The first permanent Dior Spa in Italy adds a luxurious wellness dimension to the hotel offering.
Signature suites, like the Baronessa Suite, evoke the atmosphere of aristocratic drawing rooms, complete with private gardens and direct access to panoramic pools. Another suite features mosaics of seahorses and shells in an open floor bath and romantic botanical murals on the walls. Villa Beatrice, a meticulously renovated Gothic Revival and Art Nouveau architectural treasure, offers panoramic views of the Gulf of Tigullo and private sea access.
The Dior Spa Splendido is an indoor-outdoor living enclave on the second floor of the hotel, inspired by the Ligurian countryside and expanding upon the existing Jardin des Reves. The grand re-opening of the hotel includes the debut of the summer palazzo Villa Beatrice.
Martin Brudnizki's vision for Belmond's Splendido Hotel breathes new life into a beloved icon, preserving its charm while opening a fresh chapter in its legacy. The hotel epitomises the Italian art of sprezzatura, with nothing feeling superficial, and its design honours the local vernacular of Liguria while creating something rich and emotive. Belmond's Splendido Hotel offers guests a sanctuary suspended between memory and fantasy, where they can book their stay and experience the beauty of Portofino firsthand.
- The redesign by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio embraces contemporary luxury while honoring the rich history of the Splendido Hotel, infusing it with the colors and textures of the Ligurian landscape.
- Traditional local craftsmanship, such as the Midollino Weave and Albissola ceramics, can be seen throughout the hotel's furniture and decor, further rooting the aesthetic in regional heritage.
- Public spaces, like the lobby and Baratta Sedici, have been thoughtfully redesigned with a fresh, artistic touch, while maintaining the glamorous spirit of Portofino.
- The Dior Spa adds a luxurious wellness dimension to the hotel offering, providing an indoor-outdoor living enclave that expands upon the existing Jardin des Reves, inspired by the Ligurian countryside.
- Signature suites, like the Baronessa Suite and the suite with mosaics of seahorses and shells in an open floor bath, offer a romantic and aristocratic escape reflecting the lifestyle of home-and-garden travel.
- Villa Beatrice, a meticulously renovated Gothic Revival and Art Nouveau architectural treasure, offers panoramic views of the Gulf of Tigullo and private sea access, serving as a perfect embodiment of outdoor living and travel.
