5 magical places to soak up the Italian summer

Feb 20, 2022

If Hotel Portofino has left you craving a taste of la dolce vita, there's no better cure than planning your next summer sojourn. Set your OOO, pour yourself an aperitivo and say 'si' to these magical Italian summer destinations.

To make packing for your next Italian summer vacation a breeze, FOXTEL has partnered with THE ICONIC to curate The Portofino Edit – a bespoke capsule collection inspired by the Italian Riviera and the timeless looks of the roaring 1920s featured in the lavish British drama series, Hotel Portofino.

Featuring more than 120 products across fashion, accessories, beauty and homewares, The Portofino Edit, exclusive to The Iconic, offers a unique and modern twist on the classic fashion inspired by the series.

Now that your warm-weather wardrobe is sorted, here’s our pick of the best places to enjoy the country’s glorious summer months.

Puglia
Forming the heel of the boot of Italy is the Puglia district. The area is home to some of the best white-sand beaches on the mainland and, of course, there’s fantastic wine and produce (even by Italian standards). Puglia is also a land of historical villages for lovers of the past, from the fortified walls of Gallipoli and Otranto to the largely baroque Lecce.

Portofino
Long beloved by the rich and famous is the Riviera town of Portofino. The former fishing village sees a permanent population of about 500 swell to the thousands in summer as visitors from near and far flock to the area, eager to relax. For those not brave enough to travel the winding roads that lead to the tiny town, Portofino is accessible by boat (or yacht if you have the funds). If you are sailing the Italian Riviera, also check out Camogli, San Rocco and the Cinque Terre along the way to the historic port of Genoa.

Ravello
Ravello is considered to be a hidden gem of the increasingly popular Amalfi Coast. The town is a picturesque outcrop reached by a dizzying 7km drive up the Valle del Dragone. Manicured gardens and sweeping views of the Italian coastline make the town an ideal wedding venue, but visitors are also drawn by the ancient villas, medieval streets and a rich cultural history have made Ravello a drawcard for artists and writers, including Gore Vidal, Wagner, DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf.

Capri
What’s an Italian summer escape without Capri? The beauty of the district is legendary, shaping the island as a ritzy resort from as early as the first century, when Roman emperors made it their private playground. As well as picture-perfect views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, you’ll find a bevvy of deckchair-laden pool clubs, crystal-clear grottoes and secluded coves to explore before retreating to your luxurious, five-star accommodation.

Sardinia
Next to the French island of Corsica and close to the tip of Tunisia is Italy’s biggest island, Sardinia. Home to some of the world’s best beaches and sparkling blue waters, Sardinia also has a handful of Roman ruins for visiting history buffs. Alongside its natural beauty, Sardinia’s independence from mainland Italy is famed. The island proudly boasts its own local tongue (called Sardu), as well as a plethora of native delicacies, including a particularly pungent sheep’s cheese named casu marzu (literally, putrid cheese).