5 hot tubs with a view in Italy

Live La Dolce Vita soaking in any of these glamorous hot tubs – from a jacuzzi that sits above terraced lemon groves on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, to a rooftop tub only a matter of metres from Verona’s remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre.

The Westin Excelsior, Florence

As the home of Italian Renaissance architecture, Florence has one of the most beguiling city skylines in the world. And the rooftop jacuzzi of the Westin Excelsior provides one of the best vantage points in the centre of the city. After a morning of sightseeing, soothe your muscles with a soak while picking on a platter of fresh, tropical fruit and pointing out the landmarks you’ve just visited. From the patterned facade and commanding, terracotta-tiled cupola of the Duomo to the faded painted houses that line the Arno river and the Apennine Mountains in the distance, this view is surely one of Europe’s most magical sights.

Palazzo Avino, Ravello

Italy’s Amalfi Coast is one of the country’s most exalted natural beauty spots. So much so that it can be hard to find a quiet enclave along its mountainous coastline of pastel-painted villages. But beneath the shade of the wisteria on the terrace of Palazzo Avino, a boutique property just outside the town of Ravello, you’ll be able to witness its surreal vistas in solitude, admiring terraced lemon groves and cliff top gardens overflowing with wild roses and bougainvillea. Order an Aperol Spritz and recline in the jacuzzi at sunset, while staring down towards the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea and the nearby, 13th-century Villa Rufolo.

Rome Cavalieri, Rome

The exuberant Rome Cavalieri (a Waldorf Astoria resort) enjoys one of the best views of the Eternal City, set in prime position on Monte Mario (the highest hill in the Italian capital). The highlight of its exclusive, 15-acre grounds (featuring three swimming pools, two tennis courts, and perfectly groomed gardens), has to be the rooftop jacuzzi. From here, the uninterrupted panorama – note the Vatican and Villa Borghese in the foreground – is captivating, particularly when candlelit and with the lights of the city sparkling below.

Residenze Argileto, Rome

Hidden among the weathered, caramel-coloured buildings of central Rome, Residenze Argileto is fairly inconspicuous. But head upstairs to its roof terrace and jacuzzi and you’ll be met with a view of the colonnaded, white marble Il Vittoriano monument (nicknamed ‘the typewriter’) and the turrets of the Palazzo Venezia peeping through Rome’s emblematic stone pine trees. Right in the centre of the city, the hotel is minutes from the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, so make sure you’re on the terrace at sunset when golden light frames the scene’s rustic beauty perfectly.

Hotel Milano & SPA, Verona

The rooftop jacuzzi at Hotel Milano is only a matter of metres from Verona’s Arena, a miraculously well-preserved pale pink and white stone Roman amphitheatre. And with nothing but glass separating the ancient structure and the hotel’s decked sun terrace, the view is unbeatable. Once upon a time, the Arena hosted gladiator fights and medieval jousting tournaments but is now a summer venue for everything from grand operas to Adele concerts; attend an evening performance here before returning to the hotel and the rooftop hot tub to gaze out over the amphitheatre’s floodlit, ancient tiered arches.