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TWO BELMOND RETREATS ABOVE THE ITALIAN RIVIERA Belmond is redefining Portofino from the hillside down, pairing the legendary Splendido with the newly revived Villa Beatrice. Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino In June, Splendido, perched above the Portofino harbor like a grande dame surveying her domain, reopened after an extraordinary renovation by designer Martin Brudnizki. A former 16th-century Benedictine monastery, it continues to enchant with bougainvillea- d r a p e d b a l c o n i e s , t e r r a c e s blooming with azaleas, and the Ligurian coastline glittering below. Splendido's new rooms, suites, pool, and restaurants celebrate Ligurian craftsmanship with patterns and textures in hues lifted from Monet's Water Lilies, hand- painted floral borders in place of crown molding, and glamorous chandeliers. The first permanent Dior Spa in Italy also opens as an indoor-outdoor sanctuary. The effect is intentionally understated: The true spectacle is the bay framed through balcony doors. belmond.com/splendido. Villa Beatrice, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino V illa Beatrice sits farther along the hillside — a private, architectural counterpart to Splendido's sociable glamour. Set above the coast on its own rocky point, the villa was built as a summer retreat for Ligurian entrepreneur Attilio Odero and designed by Gino Coppedè, whose fairy- tale eclecticism shaped some of Italy's early- 20th-century buildings. Belmond's restoration ushers the villa into the present while keeping its original character intact. Martin Brudnizki's approach here is quiet and contemplative: Frescoes have been revived, carved elements retained, and rooms arranged to draw the eye toward gardens, courtyards, and the sea. Inside the turreted rooms and frescoed halls are preserved features such as hand-finished woodwork, decorative plaster, and historic architectural motifs. Outdoors, the gardens step down the hillside in broad, fragrant terraces, while a private chef, house staff, and curated experiences emphasize privacy and ease, making Villa Beatrice feel like you've borrowed a storied Ligurian house for a spell. belmond.com/villa-beatrice. THE CLASSICS Eleven of the World's Most Celebrated Hotels — the Ones You Never Forget — All Newly Refr eshed or Soon to Be, and Ready for the Next Chapter By Rebecca Sherman, 36