While Italy is a popular travel destination each year, the country is expected to see an even bigger number of visitors throughout 2025 as it’s a Jubilee, or Holy Year, in the Catholic Church. With more than 30 million travelers projected to visit Rome, travelers planning a visit to Italy this summer can look at destinations outside of the Eternal City to experience la dolce vita away from the crowds.
Tucked along the Tuscan coast, Forte dei Marmi has long been a haven of luxury and Italian charm. A retreat for affluent families since the 1960s, it remains a place where time slows and traditions endure. Pensione America, the soon-to-open adults-only retreat, blends authenticity with luxury. Part of the family-owned Collezione Em, the villa is infused with tradition, from Sicilian tiles and custom bamboo furnishings to hand-designed wallpaper. With just 18 suites, it’s steps from the beach, offering an intimate tribute to the town. During a visit, co-owner Sara Maestrelli invites travelers to experience summer like locals. Mornings begin with a bike ride to Il Mercato, where artisans display handwoven linens, ceramics, and coastal-inspired paintings. By midday, Forte’s beach clubs come alive with vintage huts and umbrellas. Steps from Pensione America, Bagno Assunta, the collection’s beach club, offers vintage tents and simple delights like focaccia sandwiches and gelato. Afternoons unfold with sunbathing, card games, or a quiet poolside retreat. Guests can also play golf at Versilia Golf Club or explore Pietrasanta’s galleries and Lucca’s artisan streets.
Italy’s largest lake, Lago di Garda is located in between Milan and Venice in the north. On the eastern shore of the lake sits Torri del Benaco, a charming town known for its medieval castles, olive oil mills, citrus groves, vineyards, and forested hills. Travelers can spend their days hiking trails such as Monte Luppia, taking cooking classes in the community, and sailing on the lake. Alina Deutsch, the General Manager of Cape of Senses, also recommends a visit to the olive oil mill Le Prandine. “Going on their olive grove tour and doing olive oil tasting puts the mind immediately at peace as visitors spend the day amidst 100-year-old olive trees and a garden of citrus and medicinal herbs,” she says. After a day exploring the area, travelers can retreat to Cape of Senses to unwind at the property’s 21,000 square foot spa and enjoy a meal at one of their two restaurants.
The lively village of Lana in South Tyrol is known for its 40 different churches and monasteries, winding streets, walking trails, and picturesque views of the Dolomites. Travelers can hike to see the area’s famous larch trees, go wine tasting at the Kränzelhof Country House, and visit one of the oldest apple plantations of the region. For accommodations, ALPIANA, owned and run by three generations of the Margesin family for almost 50 years, is a wellness retreat boasting a brand-new spa, a Mediterranean pool garden, and three restaurants. Welcoming guests of all ages, the property also boasts a small “ranch” and outdoor cinema for kids to enjoy.
