Marina di Petrolo Hotel & Spa

Not every great hotel has to challenge everything you know about hospitality. Sometimes all it takes is a special place and a hotelier who knows how to handle the basics, and when to let the location do the heavy lifting. The setting, an hour’s drive to the west of Palermo, overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare, is stunning. And we do mean overlooking, as the hotel itself sits in an elevated position right above the water, with many of its rooms facing directly out to sea or down the coast.

And as traditional as the hotel building may be, with its tiled roof and wooden shutters, what’s inside is simple, stylish, and contemporary. The rooms are decorated in a near-monochrome, with bold blue accents to echo the ocean views, and are furnished with subtly modern comforts like articulated reading lamps, smart LED TVs, and walk-in chromatherapy showers.

A beautiful infinity pool and a stylish and well-equipped spa round out the facilities, and while breakfast is the only meal served — in a clean-lined contemporary space with views straight down the coast — you’re in no danger of going hungry, as the compact town of Castellamare del Golfo lies right at your feet.