Villa Athena Resort

If you’re in Italy to see some history — and frankly, it’s unavoidable — you won’t find a hotel richer in grand monuments and architectural remnants than Sicily's Villa Athena Resort. Set within the Valley of the Temples, a designated archaeological park, Villa Athena is an ancient stone’s throw away from the 5th-century B.C. Temple of Concordia, as well as many other legendary treasures. We’re about ready to call archaeology-by-bedroom-window an official travel trend.

Originally an opulent 18th century private residence, Villa Athena Resort itself is luxuriously unstuck from the past, thanks to a recent restoration. While the rooms with jaw-dropping temple views are a clear winner, overlooking a lush, timeworn olive grove isn’t a bad second choice. All 27 rooms and suites are equipped with modern features, such as stunning marble bathrooms with Sicilian ceramics, LCD flat screen televisions, and high-thread-count linens.

The Villa Athena Spa, built around an ancient Greek cistern, likewise fuses age-old Roman culture with the latest technology, giving guests the perfect spot to treat themselves to beauty and massage services while unwinding after a day of trekking around the temples. The restaurant, Terrazza degli Dei, where diners overlook the Temples of Concordia and Juno, aperitifs in hand, is the perfect way to cap off a day.