Number of Rooms: 16

Location: On the eastern end of Positano, overlooking the town and the sea.

Villa TreVille is a stunning 16-room property spread over a series of four villas, just outside of Positano overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Formerly owned by the famous Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli, the buildings cascade down the rocky hillside, and hidden elevators and stone steps smoothed by time lead to a private sundeck and jetty, where you’ll find a motor launch exclusively for guest use. This private Eden has been meticulously restored to the glamorous standards Liza Minelli and Leonard Bernstein enjoyed when they stayed on the estate as personal guests. Surrounded by lush gardens draped in bougainvillea and punctuated by pine trees, Villa TreVille smells like lemons, looks like paradise, and feels like home.

What We Loved: There’s a serious dedication to idiosyncratic art and design at Villa TreVille – hand-painted mosaic tile floors, ornate glass bead chandeliers, mermaid sculptures with wild hair made of sea sponges – this is not a one-size-fits all cookie cutter hotel, and that’s what we love about it.

What We Didn’t Love: The postcard views over Positano are unbeatable, but if you want to be in the center of the action, we’d suggest Le Sirenuse.

Right For: Couples, travelers who like to get away from it all, art aficionados, fans of a little luxurious quirkiness.

Wrong For: Guests who need a neutral color palette to truly unwind; those who want to be in the middle of town. Given the hotel’s position on a hill, Villa TreVille is also not suited to travelers with mobility constraints.

Best Time to Visit: May to September (book well ahead for July and August!)

TLF Tip: Arrange a private dinner with friends in the ornate greenhouse, with its vertical orchid garden, stained glass windows, and classic painted tile floors.