Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Villa Cimbrone

Suspended over the azure sea and set amid legendary rose-filled gardens, this Gothic-style castle was once home to Lord Grimthorpe and a hideaway for Greta Garbo; since the 1990s, it's been an exclusive if pricey visitors haven, with guest rooms ranging from palatial to cozy. A newer wing has a bevy of options with sea and pool views. Furniture, artworks, and vintage art books that belonged to the lord's daughter still grace the enchanting sitting room and 19th-century Music Room. Gourmet restaurant Il Flauto di Pan is well regarded.