WHERE TO STAY IN ITALY
Photo by Brian Charles Lehrer
Meet all-around wellness guru and serial entrepreneur Tara Sowlaty Lehrer. A holistic nutritionist and chef at heart, Tara is best known for the lifestyle website How You Glow, which she co-founded to encourage women to live more vibrantly through food, wellness, beauty, travel, and fitness. But her entrepreneurial streak goes a bit deeper than that. In addition to her work as a lifestyle journalist, Tara is also a certified yoga instructor who hosts wellness workshops integrating yoga with creativity and art. She is a creative designer for the accessory brand Maison Soba, named after her adorable Shiba Inu puppy. On top of that, Tara adds recipe developer and Supermom for new baby Leia Rumi to her list of many roles. Through it all, she hopes to empower women to live more fulfilling lives and find that healthy inner glow.
Tara loves gaining inspiration and new perspectives through travel. She has had a love affair with all things Italian ever since her picture-perfect destination wedding to filmmaker Brian Lehrer. A woman after our own hearts, she likes to plan her trips around food and restaurants. Naturally, Italy is at the top of that list. Here, she shares her favorite swoon-worthy hotels in Italy, from iconic cliffside resorts to secluded private villas.
Tara has had a love affair with all things Italian ever since her picture-perfect destination wedding to film maker Brian Lehrer. Here, she shares her favorite swoon-worthy hotels in Italy, from iconic cliffside resorts to secluded private villas.
"This magical place is very special in my heart because it’s where I got married! Set in Tuscany’s wild Maremma countryside, this hidden gem has some of the best Tuscan food you can find (all made from their on-site gardens) and wine from their own vineyards. They will whip up any dish that your heart desires. It’s family owned and operated, with incredibly personal service, and truly an absolute treasure of a place!"
"This quintessential Positano reprieve is set on the windy hillsides of the Amalfi Coast with the most picturesque views of all time. You might have seen photos of this place, but I promise it’s even more gorgeous in person, with some of the most beautiful designs and colors ever used in a hotel in my opinion! We had our mini-moon here and it was perfection. The breakfast spread alone is worth a visit."
"Chic. That’s how I describe this iconic Italian hotel in Porto Ercole. We spent time here right before our wedding, to get some time together before all of the festivities. It was heavenly. The food was perfection, and the picture-perfect cliff-side yellow and white striped beach towels + loungers are where it’s at."
"Villa Cora is my favorite place to stay in Florence. It feels like a magical reprieve from the city, but it’s still totally walkable from the main city center. It also has a beautiful pool and a rooftop, perfect for those hot summer days in Florence."
"This hotel is a special spot, and a wonderful place to stay if you fly in and out of Rome. With one of the most beautiful indoor pools ever as well as beach access, it’s a great place to just chill. And side note, they make the best club sandwich we’ve ever had."
"Recently remodeled to perfection, the Hotel Eden Rome is my favorite place to stay in the city now. The scent of the lobby alone will make you fall in love - we loved it so much we bought the room perfume, which they sell at the gift shop. They also have a lovely rooftop, which is a must in Rome."
"Portofino is storybook beauty, and Hotel Splendido feels like a fairytale. Breakfast on the balcony is heavenly too!"
"This Aman is hidden, but once you enter the space you will be floored by the intricate beauty. It’s a calm oasis amongst Venice’s busy streets, and has some of the best food in town!"