La Sosta di Ottone III
Relaxed, slow-travel country house. Antique and Italian design furnishings mix with slate and marble bathrooms. Church bells, olive trees, and the sounds of a working medieval village rather than hotel ambience. Feels more like staying in someone's extremely well-curated home than checking into a hotel.
Arrive before 6:00PM — the reception closes then, and first-timers can get lost reaching the village
Why It Matters
Michelin-listed restaurant open to the public (April–October). Named after Emperor Otto III, who legend says rested here in 996 AD on his way to Rome. Six distinct rooms named after historical figures from Otto's court. A sommelier-curated wine list focused exclusively on Ligurian and Cinque Terre producers. On-site monorail to reach the property since cars cannot access the village.
La Sosta di Ottone III is a six-room boutique hotel set in a 16th-century stone home at the top of the medieval hilltop village of Chiesanuova, 200 meters above sea level and well off the tourist trail. The restaurant holds a Michelin listing and draws non-guests up the hill on its own merit. The whole thing is a family project — bought by the Graziani Fenwick family in 2002 and renovated with local artisans, local materials, and an obsessive focus on Ligurian food and wine.
Where You'll Stay
3 room types available
La Dolce Vita Room
La Dolce Vita rooms have either Levanto landscape or sea views and sleep up to three guests, making them the go-to for families with a small child. Same artisan furnishings and locally sourced bathroom products as all rooms. Sea-view windows are the headline feature here.
La Sosta Room
The garden-facing rooms at La Sosta look out over olive trees and the Cinque Terre hillside. Cozy and warm, these are the most intimate rooms in the house. Maximum two guests. Each room is individually named after a figure from the court of Otto III — Teofano, Silvestro, or Gregorio depending on which you get.
Unesco Heritage Room
Named for the Cinque Terre's UNESCO World Heritage status, these are the largest rooms in the house and accommodate up to four guests. Sea views are front and center — these rooms were designed to give you the full Mediterranean panorama. Same quality artisan touches throughout.
The Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Boat rentals arranged from Levanto's beaches, exploring the coastline between Levanto and Monterosso with stops at secluded coves. Summer boat service to the Cinque Terre villages and Portovenere also available. Canoes and pedal boats also rentable locally.
Guided and self-guided hiking options arranged by the Day Designer. The Cinque Terre Wine & Wall Trail through terraced vineyards and historical sites is a signature route. The area around Chiesanuova and Levanto has a wide network of trails and mule tracks connecting the hilltops and coast.
Cycling experiences arranged in partnership with Italy Bike Tours. The hotel can also help you access the Maremonti cycle-pedestrian path, a 5km flat route along converted railway tunnels linking Levanto, Bonassola, and Framura with sea views.
On-site guided wine tasting on the panoramic terrace, 6:00–7:30PM daily except Monday. Three-wine flight of local natural wines selected by sommelière Margherita Barberotti, served with focaccia and olives. Open to non-guests. Also single-glass and cocktail options.
Every stay includes access to the hotel's Day Designer — a staff member with deep local knowledge who helps you plan each day. Whether you want to hike, sail, cycle, taste wine, or do absolutely nothing, they tailor recommendations to your interests. Born-and-raised locals who know the authentic corners of Liguria most visitors never find.
Painting sessions at the hotel or at the artist's studio with local painter Susie Barrow, followed by a Cinque Terre wine aperitivo with appetizers. One of several artists-and-artisans experiences the hotel curates.
Private cooking lessons with the Cinque Terre Cooking School, exclusive to hotel guests. Focus on traditional Ligurian dishes like pesto with gnocchi and Croxetti pasta. Must be arranged through the Day Designer.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Free WiFi available throughout all rooms and common areas.
The terrace overlooks the Levanto Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. Used for breakfast, aperitivo, and dinner in good weather. The main gathering point of the property.
The property's garden features olive trees — the view from La Sosta room category. Part of the working agricultural landscape of the Levanto valley.
Private car park at the entrance to Chiesanuova village, at the base of the monorail. Free for hotel guests. You cannot drive directly to the hotel.
Dogs are welcome upon prior written approval only. Contact the hotel by email before booking — guests arriving with unapproved dogs will not be permitted entry.
The hotel runs on renewable energy — a deliberate sustainability commitment by the Graziani Fenwick family, documented in partnership with Lifegate Energy.
A monorail installed in the foothills of the village transports guests and luggage directly from the private car park to the hotel. Essential given the remote hilltop location — cars cannot reach the property. Also assists guests with mobility limitations.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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