Contemporary hotel with a lux vibe in Nervi on the Italian Riviera

Capitolo Riviera / Nervi / Liguria / Italy

The Italian Riveria has always, for some reason, been acting in the background compared to the more extroverted sibling on the other side of the border (with the exception of Portofino). While the French Riviera these days feels more like new money, the Italian one has more of an old money vibe (once again, with the exception of Portofino). This is also visible in the hospitality scene where there aren’t that many contemporary hotels on the Italian side. But on the other hand, there are plenty of grand (sometimes I must admit, a little dated) hotels where very little has changed since they first opened during the first half of the 20th century. So when a place like this opens, with the fitting name Capitolo Riviera (capitolo means chapter in Italian) it hopefully means this could be the start of a new chapter for the Italian Riviera.

This sombre design hotel is located in the cute town of Nervi, just east of Genoa. When design studio Parisotto + Formenton Achitetti were given the task of creating Capitolo Riviera their brief was to create a hotel within a park. What they had to work with was an existing, outdated building that they developed and extended to better meet the needs of the modern traveller. And always making sure that the surrounding park would get as much love and attention as the building.

The result is a 37-key hotel filled with Italian design classics from the 70s combined with some good looking contemporary elements where exposed concrete and stone is mixed with wood and textiles to soften the look. There is a sense of luxury to Capitolo. It starts directly when you pull up and there is a valet that helps you to offload and who takes your car to the parking while you are served a refreshing welcome drink in the airy lobby.

Our room was cozy with soft colors and wooden panelling, where the statement piece was the textile wall art hanging above our bed. Textile art feels so very 70s and fitted well into the design scheme of the hotel.

We stayed here during a rainy Winter weekend which was perfect for us! We did some short walks in the rain, down along the rugged coast line before we returned to the hotel and just enjoyed hanging out indoors. Reading in the loung, going for a swim in the pool, working out at the gym, relaxing in the sauna and having a drink in the bar while the rain was hammering on the massive windows. Can’t wait to go back!

The park surrounding the hotel is really lovely and a great way to soften the look of the exposed concrete building

The design of receptions have really changed in the last years, going from a formal to more open and relaxed.

I am slightly obsessed with all these textile art work. This beauty was hanging above the bed in our room

Some local snacks waiting for us in our room upon arrival

Love these vintage looking tiles in our bathroom

The lobby/bar area is a great place to relax and hang out

Huge fan of the 70s looking design of the bar. Those tiles are too die for.

We decided to stay in for lunch. A delicious club sandwich, perfect comfort food for a rainy Winter’s day.

Brekfast in Italy. What is not to love!?

The town of Nervi is famous for the gardens

We have left the hotel, going down to the sea.

I love vacation destinations during off-season. There is something so serene and relaxing about them. Moody weather, less people and a slower pace.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…want to stay at a contemporary yet elegant hotel by the sea. If you like a mix of riviera life and urban design you will appreciate what they have created here.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the garden. You could tell that there is a lot of time and effort (and money) that has gone into creating it, but also keeping it looking this good. It felt like staying at one of those English garden hotels but located in Italy with totally different kind of plants and flowers, but the same beautiful design.

What not to miss when staying here…

…I guess the obvious thing to say, is either to take the local train into Genoa or if you are here in Summer, to lounge by the sea. But we came in Winter and there was torrential downpour. So we stayed indoor most of the time, lounged in the pool, the sauna, in a sofa next to the bar which was a great way to spend a lazy weekend. We did do a couple of short walks along the sea, which was great, and then we quickly returned to the warmth of the hotel.

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