Inside the 6 honeymoon hotels of Dua Lipa and Callum Turner

The traditional idea of a post-wedding getaway has been completely reimagined by pop icon Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner. Shunning predictable, hyper-modern mega-resorts, the newlyweds opted for a sun-drenched, nostalgic road trip winding through the rugged coastlines of Sicily and mainland Italy. Pulling directly from a visual aesthetic immortalised by mid-century society photographer Slim Aarons and Hollywood elite, the couple's curated itinerary reads like a love letter to vintage dolce vita glamour, indie filmmaking history and high-fashion seclusion

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Hotel Locarno

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For an urban stopover that balances bustling Roman history with an intimate, intellectual atmosphere, a historic boutique hotel steeped in artistic folklore offers a far richer experience than a standard luxury chain. Located just a short stroll from the Piazza del Popolo, Hotel Locarno has operated as a romantic, family-owned sanctuary for filmmakers, poets and vanguard thinkers since 1925. Legendary director Federico Fellini famously sketched movie scripts over morning espresso in the ivy-covered secret courtyard garden. Today, the hotel's authentic Art Deco velvet lounges, world-class mixology bar and lushly landscaped Terrazza Locarno rooftop, offering sweeping, cinematic views over Rome's historic domes, continue to attract a niche creative crowd including Wes Anderson and Jude Law. Guests can even borrow the hotel's stylish vintage city bicycles to navigate the cobblestone alleys of the nearby Villa Borghese like true locals.

Hotel Il Pellicano

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To effectively capture the ultimate spirit of 1960s high-society romance, beginning your journey along the untamed coast of Tuscany is an absolute necessity. Hotel Il Pellicano, tucked discreetly into the rugged cliffs of Porto Ercole, functions as a legendary five-star sanctuary that famously served as a playground for golden-age icons like Charlie Chaplin and Kirk Douglas. Its highly distinctive aesthetic – characterised by lush, ivy-draped villas, a heated saltwater pool carved directly into the rock face and retro yellow-and-white striped beach umbrellas – has become shorthand for understated, old-money wealth. This cliffside haven provides the perfect sanctuary to sunbathe on a private rocky beach, browse curated boutique fashion collaborations and dine at a celebrated Michelin-starred Tuscan restaurant.

La Posta Vecchia

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If you want to experience the sheer, theatrical opulence of Roman nobility right on the ocean's edge, moving slightly outside the city centre reveals an unparalleled coastal palace. La Posta Vecchia – a breathtaking 17th-century seaside palazzo that recently captured global attention as a key filming location for the fifth season of Emily in Paris – once belonged to one of the world's wealthiest private collectors. The estate allows discerning travellers to sleep surrounded by museum-quality antiquities, but its most astonishing feature lies directly beneath the floorboards. During renovations, workers uncovered the intact ruins of an ancient 2nd-century BC Roman villa, which the hotel has preserved as a private underground archaeological museum filled with colorful ancient walls and vibrant mosaics. Outside, a secluded, private rocky beach area allows guests to swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea completely isolated from the public Roman crowds.

Palazzo Margherita

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To uncover the soulful, slow-paced magic of authentic Southern Italy, venturing into the undiscovered hilltop villages of the Basilicata region yields an incredibly intimate retreat. Located in the quiet town of Bernalda, Palazzo Margherita is a majestic 19th-century neoclassical estate purchased and meticulously restored by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola to honour his family's ancestral roots. Collaborating with acclaimed French designer Jacques Grange, Coppola transformed the property into an ultra-exclusive, nine-room oasis where individual suites were personally designed by family members, including a dreamy floral sanctuary designed by Sofia Coppola, who famously held her wedding in the villa's hidden courtyard gardens. This deeply personal monument allows guests to learn the art of hand-rolling traditional regional pasta in an authentic eat-in kitchen, before settling into a plush salon that doubles as a private screening room housing Francis's personal vault of classic Italian cinema.

San Domenico Palace

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To round out a high-summer Italian road trip with maximum cinematic drama, crossing over to Sicily to stay at a cliffside monument brings the ultimate pop-culture crescendo. Perched spectacularly on an ancient rocky promontory overlooking the Ionian Sea, San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina, is a stunning 14th-century Dominican convent transformed into a world-class luxury resort. The historic property recently cemented its place in modern television history as the exclusive backdrop for the entire second season of HBO’s smash hit The White Lotus. The hotel masterfully pairs its rich monastic past, complete with peaceful, frescoed cloisters and converted historic cells, with a jaw-dropping 21-meter heated infinity pool that seemingly hangs directly over the cliffs. Guests can soak in panoramic views of the smoking peak of Mount Etna before spending the evening on a romantic, suspended terrace at Principe Cerami, a Michelin-starred establishment where acclaimed Sicilian Chef Massimo Mantarro serves contemporary, refined takes on traditional Etna-region cuisine.

Villa Treville

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For a dramatic, gravity-defying coastal experience that has long inspired the world's most romantic composers and performing artists, the vertical cliffs of Positano hold a legendary address. Villa Treville is a masterclass in theatrical romance, cascading down a private stretch of the Amalfi Coast where cultural luminaries like Leonard Bernstein and Liza Minnelli famously spent long, sun-drenched summers lounging by the sea. Now operating as an ultra-exclusive, hyper-private boutique hotel, the property features just sixteen whimsical, individually styled suites. Each room is named in honour of the illustrious artists, opera directors and creators who left their indelible creative mark on the estate, allowing guests to step directly into a living piece of Italian cultural and cinematic history.

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