Savoia Excelsior Palace

The Savoia Excelsior Palace opened in 1912 as one of the most impressive hotels in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Royalty, artists, and diplomats felt right at home behind the facade of classical sculptures and columns. A panoramic view of the sea lent a suitably dreamy sense of place to the portside location in Trieste, a centuries-old crossroads of Latin, Germanic, and Slavic cultures.

Fast forward to June 2009, when Trieste had been part of Italy for more than half a century, and the hotel reopened after years of renovation. Guests could see the rooms that would soon host part of the G8 Summit that year. Today, along with exquisite accommodations, bar, and restaurant, the hotel features nine rooms seating 14 to 320 delegates, all with natural light and six facing the sea.