Ciao Bella! Inspired by citrus groves and Mediterranean vistas, Italian beauty is more than indulgent-it's magnifico.

Byline: Maggie Bullock

From the age-defying bombshell factor of Sophia Loren to the youthful, effervescent chic of knitwear scion Margherita Missoni, donnas-glamorous, vaguely mysterious, 10,000-watt-women-have been bringing the world to its knees since sixteenth-century trendsetter Catherine de Medicis took her custom-blended perfumes to Paris. Long tucked away in charming, little-known apothecaries-and stashed in the suitcases of the savviest travelers-Italy's best-kept beauty secrets are becoming increasingly sought-after (and available) stateside. So, while you may never make an entrance like Anita Ekberg, it's never been easier to catch a whiff of La Dolce Vita.

HOUSES OF STYLE

Recognizing that nothing makes a woman feel more beautiful (or more like shopping) than a bit of choice pampering, a handful of Italy's most revered fashion brands have taken on a new role: hoteliers. Milan's newest style-seekers' refuge comes with a diamond-clad brand name, Bulgari. When they're not being whisked away on day trips via the hotel's seaplane or helicopter, guests of this decadently minimalist urban hideaway head to the candlelit gold mosaic-tile pool or ease away jet lag with the spa's soothing Balinese body treatment with hot oil. Also in Milan, Gianfranco Ferre has come up with a luxurious new way to say grazie. His new concept boutique on the Via Sant'Andrea actually houses its own sleek, three-room day spa, where personally invited VIPs forget all traces of buyer's remorse thanks to the menu of body "envelopments." Giorgio Armani plans to open ten hotels and four resorts around the world; the first chic retreat will be conveniently located atop his Via Manzoni

boutique.

Off the Milanese shopping strip, Aveda's seaside Masseria Torre Coccaro in Puglia was originally a watchtower built in the sixteenth century to prevent attacks by Turkish pirates. Now a five-star hotel and spa, it features stone grotto treatment rooms complete with oddly luxurious underground caves and pools, plus treatments based on the local specialty, olive ...