Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Piccola Maison, or Little House, is set in a 19th-century building in a great location close to Piazza Barberini. It offers small, neutrally decorated…
Must-see hotels in Italy
Calabria
This three-star hotel in Camigliatello Silano has a stark and anonymous stone-clad exterior, but the timber and mirror lobby gestures to higher standards…
Southern Tuscany
This 15th-century villa sits on a slight rise just above the village of Alberese. Inside, old-fashioned apartments sleeping up to five persons offer good…
Milan
This large, well-serviced hotel near Porta Venezia offers a huge variety of comfortable, modern rooms and efficient, friendly service. Given its…
Vieste
This butter-coloured 17th-century family run palazzo in Vieste's historic centre makes the ideal base for a few days on the Gargano Peninsula. Steps…
Venice
A midrange option with heart, this family-run place offers seven unfussy rooms in a historic brick apartment building, with breakfast serenades from…
Turin
Occupying an 18th-century townhouse, this little treasure seems like something you'd find in a small village. The classical decor of each of its rooms is…
Reggio Calabria
Right next to the port, the Continental does a brisk trade in overnight travellers bound for Sicily. The decor holds no surprises, but the service is…
Piedmont
Located in Jouvenceaux, the old part of Sauze, barely five minutes from the chair lift, Chalet Chez Nous is not only superbly located but warm and…
Cala Gonone
Wake up to sweeping views of the Golfo di Orosei at this Mediterranean-villa-style hotel, a stiff 800m uphill walk from the town centre. Rooms are bright…
Santa Croce
This two-star hotel in the heart of Santa Croce is a safe enough budget option for those seeking solidly comfortable rooms, friendly service, and a crash…
Lazio
For a contemplative night's stay, the Monastero di Santa Scolastica offers basic, institutional-style accommodation and a tranquil setting just outside…
Alba
Disregard the unremarkable building. This collection of several apartments with modern bedrooms and bathrooms is thoughtfully equipped (you get your own…
Rimini
This well-appointed 51-room place near the beach offers enough thoughtful extras to usurp the competition. Making a stopover worthwhile are the rooftop…
Oristano
This homey B&B is hidden away in a quiet cul-de-sac near Piazza Martini. There are only two guest rooms, but they're spacious and comfortable. Breakfast…
Verona
Opera divas rest up steps from the action in this 19th-century townhouse, one block from the Roman Arena and just off boutique-lined Via Mazzini. Spacious…
Valle d'Aosta
Pitch up under the pine trees in the heart of the park at this well-run and friendly site. Its sister hotel, La Barme, rents bikes to explore the…
Tellaro
This traditional seven-room inn has art- and antiques-decorated rooms complete with cast-iron bed frames and dark wood furnishings. A new restaurant was…
Cagliari
On one of Cagliari's main shopping strips, you'll find this trio of lovingly kept apartments, where dark parquet, stone walls and vintage-style…
Bologna
Living up to its name with a perfect city-centre location, this old-fashioned, 25-room hotel offers comfortable if unexceptional rooms at unbeatable rates…
Sulcis
This farm stay is as authentic as it gets with its murals, farm animals and verdant surrounds. Simply decorated rooms are in a low-lying pink building set…
Brindisi
Built in 1869 for English merchants en route to India, the Internazionale definitely offers grandeur, albeit of the rather faded variety. It has great…
Southwestern Sardinia
A tasteful three-star housed in a large palazzo just down from the centre of Villanovaforru. Rooms are spacious if unspectacular, and communal spaces,…
Viterbo
This friendly three-star makes a convenient central base. It's within easy walking distance of the main sights, and while rooms are pretty functional,…
Ventimiglia
A 10-minute stroll along the seafront from Ventimiglia's modern town centre (and just downhill from the historic centre), this modern hotel has bright,…
The Veneto
Centrally located in the old part of town, the Via Museo is a real mix of the old and new – IKEA furniture sits next to antiques, and modern air-con units…
San Gimignano
Exposed rafters and well-worn terracotta floors enhance the atmosphere at this good-value locanda (inn) on the floor above the restaurant of the same name…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Old-fashioned and friendly, the 3rd-floor Ercoli is a straight-up pensione with elderly cage-lift and 14 functional but worn rooms with satellite TV and…
Courmayeur
Triolet is a tad smaller than your average ski digs, with only 20 rooms, allowing service to remain personal as well as affable. Aside from the usual tick…
Trento
Conveniently located just around the corner from the train station, Trento's hostel boasts comfortable, squeaky-clean rooms with mountain views from the…
Northwestern Tuscany
Pampering is part of the package at this hotel spa with pool, fitness centre, two natural steam grottoes and a wellness centre offering various steam and…
Eastern Sardinia
Rimedia is the heart and soul of this lemon-fronted B&B in Oliena. She keeps the brightly hued mountain-view rooms immaculately clean. The generous…
Sorrento
Lacking the style of some of Sorrento's ritzier digs, the Rivage can at least beat them in price. Its bland rooms are clean and functional, plus there's a…
Villaggio Camping Spiaggia del Riso
Southeastern Sardinia
Set in a pine grove near the Porto Turistico, this big, well-equipped beachside campground has tent pitches, bungalows, food shops and a children’s play…
Milan
Small, clean, fuss-free rooms in a strategic location await at this modest two-star. The decor is business-like and fairly forgettable, but the rates are…
Abruzzo
This campground on the edge of the village of Civitella Alfedena is a fairly simple affair but has plenty of shade, a bar and osteria (tavern), a lounge…
Trieste
These super-central apartments are bright, clean and well-equipped with full kitchens kitted out with an induction stove, fridge and coffee maker. Some…
Udine
This is a small business-oriented place in a corner townhouse. Rooms are streamlined and contemporary, though the larger ones retain the mansard lines and…
Emilia-Romagna
Right in town, these nine efficiency apartments are spacious, modern and well-equipped, with small kitchenettes, dining tables, pull-out sofa beds and big…
Parma
Hotels next to train stations are often scruffy little abodes designed for economically minded fly-by-nighters, but the trussed-up Century, still smarting…
