Must-see hotels in Italy

Twenty-six steps lead up to this family-run hotel. A labyrinth of enchanting rooms, frescoes and modern comforts, it oozes charm – as do Florentine…

Country-style contemporary decor marries with lovingly restored vintage inside this 14th-century palazzo, named after the 'hood in which it slumbers and…

Live like a doge in a 15th-century Venetian-Gothic palace that once belonged to one of the most famous of them: Agostino Barbarigo, who was responsible…

Squeeze your car along the narrow road to this farm, framed by fig trees, olive groves, vines, acacia and chestnut woods on a steeply terraced hillside…

On the 4th floor of an anecdote-rich 16th-century palazzo, this intimate, cultured B&B is decorated with contemporary Neapolitan photography and cleverly…

Verena Huf is a third-gen hotelier and her gorgeous 12-suite place combines that rich lineage with youthful enthusiasm and a relaxed style. Rooms are…

This extraordinary small hotel, a 15-minute drive from Merano, nestles high on a secluded mountainside at 1230m. Run by an incredibly vibrant young couple…

Once you reach this peaceful hillside oasis 2km south of town, you may never want to leave. Artist Paola and physicist Marcello have transformed their…

Up in the hills between the beautiful, almost Cinque Terre, beach town of Levanto and Monterosso, La Sosta di Ottone III is a lovely hideaway that's also…

A stylish, eclectic oasis in the earthy Sanità district, this three-suite B&B is a homage to the late Neapolitan sculptor and designer Annibale Oste,…

Set in its own lush gardens in the centre of town, this five-star hotel has large rooms overlooking the Dolomites or the Duomo, all endowed with a weighty…

Niedermairhof is a delightful meeting of family B&B and stylish boutique hotel, set in a rambling old 13th-century farmhouse on Kathrin Mair and Helmuth…

More boutique chic than backpacker grungy, this small and stylish hostel has a glorious summer garden and a friendly traveller vibe. Dynamic American…

The Greif's pedigree dates back to its founding in 1816 as one of Bolzano's original hotels; Ezra Pound even immortalised it in poetry (his quote adorns…

What a delight! Danish duo Thomas and Lisbeth bring together old-stone farmhouse charm with Scandi cool at their gorgeous boutique B&B. The rooms combine…

This boutique hotel encapsulates Merano's beguiling mix of stately sophistication, natural beauty and gently bohemian backstory. The remodelled townhouse…

Creative hosts Giovanni and Patricia Manidoro have poured their hearts into creating these four family-friendly apartments on a peaceful dead-end alley,…

This four-star boutique hotel sits in a couple of terraced 15th-century town houses on a peaceful lane. Its 24 sunny suites and doubles – named after…

Perfectly positioned on pedestrianised Via Crociferi, this B&B in a beautifully decorated family home affords easy access to Catania's historic centre…

Villa Rosmarino's motto is 'you don't stay, you live' and it's apt. Simply taking in the views here is life affirming. This elegant pink 1907 villa is a…