Where to stay: ITALY

Many famous travellers stayed here while crossing Siena off their Grand Tour list and the hotel still has the flair and elegance of the olden days without ever seeming blasé. The palazzo's former courtyard has been turned into hotel lounge, bar and restaurant. The combination of the modern glass roof covering the 17th-century walls creates a beautiful blend of old and new, while the red and orange-coloured velvet sofas provide style and warmth

Set amongst the vineyards of the Valpolicella wine region, Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà is a unique art and luxury design hotel occupying an 16th-century villa. Verona is a short drive away. Astounding pieces of contemporary art in dizzying colours are found throughout the hotel and include works by Marc Quinn, Damien Hurst, Anish Kapoor and Vanessa Beecroft.

Arches, vaults and chunky columns dominate the all-white and cream interiors that aim to recall an 18th-century Neapolitan palazzo. Contemporary works of art are dotted around the entire property, adding a pinch of fun and colour: huge bronze helmets, neon art and wacky pop art pieces. Interiors are bright with stylish communal areas featuring plump sofas. Its two restaurants lay claim to all three of Capri’s Michelin stars.

It was built in 1906 in the Italian Liberty style on the site of an ancient Roman villa (there’s an original Roman column at the entrance). The refurbished interiors are contemporary with Art Nouveau influences: mottled glass lamps, abstract textiled designs, wallpaper with stylised birds. With only 11 rooms, the atmosphere is intimate. Works of art by contemporary Caprese artists (all for sale) embellish the communal areas, while black-and-white photography prints decorate the bedrooms.

It opened as a sanatorium in 1845 (Quisisana means “here one heals”), and became a hotel in 1861 when the Morgano family acquired the property. It’s one of Capri’s most historic hotels, and counts Ernest Hemingway and Jean Paul Sartre among its guests. To this day it’s family-owned and run. It features classical-style furnishings that exude old-fashioned faded glamour: gilt-framed mirrors, marble floors, chandeliers and 19th-century works of art.

La Sosta di Ottone III is a six-room boutique hotel set in a 16th-century building. It is attached to a restaurant that makes a strong case for the Cinque Terre as one of Italy’s most underrated culinary destinations. Bedrooms combine contemporary colors and design with historical architecture and atmosphere in perfect measure. La Sosta’s staff is available to help you craft the day’s itinerary, whether that includes sailing, hiking, or even surfing, or just a spot of wine and olive oil…

With its wonderful old polished parquet floors, antiques and paintings, the main part of the hotels retains an old-fashioned atmosphere, albeit tempered by 21st century luxuries and top-notch services. It is far from stuffy however; the impeccably liveried staff are delightful and the atmosphere is relaxed.

Rocco Forte’s 2019 revamp of the 16th- century property has taken things up a notch. The 28 rooms and 12 suites, designed by Olga Polizzi, take their lead from the olive grove out back—all pale green doorframes and more acid-toned furnishings for an upmarket take on rustic luxe. Outside is a vine-fronded pool, verdant, palm-studded grounds, and the hotel’s nine-hole golf course, melting into the flat coastal landscape.

Two are indisputably better than one with Belmond Hotels' dual offerings in pretty Portofino, the Belmond Hotel Splendido set high above the cove, and the Belmond Splendido Mare taking pride of place on the harborfront. The 70-room Splendido, on a steep, craggy hill overlooking the area’s fabled turquoise waters, was a 16th century monastery known for withstanding attacks from Saracen pirates. Meanwhile, the 16-room Mare sits on the Piazzetta, a respite from the lively Ligurian harbor.

Set along the lake in Torno, a one-church, one-restaurant village on Como’s south shore, Il Sereno honors its setting with regional stone, local walnut, and a living wall on the lake-facing façade. Inside, pieces from designer Patricia Urquiola’s collections for Italian companies share space with fabrics from Lombardy’s famed textile houses, all in the understated grays and blues of the lake.

The Art Nouveau building gleams white in the sun amid century-old gardens. But for all of the grandeur, what most seduces are the intimate and almost down-home touches. Owner Andrea Fustinoni affectionately calls the hotel the Mira, which speaks to the feeling of being welcomed into a private residence. Each of the 36 deluxe rooms has a sea view, while the 26 superior rooms all have balconies or patios overlooking the hotel’s gardens as they rise toward the foothills of Mount Portofino.

Despite the prestigious name and desirable location near the center of Positano, Hotel Eden Roc is intimate, charming, and warm. It is the project of the Casola family, who take care of guests as if they were friends. Or as they put it, they create an atmosphere that will make you feel like the main actor of your Italian movie. Everything has been recently renovated in a way that combines the traditional with the contemporary style, and all the rooms are full of light with views of the sea.

This Mediterranean resort remains an Italian legend. Why? The position is stunning, on a cliff overlooking a rugged private cove. Opened in 1965, its owners have spent their lives maintaining its timeless dolce vita vibe. The small details, from beach bags to personalised toiletries, keep it ahead of the game.

Bask in the glory of Sicily’s baroque past at the Q92 Noto Hotel , an impeccably restored 18th-century palazzo on the banks of the Corso in Noto. Once the residence of Sicilian nobles, today this aristocratic masterpiece has been transformed into a boutique hotel. A beautiful blend of contemporary, eclectic style and original details, with a personal service that makes you feel completely at home.

Elegant, stylish and fashionable, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo stands majestically on the western shore, offering sophisticated interiors combining strong colours and classical details. Sun yourself by the floating pool, sip cocktails on the terrace or zip along the lake in one of the hotel’s chic water limousines.

Painstakingly curated by Anna Fendi Venturini, the entire villa, from garden to terrace, was restored to its early-20th-century beauty of frescoes, marbles and stuccos, which Anna shook up by adding contemporary art, such as paintings by Enrico Castellani, beautiful Fendi home pieces as well as her own designs, like custom table lamps made by Roman artisans, all intermingling with period furniture to create a refreshing step back in time.