Originally built as a refuge shelter in the middle of the 19th century at 2,200 meters below the rocky Sassopiatto, the Zallinger Hut was accompanied by seven barns and a church, the barns to be replaced by a single building some years on. In fact, over the years the Zallinger has undergone many changes, its name being the one and only constant. Today the original plan of this historic site has been revived in a brilliant conversion completed by South Tyrol-based architecture studio noa*.

A refined, spacious, and luxurious world set high above Merano welcomes guests with heavenly views, bespoke elegance, total privacy, and stunning sophistication.

For many years the cosy guest rooms of Parc Hotel Florian has been providing the perfect holiday experience. A unique feature of this property is the magnificent park, where you are encouraged to linger among ancient trees, an idyllic pond and an outdoor pool. The complex has recently been expanded with ten brand new suites in a stand-alone building, which connects to the existing structure, providing both a sense of continuity and a fresh perspective with a distinctive architectural…

One enters 1477 Reichhalter—an Old World, minimalist haven in the Dolomites—by stepping upon a wooden-floored hallway that literally echoes with history. “All we did was polish the floors and restore the wood paneling; most of the furniture was already here,” says visionary Klaus Dissertori proudly of his hotel’s restaurant, which serves up Italian-inspired homecooked meals

In splendid isolation, high above the Valle Isarco in South Tyrol between Brixen and Bozen you will find Gasthof Bad Dreikirchen. This 14th-century house has been run as a charming guest house by the same family for over two hundred years. It is located at a height of 1,120 metres amidst colourful meadows, high mountains, cool streams and fragrant woods. Views are equally impressive, as far as Chiusa and the Sabiona Convent to the villages and the peaks of the Sellasella and Sassolungo.

Located near the Via Roma shopping area in the center of Courmayeur, the eco-friendly Le Massif offers rooms and suites, all with a modern-Alpine aesthetic and windows framing spectacular views. In addition to its highly professional wellness offerings and full-day Kids Clubs, the hotel and its chalet—situated on the slopes of Mont Blanc—are ideally located for enjoying the mountains, whether that's hiking during the summer or skiing in the winter.

Set at an altitude of 1,230 metres, Miramonti is a boutique design hotel offering spectacular views of the Dolomites mountains and the city of Meran(o). The hotel blends contemporary style with traditional hospitality. There is an extensive spa with outdoor infinity pool, three restaurants (including one Italian gourmet-2 toques in Gault Millau), and comfortable rooms.

One of the most exclusive and luxurious of all the hotels in this most-exclusive chunk of Italy, the Santa Rosa's creation is down to one woman, American Bianca Sharma, who bought the vast, clifftop monastery after spying it from a boat. She spared no expense in transforming the 17th-century building into a stylish and cocooning hotel, while fully respecting its origins and filling it with a mix of antiques and classical modern pieces.

The legendary Sirenuse is one of the Med's great hotels – cool, sophisticated and expensive yet with the feel of a private home, albeit a very privileged one. Exceptional facilities go hand-in-hand with exquisite service and a superb cliffside setting a short sashay from the centre of Positano.

Of all the luxury hotels on the coast, Casa Angelina – with its minimalist, white-on-white aesthetic and cool, boutique-y vibe – is the one most likely to appeal to design aficionados. However, the excellent facilities, fabulous location and top-notch food and service make it a good all-rounder too.

Set in a lush botanical garden with bougainvillea, hibiscus flowers, palm trees and banana plants, La Casa di Peppe is a charming guest house offering breathtaking views of Positano and the Mediterranean. You are 434 steps up from Fornillo Beach and just a short walk from the main street (120 meters and 18 steps) with its restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, wine bars and Positano’s local delicatessen with fresh produce.

Modernist style mavens will be in seventh heaven here. Others may find the pared-back 1960s aesthetic a little cold: much depends on whether you are a fan of Gio Ponti’s particular brand of modernism. Everything in the cubic, white building, from the simple furniture, fixtures and fittings in the bedrooms to the dazzling blue and white floor tiles and the diving platform in the salt water pool was designed by Ponti, and recent re-vamps have left it all intact.

Housed in a 1950s building that was once a family-run restaurant, the Minervetta is the hippest hotel on this stretch of the coast, and architect-owner Marco de Luca’s jaunty, nautical look is perfect for a sunny, seaside retreat. White paintwork offsets bright, hand-painted Vietri tiles and quirky, colorful ceramics and huge picture windows make the best of those extraordinary views in all directions.

The Palazzo Abagnale, in Sorrento, like many small Italian hotels, begins with an aesthetic concept — but fortunately for all involved, it’s not the same “postcards of Tuscany” concept that’s given rise to so many identical, forgettable hotels. Here it’s something both simpler and more abstract: one floor is given over to “the light,” with a quote from the painter Edward Hopper; another to Pop Art, in the guise of Andy Warhol; and still a third to black and white.

Villa San Michele is a charming little hotel on the Amalfi Coast at Castiglione di Ravello. With picture perfect views over the glittering Tyrrhenian Sea, it is the perfect spot to spend a relaxing holiday relishing the sea the sun. A charming refuge from which the most attractive towns such as Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento can be easily reached in one of Italy’s most beautiful parts.

A ‘residenza d’Epoca’ with a stylish yet homely feel, occupying the top three floors of a 16th-century mansion. Graphic designer and calligrapher Betty Soldi and lawyer Matteo Perduca are magpies with a flair for vintage design and have scoured flea markets and salvage yards for objects to recycle and recondition. Add examples of Betty’s exquisite calligraphy and Matteo’s own wacky artwork to the mix and you get a highly personal collection of curiosities to jazz up the elegant interior.

A ravishingly updated 15th-century villa high in the hills over Florence – has a museum’s stash of 19th-century frescoes, antique bath tubs and valuable artworks. Beautiful boudoirs are graced with oak floors, silver candelabra, fresh orchids and exceptional views over the surrounding countryside towards Florence. When not taking in the views by the pool, there are two restaurants, a bar and a spa to explore.

This boho chic boutique hotel with just 15 rooms is set in a former watch tower of the 11th-century. It is located smack in the historic centre of Florence, just a few minutes' walk from the Duomo. There is a wonderful terrace above the buzzing street, great for an al-fresco breakfast and an aperitivo.

Renowned local architect Claudio Nardi has transformed a small complex of 19th-century artisan workshops into a laid-back urban retreat with nine suites. His signature minimalist style is warmed by lots of stone, wood and glass, and an eclectic mix of vintage pieces and modern classics plus the odd antique. Along with a very relaxed management style, the result is welcoming, even cosy, especially in the open-plan living room, with its honesty bar and open fire.

Don’t get us wrong, the traditional city-center experience can be a great one — but if Florence has a hipster neighborhood, it’s Oltrarno, just across the river from all the most famous sights (and almost all of the tourists). This is where you’ll find Ottantotto Firenze, a seven-room boutique hotel that’s the latest evolution of a Renaissance palazzetto, previously an aristocratic home and lately owned by an architect who oversaw its remarkable transformation.

Split over two floors of a palazzo that dates back to the 16th Century, overlooking Florence‘s historic Via Dei Serragli, Oltrarno Splendid is a boutique bed and breakfast offering just 14 rooms, each with its own individual style and ambience; hotelier and interior designer Matteo Perduca personally curating the smallest of details to reflect his visionary eclecticism and passions.

Hidden behind the five hundred-year-old facade of Palazzo Galli Tassi is Numeroventi, an arts space uniting the threads of Florence’s creative past and present. And you can stay there too.

DNA Hotels. For people who care where they stay. Authentic. Soulful. Design. Indie. Local.

DNA Hotels. For people who care where they stay. Authentic. Soulful. Design. Indie. Local.

Florence’s Four Seasons is housed in Renaissance-era Palazzo della Gherardesca and La Villa, a 16th-century convent building across the garden. It is a luxury hotel in the grand style, a living museum of eye-popping works of art and original architectural details that greet you the moment you step through the front door into the lobby, a loggia decorated with an original bas-relief frieze and stucco work.

The hotel offers restrained good taste rather than flashy luxury. It occupies a former Franciscan monastery dating from the 15th century (the weathered, porticoed façade is said to be by Michelangelo) in Fiesole, overlooking Florence. The main building, a rabbit warren of rooms, corridors and stairways, is full of original features: cloisters (now covered), wide arches and vaulted ceilings, a long loggia (now the main restaurant), and worn terracotta floors.

Part of the Dutch The Student Hotel co-living, co-working hybrid, the Florence outpost occupies an historic palazzo from 1864 at the edge of the city centre. Interiors feature natural materials such as wood, cork, stone, and leather contrasting against the more industrial metal mesh, ceramic tiles, and resin to create dynamic ‘zones’ (with ping pong tables to musical instruments) for dwellers to come and go as they so wish.

As the name suggests, Palazzo Niccolini Al Duomo is right in the heart of Florence on the pedestrian-only Piazza del Duomo in front of the cathedral. A historic palace (“Residenze d’Epoca”), the property is still family owned by a noble family, Niccolini di Camugliano.

Granduomo Charming Accommodation is set in a magnificent 18th century residence splendidly restored by a Florentine family with utmost respect for the original architecture. The apartments are located in Santa Maria del Fiore, overlooking the Cathedral and the heart of the city.

Just 300 metres from the Ponte Vecchio and incorporating the 12th-century Monalda Tower, hotel NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa is an elegant, historic hotel with uniquely decorated, contemporary guest rooms. The breakfast room has large stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. The Savini Truffles Experience restaurant serves local cuisine and Italian classics, specialising in Truffle-based dishes. Drinks can be enjoyed in the stylish bar.

The Art Nouveau, 20-room villa oozes intimate elegance yet exudes a welcoming and relaxed feel. It was built in 1892 and has a highly decorated façade painted in warm terracotta and golden hues, topped by small castle-like turrets. It has witnessed its fair share of history too. Between 1943 and 1945 it became the home of Mussolini and his family. The interiors are elegant, sophisticated and tastefully furnished, with intricate frescoes, high ceilings and a wide staircase leading up to the…

mod 05 living hotel is a design hotel located in Sandra di Castenuovo, near Lake Garda and Verona. It offers stylish rooms, a pizzeria, a bar and a garden with swimming pool. Particular attention is given to the enviroment with he hotel using solar energy and with the biocompatibility of the construction and insulation materials. Regular art exhibitions.

Located on the Western shore of Lake Garda, right in the heart of the Garda Bresciano Natural Park is the picturesque fishing village of Gargnano. Here you will find Fondo La Campagnola, self-catering apartments admidst beautiful, lavender, rosemary and caper scented gardens dating back to the 1700s with lemon and bay laurel trees.

This smart Neoclassical villa was built in 1904 to cater for the European aristocrats who once flocked to Lake Garda. Fast forward a century or so and a thorough revamp has brought it bang up to date, without erasing any of its original elegance. The result is a colourful blend of old and new - glossy blue walls behind a wrought-iron staircase, ornate chandeliers above scarlet-red chairs, jazzy murals in the lobby - with a dash of glamour that wouldn’t look out of place on a luxury liner.

Hotel Gardenia al Lago is a charming small -family-owned and operated- hotel right in the small village of Gargnano on the “Lemon Riviera” side of Lake Garda. Be delighted by the classic 1920’s flair of this villa, once the holiday home of the current owners.

Lago di Garda, Italy’s biggest lake has always shimmered brightly, luring classic Roman poets, Italian aristos and Hollywood elite for time immemorial. Perched on its lakeside is an original 1930s white villa, now cleverly reimagined for the nomads of the modernist style. With the feel of a hip in-the-know club for lido-lovers, AQVA Boutique Hotel’s modular alabaster-white building is fronted by a turquoise pool surrounded by sleek decking and a private pier jutting out onto the lake.

A not-less-than-glamorous private Roman hideaway with just four suites for the very best in laid-back luxury.

One of Italy’s classiest townhouse hotels, J.K. Place has been much imitated, but few of the copies match the warm, suave, elegant original. The rooms derive much of their charm from the no-expenses-spared quality of the materials used, including antique fireplaces and original framed fashion-house sketches. The ground floor feels a little like a stylish contemporary gentleman's club – especially the chic little lounge/library.

Describing its ethos as ‘rough-luxe’, the 10-room boutique hotel places original, vintage pieces by leading Italian designers in a stripped-back historic building, leavening the mix with rich fabrics, playful contemporary art interventions which will appeal to anyone who appreciates adventurous modernism and can tell their Giò Ponti chairs from their Joe Colombo lamps.

Set above the flagship store of Via Condotti, the Lepanto marble doorways give way to the lounge decorated with statement furniture such as undulating Campana Brothers sofas, vintage Fritz Hansen chairs, mirrors by Gio Ponti and ephemeral Lindsey Adelman lamps. The elegant look continues in the suites, where the walls feature black and white photographs by Karl Lagerfeld, and shelves are dotted with fashion books.

Located in the centre of Rome, just steps from the Trevi fountain, CasaCau is a boutique hotel set behind a palazzo’s Baroque façade. It offers 6 apartments with breezy open-spaces, contemporary furniture and art pieces plus turquoise and tangerine-hued mid-century modern kitchenettes for self-catering flexibility.

A member of Design Hotels™, the 33-room Elizabeth Unique is set in a 17th-century palazzo in the heart of Rome. With antique prints of the Roman countryside, the interior boasts a refined look and just a hint of grandeur. Curated by Fabrizio Russo, owner of Russo Art Gallery, the property is home to a number of works by Italian artists including Enrico Benetta, Veronica Montanino, Michael Gambino, Luca Di Luzio, and Giorgio Tentolini in the form of collages, paintings, sculptures, and more.

Hotel dei Barbieri is among the best-located Roman boutique hotels — not only is it close to famous, millennia-old historical sites, you’re also surrounded by boutiques, restaurants, wine bars, gourmet food shops, and much more. As for the hotel itself, it’s a stunning update of a 17th-century building, and its interiors mix lovingly preserved period architecture with cutting-edge contemporary design.

Five star hotel Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese has re-opened following a complete redesign by French architect and interior designer, Jean-Philippe Nuel. Situated in a former 19th century Roman palazzo, Nuel has taken inspiration from the building’s original architecture as well as the landscaped gardens of the adjacent Villa Borghese to bring a fresh look with a nature-inspired colour palette for the city retreat.

This luxury guesthouse is located in the historic centre of Rome, just 50 metres to the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps. It is situated on the first floor of a historic building, and filled with antiques, paintings and prints collected by the owner. The building is surrounded by the most famous boutiques (Gucci, Prada, Hermès, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Cartier...), but also by renowned restaurants, bars and tea & coffee rooms of the Eternal…

The Italian luxury house of Bulgari has signed an agreement for a new hotel in Rome, scheduled to open in 2022. The new Bulgari Hotel Rome will be strategically located on the central Piazza Augusto Imperatore, not far from the Eternal City’s Spanish Steps and Bulgari’s flagship on Via Condotti. #dnahotels #inspirationalhotels

Built on the site of a 14th century Dominican convent, the San Domenico Hotel first came to life in 1896 with the addition of a new building in Italian Liberty style (today’s Grand Hotel Wing) adjacent to accommodations converted from former quarters in the Ancient Convent Wing. It soon became a highlight on the Grand Tour, favoured by royalty and nobility and increasingly, a colourful cast of artists, writers and Hollywood stars.

Owner Guido Coffa felt his heart leap when he first saw Monaci delle Terre Nere in 2007, a run-down 62-acre 18th-century estate where monks once coaxed vineyards from the black volcanic earth and views stretch from Mt Etna to the Ionian Sea. A decade on, the land and original Baroque house have been transformed by extensive landscaping, planting and a singular makeover into a classy and intimate hotel, perfect for foodies, romantics and families alike.

Sleek, sophisticated and secreted away on Italy’s undiscovered Pantelleria Island. Simple monastic architecture meets striking modernist interiors at Sikelia – a boutique retreat in a dramatic setting. Housed within porcelain-white dammusi, ancient stone buildings typical of this part of Italy, this is an atmospheric escape with effortless style. Expect crisp, clean lines and a muted, monochrome palette, high vaulted ceilings and archways, as well as a gorgeous palm-lined pool.

An exquisitely designed b&b with just three rooms, set in the heart of historic Noto.

The hotel occupies an early 19th-century masseria (fortified farm complex) rescued from decay and meticulously restored leaving as much as possible of the original structure intact. The interior, with lofty vaulted ceilings, floors in pale honey-coloured local stone and brick archways, is deliciously cool on a hot summer day and is filled with a collection of Italian design pieces, vintage finds and a some eye-catching lighting.

BAD - B&B And Design is a retro-style, design b&b, combining bright, modern decor with quirky touches and Catanese baroque architecture. It is located in the historic city centre of Catania. It has a lounge area with an art exhibition space and guests can enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast each morning. The three air conditioned guestrooms all have colourful, individually styled decor and open to balconies. Amenities include televisions, DVD and CD players, hair dryers, and minibars.

Villa Gilda is an exceptional place, somewhere between a boutique bed&breakfast and a small luxury hotel. It is located 5 kilometers from its own stunning beach club at Forte dei Marmi in the lush green foothills of Tuscany. The hotel is surrounded by 8,000m2 of land with olive groves and citrus trees offering spectacular views of the Apuanian Alps as well as the famed beaches of Versilia.

Recently renovated, this 55-room boutique hotel is set in the Renaissance Palazzo Paoli family. The site was originally transformed into a unique hotel in 1857, and became famous for hosting poets, philosophers and artists from around the world.

Here antique timbered ceilings and other period-correct architectural details happily coexist with neutral-toned modern Italian design furniture and the full complement of boutique-hotel conveniences — rain showers, upscale bath products, the works.

Located just under an hour north of Florence, in the Mugello valley, Tenuta Le Tre Virtù is a charming, yet luxurious farmstay of six hectares of certified organic land. Cultivated with passion and pursuit of biodiversity, you will be able to stroll among ancient fruit trees, olive trees that are still young but already productive, and a lavender field which shows incredible colors in July.

Relais Vedetta provides luxurious accommodation in and near the old village of Scarlino, 5 minutes’ drive from the Mediterranean. You will be surrounded by beautiful countryside of Tuscany’s Maremma area, including woods and olive groves. Owner and host Anna Barberini lived in 23 cities in Italy and travelled extensively abroad to return here to her roots and share the magic of this site with you.

Palazzetto Rosso is a luxury design boutique hotel located in the heart of Siena’s medieval center. Set in an inn from the 13th-century, it has been hosting travelers for eight centuries. The original façade, decorated with traditional wrought-iron ensigns and flares, remains the same. Inside, the majestic arched hall, high vaulted ceilings, curving archways, red brick walls and richly frescoed ceiling rich frescoes are combined with cutting-edge Italian design.

Monastic life is not for everyone, but a luxurious hermitage-cum-design-hotel imagined by an ex-fashion designer and buried deep in the Umbrian hills holds wider appeal. Designed with solo travellers in mind, it feels centuries-old, but Eremito is actually a new build. The hermitage was built from the ground up using traditional masonry techniques while also embracing technology with state-of-the-art underfloor heating and an efficient solar energy system.

This is destination architecture at its finest. Bringing barefoot luxury to the Umbrian wilderness, the designer-architect owners have transformed an ancient, crumbling watchtower into a sleek and sophisticated design hotel with a flawless 'medieval-modern' aesthetic. It's a worthy design pilgrimage.

Located in the green heart of Italy, Umbria, La Gioia is a charming holiday retreat offering 8 apartments and a suite with the services of a hotel. The solitary estate is set within 15 acres of farmland between rolling hills and has a lake and forest. Fruit and vegetables are grown, and an extra virgine olive oil is produced from the 1000 trees on the estate.

Castello di Reschio is a slice of timeless Italy. A grand estate huddled amidst the rolling green hills of Umbria, this is a place made for romantics and intrepid travellers alike. Imagine centuries-old stone and Cypress trees wreathed in mist. The silence of a sun-drenched morning, broken only by the distant echo of cantering Andalusian horses. Come here for adventure or relaxation – and leave utterly enchanted.

This stylish convent-turned-design-hotel enjoys a quiet spot in the historical heart of Assisi. An inspired renovation not only transformed the 13th-century structure into a sleek, minimalist haven; but also uncovered the ruins of a Roman amphitheater – now home to an atmospheric “spa museum”.

While the architectural elements were carefully restored, the rest of the project departed from excessive rigidity so as not to deprive it of its personality. Local materials, such as Travertine and Pietra Serena, were combined with unique, eclectic pieces that give the hotel exclusive connotations. Each of the 8 rooms has a different layout, and are furnished with individual pieces and unique tactile finishes, expressly designed and selected for their sensorial characteristics.

An outstandingly ‘dimora di charme’, Palazzetta del Vescovo is a small boutique hotel located in the center of Umbria, “Italy’s green heart”, making it an ideal location for visiting the most important sights in the region. The palazetta sits on a hill and boasts breathtaking views of the Tevere (Tiber) Valley. From 1763 to 1861, it was the summer residence of the Bishop of Todi.

Set in gorgeous Umbrian countryside between Gubbio and Perugia is the charming Locanda del Gallo. Originally a 12th century mansion nowadays it is simply an ideal place to relax and unwind. It fits in perfectly within such beautiful natural surroundings, with the regional elements of old stone and the liberal use of wood used throughout, but so is a certain colonial style, whilst the recent restoration has taken nothing away from the Locanda del Gallo.

In the hillside of Brianza, close to Lake Como, C-Hotel & Spa is a beautiful minimalist retreat where contemporary design and the natural environment are the undisputed protagonists. The hotel's interiors are essential, light-filled spaces, in which floor-to-ceiling glass, items of designer furniture, sea stone, wood, and delicate neutral shades create, with the contribution of natural light, an atmosphere which is warm, soothing, and sensual.

Surrounded by a 2.5 acres park with ancient trees (once the game reserve of the aristocratic Este family), Horti della Fasanara is a charming boutique hotel, located a few steps away from the Estense Castle and Palazzo dei Diamanti. Ferrara’s historic city centre is an easy bus ride away. Here, history, art and nature come together in an enchanted renaissance environment.

Housed in four elegant 18th-century buildings in the heart of Milan and steps away from the fashion district and the artistic neighbourhood of Brera, the hotel features the sublime and holistic Spa, the Mandarin Bar & Bistrot and the refined two-Michelin-starred Seta recently awarded the Best of Award of Excellence 2020 for its wine list from the prestigious American magazine Wine Spectator.

For fans of great hotels, one of the most appealing features of Italy is the constant collision of the ancient and the modern. Palazzo de Noha, in the Baroque old town of Lecce, is a perfect example: a centuries-old building, marked by rough-hewn stone vaults, with ancient Roman ruins exposed by the glass floors of its corridors, transformed into a modern boutique hotel furnished in contemporary luxury style.

The elegantly restored red palace is located in the heart of Puglia’s White City, Ostuni. The quintessentially Puglian property was meticulously restored, boasting 11 individually curated rooms and suites with a cosmopolitan soul. Standing in stark contrast to the whitewashed buildings of Ostuni, Paragon 700’s red brick façade cocoons a lush garden and swimming pool, a rare green space in the heart of the city, just a five-minute walk from Ostuni’s main square.

Villa Gasparini is an unique design hotel housed in an 18th-century former villa, once the summer residence of an aristocratic family. It is located across the street from the Brenta waterway near the town of Dolo, midway between Venice and Padua (both a 25-minute drive). The “Riviera del Brenta” is the scenery for old Venetian nobles and a perfect holiday destination to escape from the urban chaos with its parks, fields, gardens, orchards, villas and farms.

The hotel draws inspiration from the city’s passion of preserving history. With headboards throughout the bedrooms mimicking the beautifully preserved fresco paintings in the city, and the back panelling in the lobby that plays to the garden of Romeo and Juliet, guests find nods to the surrounding neighbourhood in the hotel’s design. Red marble native to Verona (Marmo rosso di Verona) throughout the public areas creates an elevated feel of a grand Italian residence.