Italy is fabulous at any time of year, and there is no shortage of fantastic design hotels and boutique hotels all over the country, whatever your tastes.
Those who love fashion and shopping will probably want to head to Milan, Italy’s fashion capital. Our recommendations here include Palazzo Moscova, housed in an old railway station built in 1840. Its rooms are diverse and eccentric in their decoration – they really have to be seen to be believed! We also like the ultra-modern Straf Hotel with its clean lines and unusual artwork, designed by architect and artist Vincenzo de Cotiis, who said he imagined the hotel as “a type of installation”, Straf is ideally located just a few steps from the Duomo.
But the cities aren’t for everyone if you are after somewhere more restful, head for five star luxury hotel Lake Garda the Lido Palace which has had its stunning spot on the banks of the lake for over 100 years. As the lakes have for so long been associated with wellness it is no surprise that the hotel has a huge 1500 meter square spa. And if you’re looking for a design hotel Venice, we’d find it hard to choose between the ultra-modern Starck hotel PalazzinaG with rooms decorated in pale shades with lots of mirrors or the very romantic Camaria Adele, which has recently been voted Best Boutique Hotel in Europe by World Luxury Hotels Awards. Camaria Adele has several different styles of sumptuously-decorated rooms for you to choose between – the hotel suggests its Sala Noire for a dirty weekend and its Sala del Camino for relaxation with the sound of water lapping beneath your window.
If you’d prefer a boutique hotel Florence and are a fan of the 50s styling, you’ll love the Continentale with its fantastic “La Terrazza” – the ultimate place for anything from a cocktail to a yoga class with stunning views over the city. Or for something a little different, try the French-style riverside studio Riva Lofts designed by architect Claudio Nardi.
Out in the
Tuscany countryside, there are some fabulous Italian boutique hotels.
Castello di Vicarello has won heaps of awards and combines original features with every modern comfort, beautiful gardens, and two unchlorinated pools. Resort Conti di San Boniface is a restored farmhouse in the heart of the Tuscan wine-making region with stunning views and luxurious, yet homely rooms designed by the Countess herself.
It would be a shame not to visit and stay in a
boutique hotels in Rome while you are in Italy. The Luxury Art Hotel Rome is a five-star hotel close to the Piazza del Popolo in a converted 19
th century private home. With both permanent and temporary exhibits in both the common areas and the rooms, each room is almost like a private gallery. Babuino 181 is a luxury boutique hotel Rome with large suites which make guests feel almost as if they are staying in an extremely elegant, private home rather than a hotel in the heart of the Spanish Steps quarter.
If you’re a beach-lover, the Amalfi coasts have several options for boutique hotel stays. The Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi by NH Hotels is a stunning former convent nestled into a cliff top with incredible views – all rooms face the sea. The hotel also has a spa and restaurant and even its own private chapel – its infinity pool is really special. Casa Angelina is also a luxury boutique hotel with an enviable cliff top position with an outdoor pool on one of its terraces. Or if you prefer, you can take the hotel’s glass elevator down to the beach. Villa Marina Hotel and Spa has an art deco feel with large gardens and a stunning view of the Bay of Naples. All rooms are totally different, lavishly furnished and inspired by figures from the 19
th and 20
th century who helped shape the history of Capri.
Puglia is quieter and less glitzy than the Amalfi coast but there are still plenty of fabulous luxury boutique hotels to choose from. Torre Fiore Masseria is a luxury boutique hotel in an ancient fort just outside Pisticci and 18 km from the Ionian Sea. It is small and intimate with just 13 suites. The rooms blend age-old masonry with modern comforts and the infinity pool is simply stunning. Or if you’d prefer the independence of self-catering combined with hotel-style luxuries, Masseria Alchimia is an old mansion house converted into 10 unique studios furnished in a chic, minimalist style each with a private entrance. Some have a private terrace while others open directly onto the garden. The development is a good choice for eco-warriors – it uses solar-heated water.
Those who love fashion and shopping will probably want to head to Milan, Italy’s fashion capital. Our recommendations here include Palazzo Moscova, housed in an old railway station built in 1840. Its rooms are diverse and eccentric in their decoration – they really have to be seen to be believed! We also like the ultra-modern Straf Hotel with its clean lines and unusual artwork, designed by architect and artist Vincenzo de Cotiis, who said he imagined the hotel as “a type of installation”, Straf is ideally located just a few steps from the Duomo.
But the cities aren’t for everyone if you are after somewhere more restful, head for five star luxury hotel Lake Garda the Lido Palace which has had its stunning spot on the banks of the lake for over 100 years. As the lakes have for so long been associated with wellness it is no surprise that the hotel has a huge 1500 meter square spa. And if you’re looking for a design hotel Venice, we’d find it hard to choose between the ultra-modern Starck hotel PalazzinaG with rooms decorated in pale shades with lots of mirrors or the very romantic Camaria Adele, which has recently been voted Best Boutique Hotel in Europe by World Luxury Hotels Awards. Camaria Adele has several different styles of sumptuously-decorated rooms for you to choose between – the hotel suggests its Sala Noire for a dirty weekend and its Sala del Camino for relaxation with the sound of water lapping beneath your window.
If you’d prefer a boutique hotel Florence and are a fan of the 50s styling, you’ll love the Continentale with its fantastic “La Terrazza” – the ultimate place for anything from a cocktail to a yoga class with stunning views over the city. Or for something a little different, try the French-style riverside studio Riva Lofts designed by architect Claudio Nardi.