Hôtels de luxe en Italy

L'Hotel Cipriani has occupied the eastern tip of the Giudecca since 1958, and we quickly grasp why Clooney, the Windsors and the European jet-set return every summer. The private boat crossing (three minutes from San Marco) cuts clean from the tourist frenzy. Rooms overlook the three-hectare garden or the basin, cream tones and blonde wood, Carrara marble bathrooms. The Olympic heated seawater pool remains unique in Venice, open from April to October. Service is of absolute discretion, without obsequiousness. From 3 470 € the night, a rate that climbs fast in high season, but the 9.9/10 from 139 reviews speaks volumes ✨

Maalot Roma occupies a 17th-century palazzo on Via delle Muratte, 150 metres from the Trevi Fountain. We step into a hushed universe where ancient marble converses with signed contemporary furniture, indirect lighting, preserved volumes. The rooms blend original stuccoes, velvet-tufted headboards, bathrooms in pale travertine. The restaurant offers a reinterpreted Mediterranean menu, room service available until midnight. Compact but well-equipped fitness centre, airport shuttle on request. From 897 € a night, we pay for the ultra-central location and attention to detail, the value for money remains coherent for this level of service in Rome ✨

The James Suite Hotel Firenze 1564 occupies a Renaissance palazzo a stone's throw from the Duomo, and the 9.8/10 Booking score doesn't lie. We count 8 suites spread over three floors, painted coffered ceilings, original terrazzo floors, furniture sourced from Florentine antiques dealers and family pieces. The intimate scale (maximum 8 rooms) guarantees near-instant room service, breakfast served in room or in the vaulted lounge on the ground floor. The restaurant on the first floor offers a short Tuscan menu, produce from the Sant'Ambrogio market, cellar of 400 references. From 990 € per night, it's the rate of a classic Florentine palace hotel, but here you sleep in a real private palazzo, not in a standardised 32 m² room. The James family locks in bookings six months ahead in high season ✨

Il San Pietro di Positano clings to the Laurito cliff, two kilometres south of the centre, in a verticality that defies ordinary urban planning. We reach the rooms via staircases carved into the rock, suspended terraces, flower-decked walkways of bougainvillea and lemon trees. The infinity pool overlooks 80 metres of sheer drop before the Mediterranean, the bar serves spritzes facing the sunset over Capri. The 57 rooms blend Vietri majolica, wrought-iron beds, local marble bathrooms, all with private balcony or terrace overlooking the sea. Service remains family-run, the house has belonged to the Cinque family since 1970, we bump into Carlo Cinque at breakfast. From 4 337 € per night, a rate that reflects the site's exclusivity and the scarcity of availability (book six months ahead for July-August). It's Positano's most spectacular palace, the one that justifies the trip ✨

L'Hotel Gabrielli occupies a 14th-century Gothic palace a stone's throw from the Arsenal, Istrian stone facade overlooking the St Mark's Basin. We pass through a hall with coffered ceilings, Venetian stuccoes, terrazzo floors, before accessing the interior garden planted with magnolias and orange trees, rare at this address. The rooms blend ancient wood panelling, Rubelli fabrics, Carrara marble bathrooms, some with balconies over the lagoon. The 200 m² spa offers hammam, sauna, treatment cabins with Comfort Zone products. From 905 € a night, it's one of the fairest value-for-money options on the Riva degli Schiavoni for a true historic palace. The 9.7/10 score from 229 reviews reflects the consistency of service and the impeccable maintenance of the premises ✨

The Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel occupies an 18th-century palace in Santa Croce, between the Rialto and Santa Lucia station. There are just nine suites, restored period frescoes, Venetian furniture and contemporary artworks hung in the lounges. The private 1 000 m² garden descends to the Grand Canal, with shaded terrace and views of the palaces opposite. The gastronomic table GLAM Enrico Bartolini (one Michelin star) serves contemporary Italian cuisine in a vaulted ground-floor room. Service is attentive without being stuffy, the team knows names and anticipates requests. From 1 375 € per night, it is one of Venice's priciest addresses, but the Booking score of 9,7/10 from 162 reviews reflects flawless execution. We recommend it for a stay seeking the intimacy of a private house rather than the buzz of a grand palace ✨

Luxury Villa Excelsior Parco occupies a 1900 villa on the Via Provinciale Marina Grande, north side of the island, fifteen minutes from the Piazzetta by shuttle. We sleep in rooms with majolica floors, wrought-iron furniture, balconies facing the sea or the two-hectare wooded park. The infinity pool overlooks the gulf, heated water, towel and cocktail service until 7pm. The restaurant serves honest Campanian cooking, local produce, short menu that changes according to arrivals. From 998 € a night, continental breakfast included, free shuttle to Marina Grande. We recommend the sea-facing rooms, golden light at sunset, clear view to Vesuvius. Family address, attentive management, far from the centre's bustle ✨

Villa Magia occupies an old aristocratic residence clinging to the cliff, transformed into a micro-hotel of just 7 suites. We sleep in rooms with Neapolitan majolica floors, private terraces facing the Gulf of Salerno, king beds draped in white linen. The infinity pool seems to float above the Mediterranean, water heated from April to October. The spa offers massages in outdoor cabins under bougainvillea pergolas, Comfort Zone treatments. Beach access by lift carved into the rock avoids the 300 steps of the public path, a detail that partly justifies the 1 725 € per night. Discreet service, breakfast served in room or poolside until noon ✨

Le Sirenuse has held the Positano cliff since 1951, an 18th-century patrician villa transformed by the Sersale family. We sleep in rooms with Vietri majolica tiles, Frette linen, Carrara marble bathrooms, windows framing the vertical ochre houses and the Tyrrhenian blue. The infinity pool remains one of the most photographed on the Amalfi Coast, water at 28°C from April to October, teak sun loungers facing the Tre Calli. Service is polished, discreet, never obsequious. The Booking score of 9.7/10 from 174 reviews reflects rare consistency in this category. From 2 629 € a night, a rate that places Le Sirenuse among Italy's five priciest addresses, justified by the view, location, history. We recommend booking six months ahead for superior rooms, a year for terrace suites ✨

Hassler Roma occupies Piazza Trinità dei Monti, summit of the Trinità steps, a strategic position few Roman addresses can claim. We head to the 6th floor for the Terrazza Hassler, panoramic table where impeccable service compensates for perfectly correct but uninspired cuisine. The rooms oscillate between careful classicism and slightly dated decor, some deserving a refresh. The Amorvero spa offers treatments and hammam in a cosy space, nothing revolutionary. From 1 659 € the night, we pay for the view, the address, the history, not necessarily the cutting-edge comfort. Our verdict: once in a lifetime, to understand what it means to hold the summit of Rome for 130 years ✨

Umiltà 36 occupies a Baroque palazzo on via dell'Umiltà, 300 metres from the Trevi Fountain. We push open the door, and it's a shock: Seicento frescoes on the ceiling, Minotti sofas, dimmed lighting that sculpts the volumes. The 16 rooms blend original stuccoes, solid oak parquet, bathrooms in white Carrara marble with Fantini fittings. The ground-floor restaurant serves reimagined Roman cuisine, short menu, produce from Campo de' Fiori market. Our verdict: a rare address that embraces the heritage-design contrast without forcing it, from 908 € a night. We tested suite 12 with rooftop views, the absolute silence two streets from tourist chaos is worth the detour ✨

The First Dolce occupies a 17th-century palazzo a stone’s throw from the Piazza di Spagna, Via del Corso, the thoroughfare where Rome has shopped for three centuries. We push open the door and the travertine marble, gilded stucs, restored frescoes command silence. The 21 suites boast 50 m² minimum, Slavonian oak parquet, Carrara marble bathrooms, Poltrona Frau furniture. The restaurant offers a contemporary Italian menu signed by a chef trained under Heinz Beck. From 1 049 € a night, we pay for the rarity and the location, not the volume of services (no spa, no pool). Our verdict: an address for those who prefer 21 historic suites to 200 standardised rooms ✨

Casa Monti Roma occupies a Baroque palace on the Via Panisperna, a stone's throw from Santa Maria Maggiore. We stay in one of the rare rooms, high-ceilinged volumes, original stuccos, contemporary furniture signed by Italian designers. The basement spa offers hammam, sauna, treatment cabins in exposed stone vaults. The restaurant serves reinterpreted Roman cuisine, produce from the Testaccio market, wine list focused on Latium. The Monti district remains one of Rome's most vibrant, far from the Colosseum's tourist flow yet 10 minutes on foot. Rates from 822 € per night, consistent with the standing and room rarity. We recommend for an intimate stay, far from the centre's impersonal palaces ✨

J.K. Place Roma occupies a Renaissance palace a stone’s throw from the Piazza del Popolo, and we quickly understand that the address stakes everything on intimacy. Just 30 rooms, decorated by Michele Bonan: dark woods, grey marbles, patinated leather armchairs, dim lighting that evokes Florentine libraries. The restaurant serves contemporary Italian cuisine in a vaulted room, impeccable service but short menu. We tested the rooftop: clear view over the rooftops, perfectly balanced cocktails, plush atmosphere until midnight. From 1 320 € a night, it’s the price of Roman discretion. The value for money holds if you seek a design refuge rather than a full-service palace. Booking score: 9.6/10 from 137 reviews, which speaks volumes about the consistency ✨

L'Orient Express La Minerva occupies a 17th-century palace on the square bearing Bernini's elephant-backed obelisk. We bed down 80 metres from the Pantheon, in 25 rooms where midnight-blue velvet, lacquered panelling and veined marbles recall the mythical sleeping cars. The 200 m² spa carved into vaulted cellars offers hammam, sauna and treatment cabins by Guerlain. The ground-floor gastronomic table works Roman produce, the rooftop opens onto ochre roofs and domes. Service is polished, discreet, never obsequious. Count on 1 460 € the night for this address that strikes the balance between railway heritage and Roman palace ✨

Palazzo Roma occupies a 17th-century palazzo on the Via del Corso, the shopping artery linking Piazza del Popolo to the Capitoline. We are 300 metres from the Trevi Fountain, 400 from the Pantheon, in a neighbourhood where street noise demands double glazing. The rooms blend period frescoes, light marbles and contemporary furniture, with obsessive attention to bed linen and finishes. The restaurant offers reinterpreted Roman cuisine, 24/7 room service available. The Booking score of 9.6 from 761 reviews reflects impeccable service, typical of the Leading Hotels label. From 796 € per night, a coherent rate for this category right in the historic centre ✨

Hotel Palazzina Grassi occupies a Renaissance palace on the campo San Samuele, three minutes from the Accademia bridge. Philippe Starck redesigned the interior in 2009: black lacquered walls, XXL mirrors, bespoke furniture that dialogues with the original coffered ceilings and terrazzo. Each room displays a contemporary artwork (private collection of the owner Francesca Bortolotto Possati), you sleep under a Damien Hirst or an Anish Kapoor. The Ristorante Palazzina Grassi restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2016, Venetian cuisine reinterpreted by chef Filippo Saporito. The scale remains intimate: just 22 rooms, discreet service, regular clientele who return for the balance between heritage and modernity. From 937 € per night, rate justified by the rarity of the address and the quality of execution. We recommend without reserve ✨

Hotel La Gemma occupies a Renaissance palace on Via Dei Cavalieri, a discreet artery of the historic centre. We step into volumes of blonde stone, period stuccos, coffered ceilings. The rooms blend restored wood panelling and bespoke contemporary furniture, Rubelli fabrics, Carrara marble bathrooms. The spa unfolds in 16th-century vaulted cellars, heated pool, treatment cabins under stone arches. The Booking score of 9.6/10 from 1,562 reviews reflects attentive, never intrusive service. From 1 463 € per night, we pay for rarity: just 12 rooms, booking often required three months in advance. ✨

Pazziella, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Capri occupies a renovated villa on the heights of Via Fuorlovado, a five-minute walk from the Piazzetta. We tested a room with private terrace overlooking the Faraglioni, white terrazzo floor, natural rattan furniture, Carrara marble bathroom. The infinity pool overlooks the sea, teak sun loungers, chilled towel service in the afternoon. The restaurant offers a Mediterranean menu with island produce, fine Campanian wine list. From 2 500 € per night, rate justified by the view and the site's discretion. Service is attentive without being intrusive, we feel like at wealthy friends' home. Capri 2024 version, without the Piazzetta crowds ✨

Rocco Forte Hotel De La Ville occupies an 18th-century palazzo reinvented by Tommaso Ziffer in 2019, and we sense Olga Polizzi’s signature in every detail. The 104 rooms blend Carrara marble, midnight-blue velvet and bespoke furniture, with bathrooms in Vicenza stone. The Irene Forte spa offers treatments based on Mediterranean ingredients, indoor pool included. The Mosaico restaurant serves contemporary Italian cuisine, but it’s the Cielo rooftop that justifies the address, unrivalled view over the baroque rooftops. Service remains attentive without being intrusive, rare at this level. From 1 680 € a night, rate in line for this position above the Piazza di Spagna ✨

L'Hotel Locarno occupies a 1925 palazzo steps from the Piazza del Popolo, recognisable by its Art Nouveau façade and wrought-iron sign. We push open the glass door, and it's a Fellini film set: emerald velvet armchairs, Tiffany lamps, creaking parquet, a collection of vintage bicycles lined up like sculptures. The 66 rooms mix original wood panelling, upholstered headboards and white marble bathrooms, some with claw-foot bathtubs. The patio-garden, hidden behind a glass roof, serves breakfast under the orange trees, a rare luxury in this neighbourhood. The rooftop terrace opens in season, clear views over the ochre rooftops and parasol pines of the Villa Borghese. From 600 € a night, our favourite address for anyone wanting Rome off the palace circuits, with this blend of faded charm and family hospitality ✨

Ca' Bonfadini Historic Experience occupies a 16th-century palazzo on the Fondamenta Savorgnan, in the sestiere of Cannaregio. We bed down in rooms with stuccoed ceilings, Venetian terrazzo floors, restored period furniture. The 9.5/10 rating on 822 reviews reflects the attention to detail: embroidered linens, indirect lighting, absolute silence despite the canal's proximity. Rates start at 557,50 € a night, justified by the address's rarity and the building's pedigree. Room service runs until 11pm, the restaurant offers a short menu centred on Rialto produce. We regret the lack of a spa, but the location compensates: the Ghetto five minutes away, Santa Lucia station ten. A bolthole for those seeking Venice off the circuits, without forgoing 5★ comfort ✨

Nolinski Venezia occupies the Palazzo Donà dalle Trezze, three minutes from St Mark’s Square by the calli. We find the Deniot signature: Carrara marble, bottle-green velvet, brushed brass, bespoke lighting. The 43 rooms play on ceiling heights (up to 4.50 m), original stuccos, Vicenza stone bathrooms. The Codage spa offers indoor pool, hammam, treatment cabins in the palace’s vaulted cellars. The Palais Royal table serves French Mediterranean cuisine under 18th-century frescoes, from 1 173 € a night. Service remains discreet, honed by the house’s Parisian experience. We tested in November, the address delivers on its promises without overdoing the Venetian touch ✨

The Londra Palace Venezia occupies a neoclassical palace on the Riva degli Schiavoni, two minutes from the Bridge of Sighs. We bed down in rooms with white-lacquered panelling, Rubelli fabrics, Slavonian oak parquet, some with balconies running along the basin. The 100 Caffè Letterario restaurant retains the walls where Giuseppe Cipriani invented the Bellini in 1948, revisited Venetian cuisine, terrace service from April. The Booking score climbs to 9,5/10 on 374 reviews, placing the address in the top 3 % of Venetian palaces. Rate from 1 922 € the night, consistent with the location and standing. Wi-Fi works everywhere, room service runs until midnight. We recommend a lagoon-side room, the price difference justifies itself at first glance on San Giorgio ✨

The Violino d'Oro Venezia occupies an 18th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal, 100 metres from St Mark's Square. We slept in a room with exposed beams, Venetian terrazzo floor, restored period furniture. Canal light filters through the mullioned windows, the silence surprises despite the proximity of the Rialto. Service is discreet, reception knows the names. From 1 054 € a night, it's the price of a well-maintained historic Venetian 5★, without spa or gourmet restaurant. We recommend for the address and authenticity of the building ✨

The Gritti Palace occupies a 15th-century palazzo facing the Grand Canal, between the Accademia Bridge and St Mark’s Square. We sleep in rooms where Rubelli velvet rubs shoulders with Venetian stucco, Murano chandeliers and original terrazzo floors. The Club del Doge serves contemporary Venetian cuisine on a floating terrace, one of the city’s most in-demand (book two months ahead). The Gritti Epicurean School spa offers treatments with Tuscan olive oils in a setting of white marble. From 4 405 € a night, we quickly understand that the address remains one of Venice’s priciest, but the view from the canal suites justifies the rate for a special occasion. Service is impeccable, discreet, never obsequious. Book for an anniversary or honeymoon, not a spur-of-the-moment weekend ✨

Il Salviatino Firenze occupies a 15th-century villa on a hillside, three kilometres above the historic centre. We bed down in suites with coffered ceilings, restored period frescoes, Carrara marble bathtubs facing the windows. The outdoor pool frames the Duomo below, open May to September, teak sun loungers and white parasols. The Affresco spa offers hammam, Finnish sauna, treatment cabins under Renaissance vaults. The private shuttle reaches Piazza della Signoria in fifteen minutes, return on demand until midnight. From 885 € a night, we pay for the view and absolute calm, not the modernity of the facilities (capricious Wi-Fi in some rooms). An address for those who want Florence without the noise of Florence ✨

The Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy occupies a 19th-century building on Piazza della Repubblica, renovated in 2000 by Olga Polizzi in a minimalist style that contrasts with the surrounding Florentine baroque. The rooms play on beige linen, white Carrara marble, leather-upholstered headboards, natural light filtered through thick voile curtains. We appreciate the travertine bathrooms with double sinks and separate bathtub, the corner suites with views of the Duomo in the distance. Service is discreet, efficient, never obsequious, typical of the Rocco Forte house. From 1 668 € per night, it's the standard Florentine palace rate, justified by the location and 9.5/10 rating on 136 reviews. The address suits travellers who prefer clean design to frescoes and gilding, without renouncing the prestige ✨

The Portrait Firenze occupies a 13th-century tower on the Lungarno Acciaiuoli, owned by the Ferragamo family since 2011. We tested the Junior Suite 405: bleached oak parquet, bespoke Cassina furniture, Carrara marble bathroom with bathtub facing the windows, direct view of the Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari corridor. The scale is intimate, just 37 rooms, allowing near-butler service without formality. The Caffè dell'Oro on the ground floor serves contemporary Tuscan cuisine by Claudio Mengoni, one Michelin star since 2023. From 2 650 € per night, it's Florence's highest rate, justified by the location and finish level. Our verdict: it's the city's only design palace that fully embraces its era without pastiching the Renaissance. We recommend for a stay where architecture matters as much as the address ✨

The NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa occupies a medieval tower turned inn in 1386, six hundred years of uninterrupted Florentine hospitality. The rooms blend exposed beams, terracotta floors and sober contemporary furniture, some retain wall frescoes under glass cases. We bed down in irregular volumes, mullioned windows overlooking cobbled alleys or interior courtyards. The restaurant serves a correct Tuscan menu, without gastronomic pretensions. The service remains professional, discreet, accustomed to travellers seeking history more than design. From 671 € a night, a high rate for the NH category, justified by the location and heritage. We book to sleep in a listed monument, not for the spa facilities or rooftop ✨

The Bvlgari Hotel Milano occupies an 18th-century palazzo restructured by Antonio Citterio, between via Montenapoleone and via della Spiga. We enter via a private alley that opens onto a 4 000 m² garden, centenary plane trees and a serena stone basin, absolute silence a stone's throw from the Quadrilatero. The 58 rooms play on contrast: smoked oak wood, black Zimbabwe marble, Frau leather, light dimmed by silk blinds. The 600 m² spa digs under the garden, 25-metre pool in gold and green mosaic, treatment cabins in Burmese teak. The restaurant Il Ristorante, Niko Romito, has held a Michelin star since 2018, contemporary Italian cuisine served under a glass roof or on the terrace in summer. From 1 800 € a night, we pay for absolute discretion and flawless execution, Milanese CEO clientele and travellers who shun showy palaces ✨

The Caesar Augustus has occupied the promontory of Anacapri for seven generations, and the view remains the main argument: Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius, cliffs of Capri below. The rooms blend period furniture and Carrara marble, some with private terraces overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The spa offers massages and treatments facing the open sea, the infinity pool overlooks the turquoise waters 300 metres below. We tested the restaurant La Terrazza di Lucullo: refined Campanian cuisine, attentive service, outdoor tables under lemon trees. From 1 995 € per night, it's the price of the position and family history. Access from Marina Grande requires 20 minutes of winding road, airport shuttle organised on request. An address for those seeking the Capri of the heights, far from the Piazzetta ✨

The Hotel Quisisana has occupied the centre of Capri since 1845, a stone’s throw from the Piazzetta and Via Camerelle. We sleep in rooms with Carrara marble floors, classic Neapolitan furniture, travertine bathrooms. The two pools (one heated on the roof) offer unobstructed views of the Faraglioni and the gulf of Naples. The 600 m² spa offers signature treatments based on Amalfi Coast citrus fruits. The Booking score of 9.5/10 from 111 reviews reflects the consistency of the service, delivered by a stable team for years. From 1 940 € per night, it’s the reference palace on the island, the one we return to. ✨

L'Hotel Punta Regina occupies a rocky promontory above via Pasitea, the vertical artery that traverses Positano. We reach the rooms by lift carved into the rock, the private terraces all overlook the Gulf of Salerno. The floors are in Vietri ceramics, the bathrooms in white Carrara marble, light enters through floor-to-ceiling windows. The infinity pool blends into the horizon, water at 28°C from May to October. Service is discreet, well-oiled, never intrusive. From 1 446 € per night, we pay for the view and tranquillity, not the volume of the rooms (some measure 22 m²). An address for those who come to Positano to contemplate, not to go out ✨

Hotel Palazzo Murat occupies the former summer palace of Joachim Murat, Napoleon's brother-in-law and King of Naples, built in 1789. We bed down either in the baroque palace's rooms (high ceilings, frescoes, majolica tiles), or in the modern annex that encircles the garden of orange and lemon trees. The pool is small, the restaurant serves honest Campanian cooking under the arcades, the beach is three minutes' walk away down the cobbled alley. Positano teems from May to September, the palace stays calm thanks to its enclosed garden. From 1 450 € a night, we pay for the location (Via dei Mulini, central pedestrian artery) and the historic cachet. Service is attentive, atmosphere hushed, the address suits couples seeking Italian charm without the frenzy of grand resorts. ✨

Villa Treville occupies a 1970s villa perched on the Positano cliff, transformed into a discreet 15-room hotel. We reach Arienzo beach via a private 300-step staircase carved into the rock, with reserved sun loungers and parasols below. Rooms mix Vietri tiling, white linens, private terraces facing the open sea, some with outdoor jacuzzis. The spa offers sea-view cabin massages, heated infinity pool, hammam. Service remains discreet, almost familial, far from the palace ballet. From 4 150 € per night, a rate that reflects the exclusivity and limited capacity. We book for the intimacy and beach access, not the grandeur ✨

Buca Di Bacco has held Positano’s main beach since 1920, ochre and faded blue façade planted in the sand. We sleep above the waves, windows open to the surf, majolica tiles on the floor, bleached rattan furniture. The rooms are small (15 to 20 m² for most), but the view compensates: colourful boats, tuff cliffs, Santa Maria Assunta bell tower to the left. The restaurant occupies a stilted terrace, tables set two metres from the water, honest fish cooking without fanfare. From 1 174 € a night, rate justified by the location (we’re on the beach, not above). The service remains family-run, sometimes overwhelmed in high season. An address for those who want Positano without climbing 300 steps every evening ✨

L'Hotel Poseidon sits on a promontory on the Via Pasitea, halfway up the cliff, and the view takes in the entire bay as far as Capri. We slept in a room with private terrace, Vietri majolica tiling, white wrought-iron king bed, Carrara marble bathroom. The infinity pool is the real draw: heated water, spaced sun loungers, volcanic stone bar. The spa offers massages and treatments based on coast lemons, sea-view cabins. The restaurant serves honest Campanian cooking, grilled catch of the day, fresh pasta, wine list focused on Irpinia and Cilento. From 1 752 € a night, that's the Positano high-season price, but Poseidon justifies it with consistency and location. We recommend for a minimum three-night stay, time to enjoy the pool and head down to the beach via the private stairs ✨

L'Hotel Raphaël - Relais & Châteaux occupies a 16th-century palazzo fifty metres from the Piazza Navona, ivy-covered façade, hall wallpapered with antiques and Old Master paintings. The rooms mix panelling, Rubelli fabrics and Carrara marble bathrooms, some with exposed beams and views over ochre rooftops. The Mater Terrae restaurant, starred vegetarian, serves creative Mediterranean cuisine on the top-floor panoramic terrace, facing the city’s domes. We tested room service, impeccable even at 23h. From 698 € a night, the address remains a discreet refuge for those seeking historic Rome without the ostentation of the Via Veneto palaces ✨

Ca' di Dio occupies a hospice founded in 1272 to welcome pilgrims from the Holy Land, restored in 2021 by Patricia Urquiola who kept the brick vaults and exposed beams. We sleep in rooms where Venetian terrazzo meets Scandinavian furniture, navy blue velvet headboards and Carrara marble bathrooms. The view from the upper rooms stretches over the basin, San Giorgio and the distant Lido. The Akasha spa occupies the former vaulted cellars, 12-metre pool under a 13th-century brick ceiling. The Alajmo restaurant serves contemporary Venetian cuisine signed by the three-star family, from 1 333 € a night. We recommend the basin-side rooms, even if they cost 400 € more, the difference is justified at sunrise. It is the only design address in Venice that fully embraces its era without falling into pastiche ✨

The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze brings together the Palazzo della Gherardesca (15th C) and the Villa Cora, linked by gardens that Michelangelo might have frequented. We bed down in rooms with period frescoes, coffered ceilings, walnut parquet, Carrara marble bathrooms. The outdoor pool (heated, open April-October) overlooks cypresses and old roses, the spa occupies an 18th-century former limonaia. Borgo Pinti remains a fifteen-minute walk from the Duomo, but the scale of the place creates a bubble out of time. Service anticipates without smothering, the clientele is discreet, often American or Middle Eastern. From 3 465 € per night, a rate that reflects the exclusivity of the place and the rarity of space in Florence ✨

The Park Hyatt Milano occupies a 1870 palace 100 metres from the Duomo, in a cobbled street that taxis avoid. We enter through a Vicenza stone hall, dim lighting, five-metre ceilings. The 106 rooms blend Milanese wood panelling and Minotti furniture, black Marquina marble bathrooms, deep bathtubs. The spa descends over two levels, 18-metre pool, spacious treatment cabins, discreet staff. The Mio Bar serves decent Negronis until 1am, local crowd on Thursday evenings. From 1 500 € a night, we pay for the location and impeccable service, not the decor which stays understated. A palace for working adults in Milan who want to sleep in the centre without the fuss ✨

Portrait Milano occupies a 19th-century building on Corso Venezia, a stone's throw from the Scala and Quadrilatero della Moda. The 73 rooms blend solid oak parquet, velvet-upholstered headboards and Flos lighting, with a collection of contemporary Italian art in the suites. We tested a Deluxe: 38 m², Carrara marble bathroom, impeccable water pressure, Duxiana bedding. The Beefbar Club spa on the top floor offers heated pool, hammam and treatment cabins with views over the Milanese rooftops. From 1 815 € per night, rate coherent with the positioning and location. Service remains discreet, efficient, never intrusive. An address for those seeking contemporary luxury without ostentation ✨

Casa Cipriani Milano occupies a 19th-century palazzo restructured in 2023, the group's first European address outside Venice. We step into a hall with 8-metre ceilings, veined white marble, Murano light fixtures, reissued Giò Ponti furniture. The rooms blend solid oak parquet, upholstered navy velvet headboards, beige travertin bathrooms. The spa spans two levels with hammam, Finnish sauna, Augustinus Bader treatment cabins. Rates from 1 350 € per night, international clientele, impeccable service. We recommend for a design weekend in Milan, the view over the public gardens compensates for the lack of a rooftop ✨

Villa Marina Capri occupies a promontory above the port of Marina Grande, ten minutes by water taxi from the Piazzetta. We tested a sea-view room, 38 m², teak terrace, light travertine bathroom, Frette bedding. The infinity pool overlooks the fishermen's boats, the spa offers Comfort Zone treatments, the restaurant serves honest Campanian cuisine without starred pretensions. Service is attentive, clientele international and discreet, atmosphere more retreat than social. From 1 234 € per night, we pay for the view and tranquillity, not the historic address in the centre. A choice for those who prefer the sea to the bustle of the Piazzetta ✨

Villa Certosa Boutique Hotel Capri occupies an old residence on the heights of the Certosa, a fifteen-minute walk from the port. We reach it via a stone staircase, the climb discourages the impatient. The rooms are small (18 to 22 m²), majolique tiling, embroidered linens, bathrooms in white Carrara marble. The infinity pool overlooks the sea, teak sunbeds, room service until 10pm. The calm is absolute after sunset. From 1 129 € per night, we pay for the view and tranquillity, not the size ✨

The Golden Tower Hotel & Spa occupies a 13th-century tower on Piazza Strozzi, a stone's throw from Palazzo Strozzi and Via Tornabuoni. We climb a period stone staircase, the rooms spread over six floors, vaulted ceilings, restored frescoes, contemporary Tuscan furniture. The spa on the top level offers hammam, sauna, treatment cabins and a private terrace facing the domes. The address remains confidential, 859 reviews at 9.3/10, discreet clientele who return for the location and bespoke service. From 508 € a night, rate justified by the site's rarity and the included spa. We recommend for a Florentine weekend off-season, when the city regains its calm ✨

Donati Luxury Tower Suites occupies a 13th-century tower-fortress, Piazza Sant'Elisabetta, two minutes' walk from Ponte Vecchio. We climb a period stone staircase, each suite occupies a full level (45 to 65 m²), vaulted ceilings, pietra serena walls, contemporary furniture by Flexform and Cassina. The bathrooms are in Carrara marble, freestanding bathtubs, Fantini fittings. The view from the mullioned windows embraces the tiled roofs, Brunelleschi's dome, Palazzo Vecchio's tower. Rates start at 771,64 € per night, justified by the exclusivity (five rooms only, often full three months ahead). Service is discreet, concierge available 24h, airport shuttle on request. An address for those who want Florence without the hotel ✨

Villa Cora occupies a mansion built in 1865 for Baron Oppenheim, on the southern slopes of the Arno. We cross a two-hectare park planted with cypresses and magnolias before reaching the ochre façade with Corinthian columns. The interiors blend period frescoes, gilded stuccoes, Empire furniture and a few contemporary touches (spa, cocktail bar). The outdoor pool overlooks Florence, open May to September, teak sun loungers and poolside service until 7pm. The rooms vary in size and style, some with private terraces overlooking Boboli, others more restrained garden side. The spa offers hammam, sauna, treatment cabins, open daily 10am to 8pm. From 1 021 € per night, we pay as much for the setting and tranquillity as for the pure luxury ✨

The Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa occupies a neoclassical palazzo on Corso di Porta Nuova, a stone’s throw from Brera and the Quadrilatero. We enter through a wrought-iron gate, Carrara marble hall, monumental staircase under a painted dome. The 98 rooms blend original stuccoes and contemporary furniture by Pierre-Yves Rochon, cream and pearl-grey tones, travertine bathrooms. The spa spans 1 800 m² with a 20-metre pool, Ottoman hammam, Valmont and La Prairie treatment cabins. The gastronomic table offers modern Italian cuisine under chef Giuseppe Rizzo, attentive service without being stuffy. From 1 441 € per night, rate in line with the standing and location. We recommend for an urban wellbeing stay, the spa justifies the address on its own ✨

The Mandarin Oriental, Milan occupies four 18th-century Milanese palaces linked by glass-covered passageways, Via Andegari, between the Scala and Monte Napoleone. We slept in a room in taupe and bronze tones, solid oak parquet, black Marquina marble bathroom, ceiling height of 3.80 m. The 900 m² spa with black mosaic pool and Turkish hammam justifies the detour on its own, open until 22h. The Seta table (two Michelin stars) serves contemporary Lombard cuisine under a glass roof, impeccable presentation. Service is attentive without being oppressive, we sense the Mandarin training. From 1 855 € per night, rate consistent with the standing and location, discreet international clientele ✨

The Four Seasons Hotel Milano occupies a 1470 monastery a stone’s throw from via Montenapoleone, and we quickly understand why the fashion crowd checks in here during Fashion Weeks. The rooms overlook the cloister or inner courtyard, restored frescoes on the ceiling, Carrara marble in the bathrooms, Minotti furniture. The spa occupies the former monastic cells, pool under a glass roof in what was the refectory. The Veranda serves revisited Lombard cuisine, terrace under wisteria from April. The service remains impeccable, discreet, honed to the demands of the international clientele. From 1 930 € per night, a rate that climbs quickly during trade shows. We recommend it for the location and the history of the place ✨

The Plein Hotel occupies a 19th-century palace on via Daniele Manin, three minutes from La Scala, and translates the Philipp Plein universe into hotel keys. We enter a hall all black marble, gilded stucco, oversized chandeliers, chrome furniture. The rooms mix buttoned leather, velvet headboards, Carrara marble bathrooms, assumed rock'n'roll details (gilded skulls, leopard prints). The restaurant offers a contemporary Italian menu, attentive service, solid Milanese wine cellar. The address appeals to clients who love ostentatious luxury, fashion as a statement, maximalist design. We tested a Junior suite, comfortable, soundproofed, from 921,90 € per night. Member Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel keeps its promises of personalised service, responsive concierge, room service until midnight ✨

L'Hotel Scalinatella occupies a white villa on Via Tragara, the panoramic road that descends towards the rocks. We sleep in one of the 30 rooms, all with private terraces facing the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Faraglioni. The interiors blend Vietri ceramics, barrel vaults, wrought-iron furniture and Rubelli fabrics. The pool sits on the roof, a small heated basin surrounded by teak sun loungers. Service remains discreet, family-run, the opposite of Naples's grand palaces. From 1 164 € per night, we pay for the view and location, not the standards of a modern palace. We recommend for a romantic stay off-season, when Capri regains its calm ✨

L'Hotel Villa Brunella has commanded the Tragara corniche for three generations, family home turned into 20 rooms facing the Faraglioni. We bed down in rooms in white and Mediterranean blue tones, private terraces in Vietri ceramics, wrought-iron beds, Carrara marble bathrooms. The infinity pool overlooks the sea from 80 metres, teak sunbeds, white parasols, chilled towel service in the afternoon. The starred restaurant serves Campanian cuisine on three levels of terraces, from 962,50 € a night in season. The Ruggiero family still manages reception, we sense the difference in the attention paid to details (fresh fruit basket replenished, tips for confidential beaches). The address remains human-scale, 20 rooms only, which guarantees personalised service but limits availability in high season. We book three to four months ahead for July-August ✨

L'Hotel Punta Tragara occupies two modernist villas designed by Le Corbusier in 1920, perched at the end of the Via Tragara, the promenade leading to the Faraglioni. We stay in 44 rooms and suites with clean lines, white marble floors, private terraces facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. The two infinity pools are carved into the cliff, one heated all year round, the other open from May to October. The Punta Tragara Beauty Farm spa offers treatment cabins with views, hammam, Finnish sauna. The Monzù table serves contemporary Campanian cuisine on a terrace suspended 80 metres above the water. From 1 614 € per night, we pay for the position, the architecture, the discretion (Italian and Northern European clientele, few Americans). A palace that embraces its modernist heritage without yielding to the gilded codes of Capriote luxury ✨

L'Hotel Villa Franca sits at the top of Viale Pasitea, halfway up the slope between the port and the hills. We reach the rooms by glass lift, the view widens with each floor. The upper suites have private terraces tiled in majolica, light travertine floors, white rattan furniture. The Li Galli restaurant serves Campanian cuisine on the panoramic terrace, from 8pm the sunset sets fire to the ochre facades of the village. 1 328 € a night in high season, reckon on 30 % less in April or October. The spa offers Comfort Zone massages and treatments in two cabins with a view. We recommend sea-facing rooms, the others overlook the road (effective double glazing but less charm) ✨

The Château Monfort occupies an Art nouveau mansion from 1910 in the Porta Venezia district, a stone’s throw from the Quadrilatère de la mode. We step into a permanent theatre set: mural frescoes, stained-glass windows, bespoke furniture blending embroidered velvets and lacquered woodwork. The 77 rooms bear names like "Sheherazade" or "Cenerentola", with four-poster beds, gilded mirrors, bathrooms in Venetian mosaic. The basement Aveda spa offers hammam, sauna, treatment cabins in a dimmed ambiance. The Rubacuori table serves revisited Lombard cuisine under a glass roof, from 348 € a night. The Relais & Châteaux service keeps its promises, attentive without being stuffy. An address for those who embrace the maximalist decor ✨

Le Palazzo Touring Club Milan occupies a 1926 building that was the headquarters of the Touring Club Italiano, a travellers' association founded in 1894. We cross a hall with stuccoed ceilings, light marble floors, contemporary light fittings that dialogue with the original mouldings. The rooms mix parquet, upholstered headboards, grey stone bathrooms, some with views over the Corso Italia. The spa and fitness offer a rare respite in the city centre, indoor pool, treatment cabins, hammam. The Booking score (9.1/10) reflects attentive service and a strategic location, from 458 € a night. We appreciate the coherence between heritage and modern comfort, without ostentation ✨

The Capri Tiberio Palace occupies a strategic position two minutes from the Piazzetta, in the calm of Via Croce. We tested a Junior Suite: 38 m², Carrara marble floor, Neapolitan neoclassical furniture, private terrace overlooking the gulf. The bathrooms are in beige travertin, deep bathtub, double sink. The 400 m² spa offers hammam, Finnish sauna, Comfort Zone treatment cabins. From 2 200 € per night, the rate reflects the rarity: Capri counts four palaces, this one remains the most discreet. The service is attentive without being intrusive, we were upgraded without asking ✨