Italy
ROMANTIC HOTELS IN ITALY
From the luscious Italian lakes to the sun-splashed beaches of Sicily, Italy is made for romantic getaways.
Brimming with Renaissance art treasures and medieval hilltop towns, Italy has terrific scenery and great style – whether it’s glamorous bars, fast cars or hot designer labels. And Italy has some wonderfully romantic hotels, plush palazzos and rustic B&Bs perfect for a taste of la dolce vita. Here's where to find your dream romantic getaway in Italy.
Amalfi Coast
With towns tumbling down to the sea, the Amalfi coast is Italy’s most spectacular – best seen from the famous Amalfi coastal drive. The area is rife with gorgeously romantic hotels. Beauty spots include lofty Ravello, chocolate-box Positano and scenic Sorrento.
Capri
Glamorous and swish, the millionaire’s playground of Capri remains a firm favourite wth the Mediterranean jetset. The crowds of day trippers magically melt away in the upper village of Anacapri, whose cable car takes you right to the island’s peak.
The Dolomites
Italy's chic alpine ski resorts are made for a winter sun-and-snow fix. But the Dolomites and Valle d’Aosta also make great getaways at any time of year – with crystalline air fresh enough to bottle and take home. Lace up your walking boots, or wax your skis ready for winter's first whiteout...
Emilia Romagna
Home to some of Italy's greatest cities – Bologna, Parma, Modena and Ferrara – Emilia-Romagna is a place to eat, drink and be merry. Start your gastro-tour in Bologna, then head for the Tuscan-Emilia hills to visit wine cellars, truffle farms and markets.
Florence
Florence is Tuscany's much-sung cultural jewel – a cornucopia of church domes, art, sculpture and terracotta rooftops. The Duomo is unmissable, soaring above the city's skyline just as it did in medieval times. And the shopping in this great Renaissance city is pretty good, too.
Isle of Ischia
Less well known than neighbouring Capri, the Isle of Ischia is visibly more Italian in feel. Easily reached by boat or hydrofoil from Naples and smaller towns along the coast, it has some lovely gardens and secluded coves.
Italian Lakes
Fringed by snow-dipped mountains, pretty villas and lush gardens, the Italian lakes come pretty close to heaven. Lake Garda makes a great base for the opera city of Verona, while glamorous Lake Como is a favourite with visiting celebs. Lake Iseo is another beauty, tucked away from the crowds.
Liguria
The glamorous Ligurian riviera stretches around the coast in a 200-mile arc of dramatic cliffs, sandy coves and steeply wooded slopes.
Swanky Portofino - a mecca for showbiz stars since the 1950s - epitomises the area's Dolce Vita chic. Moneglia and Levanto lead on to the fabulous Cinque Terre coast.
Marches
The hills of the Italian marches– Le Marche to the locals – ripple between the Appennines and the Adriatic.
Much-touted as the new Tuscany, this largely untrodden area has some jewel-box towns, mountain ski resorts, bronzing beaches and the Monte Sibillini nature reserve.
Milan
Milan – Italy’s catwalk capital – is packed with shopportunities for those in search of some serious retail therapy. It's also the perfect urban launchpad for the luscious Italian lakes. Flex your plastic in the Giorgio Armani superstore, then splash out on some opera tickets at La Scala.
Naples
Naples is the gateway to the Amalfi coast and the natural place to start and end your trip. it offers a wealth of art museums, Italianate squares and narrow lanes weaving through the old historic centre. Mount Vesuvius and ancient Pompeii are also within easy reach.
Puglia
White sugar-cube towns, miles of olive groves and rock-fringed beaches sizzle with the flavour of Puglia, in the sunny heel of Italy’s boot. Alberobello and Locorotondo have entire streets of beehive-roofed Trulli homes, while Lecce – known as the Florence of the Baroque – has its ornate churches and villas.
Rome
Rome is the big one – and the Eternal City’s simply heaves with art treasures. See the mighty Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain for starters – just toss in a coin to ensure your return. Don’t say Arriverderci Roma without doing some serious shopping, and make time to watch life go by, Roman style, from one of the city’s piazzas.
Sardinia
Life's a beach in Sardinia – come here for turquoise waters and sands that rival those of the Caribbean. Swanky yachts lie at anchor along the ultra-glam hotspots of the chi-chi Costa Smeralda, where you can brush past the sleek mahogany tans of Europe’s glitterati.
Sicily and Aeolian Islands
Lush and mountainous Sicily is the gateway to the chic and laidback Aeolian islands, Italy's summertime party playground. Dip into the mayhem of the capital, Palermo – dripping with statues, churches and piazzas – then escape to the laidback Aeolian Islands, Italy’s chic party playground.
Tuscany
Tailor-made for a cultural odyssey, Tuscany can’t be beaten for its wealth of art treasures and history. It’s also bursting with vineyards and classic hillsides topped by graceful villas. This really is Italy with all its bells and whistles, not to mention terrific food and wines.
Umbria
FABULOUS MEDIEVAL TOWNS and a wealth of artistic treasures make Umbria a winner. Away from the well-trodden paths of Chiantishire, this is quintessential Italy without the crowds. Cosmopolitan Perugia has its frescoed churches, Gubbio is a throwback to medieval times, while Assisi and Spoleto are laden with charms.
Venice
Visiting Venice is like eating an entire box of liqueur chocolates in one go. This chocolate-box of art, churches and palazzi, wrapped in a necklace of canals, is one of the world’s unmissable cities. There's no better start to your stay than sipping a peach bellini on the terrace of your shamelessly romantic hotel in Venice.
Verona
Reputedly the home of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, Verona is Italy's city of sweethearts. It's also home to the world's biggest Roman amphitheatre and a fabulous summer opera season.
Romantic hotels in italy
Amalfi coast
La Locanda delle Donne Monache
Capri
Emilia Romagna
Florence
Isle of Ischia
Italian Lakes
Liguria
Marches
Milan
Naples
Puglia
Rome
Sardinia
Sicily and Aeolian Islands
The Dolomites
Tuscany
Umbria
Venice
Verona
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