Hotels in Italy

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

A favorite of artists and royalty, this nineteenth-century hotel and its sister palazzo are steps from St. Mark's Square. Rooms have Murano chandeliers and vintage furnishings; palazzo rooms overlook the Grand Canal, offering "views that encompass much of what people want to see in Venice." The terrace at the Italian restaurant De Pisis is right over the canal.

133 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

The stone floors, columns, and vaulted ceilings of this Anacapri mainstay recall an eighteenth-century Mediterranean palace. "Large and relaxing rooms" in white and beige have marble bathrooms and terra-cotta floors. A new suite pays homage to Andy Warhol. L'Olivo serves up sunset views and "pretty spectacular" regional dishes, such as wild fennel-accented goatling.

80 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Fifteenth-century design hallmarks such as the Renaissance stonework and the lobby frescoes date from the time when this building,minutes from the fashion district,was a convent. Rooms differ in decor: Some have new parquet floors, others loomed carpets, and many have Murano lamps. Il Teatro's Mediterranean cuisine guarantees "one of the most satisfying meals around."

118 rooms

New to the Gold List

This former home of seventeenth-century Portuguese aristocrats has a perfect-scoring location near the Pantheon. Guests are welcomed by an "ornate and airy lobby" before checking in to rooms done in rich blues and reds, with wood-beamed or painted ceilings. La Cesta serves local and Mediterranean cuisine on the roof garden in the summer: "The skyline view is spectacular."

135 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005

"When you arrive by boat, you take a private elevator directly from the dock up to the hotel," which consists of three connected Victorian buildings above the Gulf of Naples. Decor includes Louis XVI art, Belle Epoque statues, and eighteenth-century Neapolitan paintings. Rooms have pastel colors and walls with geometric and floral stenciling. Sip a Sorrento Mon Amour cocktail, which includes Cointreau and basil, at Vittoria Bar's terrace overlooking the water. The hotel added a solarium in July 2006.

98 rooms

Amenities: Pool

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This boxy "grande dame on the Arno" is within walking distance of the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. Public spaces brim with Renaissance frescoes, chandeliers, and rich fabrics. "Spacious and regal rooms" have inlaid marble; "those with a terrace overlooking the river are best." The restaurant Incanto serves Italian cuisine that "can be overpriced."

107 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This 160-year-old former sanatorium is close to the water in "a picturesque neighborhood with cobbled streets lined with quaint little shops," and "it lives up to its name,it is indeed grand." White rooms display flashes of dark blue and gold; many have views of the Faraglioni rocks. The service "ranges from outstanding to indifferent." Candlelit dinners might include grilled octopus or spicy seafood ravioli.

150 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

"The rooms are large for Italy" at this eighteenth-century palace, whose individually decorated accommodations have vaulted ceilings, tapestries, and antique furniture. Situated near the Uffizi Gallery, "it is well located for museums," though for some "the hotel's history as the Medici family home deserves special attention." The restaurant serves Tuscan fare and "a decent breakfast."

100 rooms

Amenities: Pool

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

You'll "feel like the lake is there just for you." At this nineteenth-century waterfront villa to which two wings have been added, the parklike grounds are "so tranquil and relaxing." Room decor takes in Empire wardrobes, stucco ceilings, and trompe l'oeil paintings. Staff "charm the pants off you." At the poolside Mistral, try Mediterranean dishes, such as sugar-baked turbot with leek sauce, that are "excellent, even if a little pricey compared with the fare at local restaurants."

81 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

New to the Gold List

Located in a park on Rome's highest hill, this newcomer popular with Saudi royalty is "a bit inconvenient if you like to be in the thick of things",the city center is four miles away. In rooms, contemporary furnishings and amenities mingle with classical standbys of marble and crystal; some have large balconies with Vatican views. "Exceptional staff go above and beyond." La Pergola offers "wonderfully appetizing" French-Italian dishes.

370 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Staff "welcome you by name" at this complex on Guidecca Island, a five-minute ferry ride from St. Mark's Square. The property comprises two buildings with "gorgeous, uniquely decorated rooms" that have trompe l'oeil wall coverings. An Olympic-size pool is the centerpiece of the resort's gardens. Fortuny serves Italian fare beneath domed ceilings or on the outdoor terrace.

104 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

This sixteenth-century Venetian Gothic palace near the Rialto Bridge has "views of the Grand Canal to fantasize about," though some complain that "it seems a little dated." To others, "the history is part of the charm." Rooms in green, blue, rose, and ivory have period antiques and original Mariano Fortuny fabrics. The Club del Doge provides Venetian cuisine for dining alfresco.

91 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

"The views and especially the sunsets are outstanding" at this nineteenth-century hotel atop the Spanish Steps, ergo the perfect Location score. Rooms with Murano chandeliers, parquet floors, and velvet sofas "feel like a rich relative's home." Recently renovated, the rooftop restaurant has Rome as a backdrop for elegant dining. "Staff treat you like you're a VIP."

98 rooms

New to the Gold List

This 1860 neoclassic hotel near St. Mark's Square has interiors designed by Rocco Magnoli, designer of Versace boutiques around the world. While the exterior is white Istria marble, the inside has Aubusson carpets, floor mosaics, and furniture from the late 1800s. "Request a room at the hotel's rear" overlooking the gondola-lined lagoon. Do Leoni Restaurant bakes eight different types of bread daily.

53 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"The appeal of this hotel near the Ponte Vecchio is in the interiors and the view of the Arno." Neoclassic rooms are "crisp and elegant" in ivory and ocean blue, and marble bathrooms have nickel faucets; antique furnishings fill public spaces. Borgo San Jacapo prepares classic Italian cuisine in a two-story riverside space.

73 rooms

New to the Gold List

This seventeenth-century property,a main hotel and a nearby palazzo,gets a perfect score for its location on the Grand Canal, where "everything is a short distance away." Interiors have classic furnishings and "a modern flair," with each space done in a single vivid color. Staff are "eager to please," especially in the restaurant, which has "an unbeatable view of the water."

135 rooms

New to the Gold List

"There's nothing understated" about this 1927 neoclassic landmark near La Scala opera house. Rooms display "highbrow luxury" in marble, gold, and damask; 48 new deluxe rooms overlooking the Piazza della Repubblica were unveiled in 2006. Let the "lovely tea sommelier" create the perfect afternoon brew under the glass-domed ceiling of the Giardino d'Inverno.

401 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Close to the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio, this restored 1893 hotel on the Piazza della Repubblica has "the perfect location for walking" to the nearby fashion houses and galleries. Rooms have clean contemporary lines, white or brown marble bathrooms, and front-row views: "Check out all the action from windows facing the piazza." Dine on Tuscan fare "that must not be missed" at L'Incontro.

102 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

A "stunning view" of the Tigullian Gulf draws visitors to this two-building Mediterranean property,one part on a hillside in a former monastery, the other on the lively harbor. Of rooms in pastel shades, the best are "the ones with a balcony and a full sea view." The restaurant, which serves traditional Ligurian cuisine and fresh seafood, "does a good job competing with the local places." Splash around in a heated pool filled with seawater.

81 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This Palladian villa, once owned by the Guinness family, is "in the tiniest little town on the top of a hill," 40 miles from Venice. Rooms have terra-cotta tile floors, exposed beams, and pastel bedcovers. Sample Veneto specialties that use seasonal leafy greens at the restaurant, or stop by Bar Al Pozzo for a Bellini. "I was so enchanted by the hotel staff."

31 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

Built among olive groves and vineyards on the hillside site of a fifteenth-century Franciscan monastery, this hotel has "an absolutely tremendous view" of Florence. Restored art, antique wardrobes, and handcrafted chests fill interiors; some rooms have private gardens. The Cloister and the Cenacolo Room offer traditional Tuscan meals that are "a delight to behold and even better to eat."

45 rooms

Amenities: Pool

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"It's like staying with family friends" at this clifftop Moorish palazzo, from which "the sea view is unmatched." Light-filled rooms have Vietri-tiled floors and antiques mixed with contemporary furnishings; some have oil paintings on the ceiling. The candlelit restaurant serves "exquisite Neapolitan cuisine." "Staff go out of their way to make your stay wonderful."

63 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

From its perch 1,000 feet above the Tyrrhenian Sea, this twelfth-century villa has "views that have to be seen to be believed." Rooms are decorated with handmade Vietri tiles, eighteenth-century antiques, and brass accessories. The perfect-scoring Rossellinis serves inventive Italian fare, including pigeon. "The breakfasts are spectacular, with lots of fresh fruits, baked goods, and omelets."

43 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

The location of this 1814 hotel near the Spanish Steps "couldn't be better." "Stark, modern, and simple rooms" have neutral tones, thick drapes, and marble mosaic bathrooms. Dine on grilled salmon with spinach and pine nuts at Le Jardin de Russie. In the evening, count butterflies in the garden while sipping a de Russie Martini, accompanied by caviar and live music.

123 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This hotel built around a fifteenth-century monastery retains original details such as white corridors, images of saints, and a choir stall. Accommodations in two wings vary from former monk cells to "bright rooms with Mediterranean vistas." The pool offers "amazing views of Mount Etna." The seasonal Principe Cerami serves local dishes on an outdoor sea-view terrace.

105 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Wheelchair-accessible

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"Built into cliffs overlooking the sea," this family-run hotel is in "a small and very explorable town." Elevators take guests from the gardens and citrus groves to the seawater swimming pool and sunbathing decks. White rooms house contemporary furnishings and multicolored Vietri ceramics. Restaurant Santa Caterina is "a great place to watch the sunset while eating the most divine Italian food." The spa has a Turkish steam bath.

62 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Pool, Spa

New to the Gold List

The hotel near the Trevi Fountain, first opened by Cesar Ritz in 1894, offers "old-world elegance and opulence": Rooms house marble baths, tapestries, and frescoes. The new e-butler service equips butlers with handheld devices to which guests send requests, such as to procure theater tickets or make spa appointments. Try suckling pig with pumpkin at Vivendo.

161 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005

"At the entrance to the Grand Canal, near all the sights," this neoclassic hotel incorporates five buildings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. "Although it doesn't look like much from the outside, the inside is spectacular," with grand marble common areas. Traditional Venetian rooms have period furnishings in pastels. La Cusina prepares modern regional meals, but "they are outrageously expensive."

185 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"I'll never forget the rooms and spectacular location on the river" of this 1927 property, which was created by merging two neighboring hotels. Art, handcrafted furnishings, and stained glass combined with "marble, marble everywhere" and neoclassic frescoes give rooms in the Empire, Florentine, or Tuscan style "a sense of old-world luxury." Peruse the Italian menu at Il Cestello.

171 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

Located on the Via Veneto, near the boutiques, this 101-year-old grande dame is especially convenient "if you're happy to walk a lot." Rooms are styled differently; some have velvet curtains, gilded furniture, and ceiling frescoes. Recently remodeled, Doney Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine in a setting of stone walls and wood furnishings.

319 rooms

Amenities: Pool