Grand hotels or else small but charming boutique hotels will soon be popping up all over Italy. Stay tuned for future developments. The much-anticipated Four Seasons Firenze will be opening in the Palazzo della Gherardesca in Florence. The city of Michelangelo will also see the opening of a 261-room hotel based on the designs of Jean Nouvel. UNA Hotel group will be reopening Sicily's Hotel Palace in Catania and Hotel Napoli in Naples. A Frank Gehry 350-room hotel is expected in Venice, as is a 380-room Hilton hotel. Finally, Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties plan to open a hotel in Milan sometime before 2008.
Rome
Much to the pleasure of high-profile diners, Casina Valadier (Villa Borghese-Piazza Bucarest ; tel. 06-69922090; www.casinavaldier.it) recently reopened its doors. Formerly, it had been a bar where the glitterati flocked to get cocktails, but now diners can expect traditional Roman dishes cooked to perfection. The food, however, isn't the only thing that's good around here. The restaurant has a grand view of the city that makes tables by the windows some of the hottest in town.
Located in the Pariolo district, the Duke Hotel Roma (69 Via Archimede ; tel. 06-367221; www.thedukehotel.com), is a quiet hotel in a residential neighborhood that has been drawing a steady stream of discerning guests since its much-heralded opening. Within walking distance of many attractions, but not close enough to have to deal with crowds, it is the perfect place to relax after a long day of sightseeing. Politicians and other diplomats stay here because of the hotel's close proximity to most of the embassies. Sixty-four rooms spread out on six floors are all elegantly decorated in warm shades of orange, beige, and green. A restaurant on site, I Duchi, serves international food.
Frugal travelers have made a great discovery with the opening of the Daphne Inn (55 Via di san Basilio ; tel. 06-45449177; www.daphne-rome.com). The affordable prices and convenient location, 10 minutes' walk from Trevi Fountain, make this bed-and-breakfast an ideal place to stay. The rooms are extremely well kept and comfortable, and the staff is attentive. The inn is nonsmoking.
Florence
After being completely refurbished, Hotel Anna's (56 Via Faenza ; tel. 055-2302714; www.hotelannas.com), formerly Locanda Anna, reopened its doors. Located in the center of Palazzo Barbera, this hotel is inviting as well as a good value. Rooms here are midsize and decorated in an elegant fashion, but claustrophobic travelers may find the long, thin bathrooms uncomfortable.
An ultramodern hotel in a city rich in history and tradition often feels tawdry, but the UNA Vittoria (59 Via Pisana ; tel. 055-22771; www.unahotels.it) is the epitome of Italian chic. The architecture is playful, utilizing many curves and spirals as well as dark, rich colors. All of the rooms have dramatic headboards and lighting, and a few of them tend to be a little dark. Those with children should probably look elsewhere; this hotel was designed with adults in mind.
Looking for a souvenir that isn't cheesy or overly priced? Try Cartoleria il Parione (10R Via del Parione ; tel. 055-215684), an elegant stationery shop off Via Tornabuoni. Beautiful hand-decorated Florentine paper, writing sets, diaries bound in Italian leather, photo albums, paper music boxes, Christmas cards, and more are sold here.
Tuscany
Located on a secluded hilltop, Castello di Vicarello (1 Via Vicarello, in the village of Poggi del Sasso; tel. 0564-990718; www.castellodivicarello.it) is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. Owners Aurora and Carlo Baccheschi Berti are warm and inviting, always taking guests along hunting for eggs and picking flowers early in the morning and telling them stories about how the hotel was their dream. Two outdoor pools and seven suites are all decorated with Balinese furniture and art.
For a more personal vacation, try Siena's newly opened Fattoria Bellandi (4 Via del Borgo; tel. 0578-52415; www.fattoriabellandi.net). The five-bedroom farmhouse in the heart of Val d'Orcia has a swimming pool and an excellent restaurant that gets a lot of its fresh food from the farm itself. The bedrooms are comfortable and well maintained, all with a private bathroom, hair dryer, and television. The owners, Eliana and Silvano, speak English and happily attend to their lucky guests.
Venice
New accommodations have opened in Venice, the most dramatic being Ca Maria Adele (111 Dorsoduro; tel. 041-5203078; www.camariaadele.it). The hotel has 14 rooms in all, but the five concept rooms are the showstoppers. The Doge's Room feels like something straight out of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The walls and furniture are covered in a deep red brocade, and a large gilded chandelier hangs over the bed. The Fireside Room is an elegant and sophisticated quarter covered in white fabric and marble. Floral arrangements and candles add to the relaxing ambience. History influenced the Moor's Room, which contains a large statue of a Moorish warrior that can be quite frightening to wake up to. A black brocade covers the walls, and the lighting is a bit dim for effect. The Oriental Room uses gold and blue (colors that represent Venetian dominion over the sea), silk, and a plethora of Asian artifacts to re-create the journeys of sailors and merchants. Finally, La Sala Noir's hues and scents were inspired by Venetian spice voyages. If none of these options entices you, the hotel also has nine excellent but more conventional deluxe rooms.
Hop into a gondola or a water taxi, and head over to the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente (Fondamenta della Sensa ; tel. 041-711001; www.hotelaimoridoriente.it). This is another themed hotel, but less so than the Ca Maria Adele. All the headboards in the hotel's 55 rooms are shaped like the dome of the Taj Mahal and have Oriental-inspired colors and patterns. The rooms are not lacking modern amenities, however. Air-conditioning, satellite television, DVD player, and dataport are provided.
Located in the heart of Venice's city center, Ca' dei Dogi (Corte Santa Scolastica; tel. 041-2413759; www.cadeidogi.com) is a sophisticated bed-and-breakfast built inside a 15th-century palace. The staff here is attentive and congenial -- their attention to detail is one of the hotel's most important attributes. All the rooms have marble and mosaic Venetian detailing as well as plasma TVs.
For high-quality Murano glass, head for Seguso Gianni (3 Fondamenta Serenella; tel. 041-739005; www.seguso.it). Venice is overrun with glass showrooms, but this new one is special because the artists will create custom-made pieces by request. There are very few ideas that Meastro Gianni Seguso and his team cannot make into a reality.
Treviso
For a relaxing getaway in the Veneto countryside, visitors flock to Maso di Villa (15 Via Col di Guarda; tel. 0438-841414; www.masodivilla.it). Here, guest rooms are individually decorated in the warmest and most inviting colors, with comfortable fabrics and antique furniture. Wake up feeling rejuvenated and head downstairs for a home-cooked breakfast. Walks among the vineyards, fruit trees, and woods that surround the old brick house are popular among guests. Only an hour away from Venice and in the Veneto, this is the perfect jumping-off point for those wishing to take day trips. To reach the place by car, follow the A27 Venice-Belluno motorway, exiting at Conegliano. After passing through the tolls, take the second road on the right (approx. 50m (164ft) ahead of the tolls) towards Conegliano. After about 1km (.62 miles) turn left at the traffic lights, which puts you on the SS Pontebbana heading toward Treviso. After 3.5km (2.2 miles), turn right at the traffic lights heading towards Pieve di Soligo. After 2km (1.2 miles), turn left (via Val Longa) climbing in the direction of Collalto. After a further 1.5km (.9 miles), at the crossroads, turn right (via Morgante II) and continue for another 2km (1.2 miles) towards Collalto. The house can be found on your left.
Lana
Being at one with nature has never been so chic. The design team of the Vigilius Mountain Resort (Vigiljoch ; tel. 0473-556600; www.vigilius.it) utilized organic architecture to ensure that this spa resort is in perfect harmony with its surroundings. You won't hear noisy highway traffic outside your window here because no roads or highways are anywhere in sight. The resort can only be reached by cable car. Instead of the traditional hotel lobby and reception desk, visitors are welcomed into an entrance lounge and a piazza. The resort of Lana lies only 9km (6 miles) from Merano.
The Amalfi Coast
In 2005 the vacation rental company HomesAway (tel. 800/374-6637; www.homesaway.com) acquired three new properties here that are now being offered to customers. The accommodations house anywhere from 6 to 12 people and come complete with state-of-the-art kitchens, laundry facilities, and satellite television, and, in two rentals, a swimming pool.
Sorrento
Located by the seaport, Hotel Il Faro (5 Marina Piccola; tel. 081-8781390; www.hotelilfaro.com) has a tranquil ambience and oceanfront rooms. All of the 50 accommodations have balconies and satellite television. The hotel also has a good on-site restaurant, Ristorante Pizzeria Vela Bianca, which serves local food at reasonable prices.
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