Italy is well-known for its finesse, elegance, and style, offering a variety of charming places to stay, perfect for romantic getaways or family vacations throughout the year. The country’s new, small hotels blend traditional Italian aesthetics with modern comforts, creating a refreshing experience for guests. Whether you visit Sicily or Tuscany, you’ll find cozy accommodations perfect for a relaxing holiday.
In Mattonaia, Florence, the Florentine soprano Cinzia Borsotti and her Belgian husband, Michel Sabatino, transformed the second floor of an 1865 mansion into a stylish guesthouse. Renowned decorator Guido Ciompi, who has worked on all Gucci boutiques in Italy, designed the decor for the five guest rooms, each honoring a writer who once lived in Florence. Although the hostel doesn’t have a restaurant, the famous Sant’Ambrogio market is nearby, and the lounge offers a wide variety of drinks.
Lake Como is typically known for its large, luxurious hotels, but Daniela Tagliamonte, the owner of Relais Villa Vittoria, has created a charming villa with a more intimate feel. Eight out of the thirteen elegantly decorated rooms offer stunning lake views. Visitors can unwind in the stylish lounge or enjoy the outdoor infinity pool and jasmine-covered pergola.
The painter Robert Hawthorn Kitson from Yorkshire had the renowned artist Frank Brangwyn design a house in Sicily, completed in 1907. During WWII, locals safeguarded Kitson’s art collection, which included ancient Roman vases and Persian carpets. Today, the villa is owned by Cuseni Mimma Cundari and her husband, Francesco Spadaro, who have turned it into a museum and guesthouse. While three of the five rooms share a bathroom, guests can enjoy the lush villa’s terrace with breathtaking views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
Imagine transforming a crumbling 12th-century village in Tuscany into a modern sanctuary. That’s exactly what American lawyer Michael Cioffi did with Castiglioncello del Trinoro, south of Montepulciano. Award-winning interior designer Ilaria Miani masterfully blends rustic and modern aesthetics, incorporating wooden beams, earthy colors, luxurious fabrics, wooden furniture, and marble bathrooms. Each of the ten rooms and three villas at Monteverdi has a unique character. Guests can enjoy a cozy restaurant and a small art gallery featuring local artists’ work.