The top 10 best hotels in Italy

This building, perched above the town of Ravello on a hilltop overlooking the Bay of Salerno, is one of the most romantic spots in Amalfi. Its location is matched by traditional Italian charm. The hotel is large and set away from everything. Piazza del Duomo is about 5 minutes' walk away.

Housed in a splendid 11th-century palace, the Caruso is a stylish hotel with marble corridors, sweeping arches and vaulted ceilings, old patinated floors, frescoes and chandeliers.

Most rooms have sea views and have recently been refreshed with new paint and elegant fabrics in sunny Mediterranean colours. Huge marble bathrooms come with bathrobes, soft slippers and bath products by Bulgari and Penhaligon.

Taormina's first hotel, the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo still dazzles guests with its views and over a century of history. Situated in Sicily, the hotel overlooks the terracotta roofs of the medieval village, is just minutes away from a relic and offers breathtaking views of Mount Etna.

At the forefront are well-kept gardens, opulent rooms and a wellness centre focusing on natural and organic products with healing local herbs and neroli oil.

The hotel was frequented by the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, and inside, the Otto Geleng restaurant holds a Michelin star.

The Gritti has been a favourite with top travellers ever since this fifteenth-century palazzo became a hotel in 1895. The splendid interior is packed with antiques and carefully concealed frescoes. There is also a cookery school and spa. The Gritti overlooks the church of Santa Maria della Salute and the historic warehouses that house the Punta della Dogana contemporary art space.

Named after its former owner, this 1475 palace was transformed into a hotel in 1895 after a multi-million renovation. Works of art, antiques and glorious Murano glass chandeliers - all restored during the building work - set the tone, and the Rubelli fabrics on the walls and furniture in the rooms are timeless.

The Gritti's rooms and suites vary considerably in size, and each has its own unique layout and décor, but they all share luxury features, with splendid gallery artworks, imposing furniture and wall coverings in noble fabrics.

Often ranked as one of the 'best hotels in the world', the hotel has welcomed stars such as George Clooney and Julia Roberts. This legendary hotel lives up to its reputation. The luxury and spectacular setting are delivered with genuine five-star warmth. Carved into the rock and hidden from prying eyes, the San Pietro is just a few bends in the road east of Positano. The terraces and some of the rooms overlook the village; all around is the deep, blue sea.

The San Pietro exudes understated retro glamour in its glittering corridors, but also in its fabulous terraces and magnificent guest rooms. Although ultra-luxurious and frequented by film stars and royalty, it is essentially a family-run business and this is reflected in its warm atmosphere. The hotel opened in the 1970s with just one spectacular villa, and over the years more rooms have been added.

Rooms and suites have their own private outdoor space with sea views (the most coveted with a view of Positano), some even from the bath. All rooms have been renovated by interior designer Fausta Gaetani and offer a chic, clean and fresh atmosphere with jazzy hand-painted ceramic tiles, fabrics in sunny Mediterranean colours, antiques and elegant design details offset by dazzling white paint.

This five-star hotel has quickly made a name for itself on the Amalfi Coast hotel scene. Highlights include its cliffside location, sandy beach, designer interiors, suites with private pools, first-class service, great food and exceptional views.

Built in the 1960s, the Borgo Santandrea is a design lover's dream. The hotel opts for tiled and whitewashed spaces with wide arches, vaulted ceilings and huge windows - with a sophisticated colour palette of blue and white that blends perfectly with the seascape.

The attention to detail is evident in the 45 fabulous rooms and suites, all with sea views. All rooms have marble-topped bar counters with cocktail-making facilities and espresso machines. The armchairs and baths are strategically placed in front of huge windows so that guests can enjoy the view.

The Hotel de la Ville, located in Rome, is part of the Rocco Forte Hotels group, which has confirmed its leading position in luxury. The establishment combines sophisticated touches, themed cocktails and a chic rooftop.

The Hotel de la Ville is located in the shopping district of Via dei Condotti, lined with boutiques, and just a few steps from must-see sights such as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and Villa Borghese. From its perch above Piazza di Spagna, the hotel's bar and rooftop terraces offer a perfect view of the domes of the Eternal City.

The hotel has over 100 rooms and suites spread over seven floors and overlooking Via Sistina or the hotel's inner courtyard. Contemporary furniture and refined carpets bring a neoclassical style, a nod to 17th-century trends.

The Hotel Forestis is a wellness retreat above the clouds and a former sanctuary for popes and pontiffs in an absurdly beautiful southern Thero-Thélan valley. Environmentally friendly, the hotel offers incredible views of the Dolomites. It has a divine spa with a litany of uplifting therapies.

This Alpine castle with three architecturally stunning towers offers an elegant and unorthodox experience. The main building, designed as a sanatorium for the Austrian monarchy and then used as a summer retreat for the Vatican, houses the lobby, restaurant and bar. Then the towers house the fitness centre, the tower suites and a rooftop bar. The design is minimalist, the owners eschewing art, sculpture and furniture to let the outside in.

The rooms are Spartan, with huge windows, blonde woods and Dolomite stone bathrooms. The tower suites have great beds for moonlit evenings. As a thank you for activating the 'No Housekeeping' button, the management plants one tree a day to help conserve natural resources.

An immaculate and discreet luxury hotel. It is surrounded by subtropical gardens on a beach below the historic resort of Taormina - an ideal choice for those who want to combine beach days with sightseeing, culture and nightlife. The hotel is set on a picturesque pale sand beach dominated by a steep promontory, which it shares with a few other hotels.

Sant'Andrea is steeped in old-fashioned style, but never outdated. The original 1919 villa forms the heart of the hotel, with incredible marble floors and staircases. Baroque paintings and family heirlooms scattered around the light-filled lounge add a majestic atmosphere.

The rooms offer classic Italian elegance in soft neutral tones. Most rooms have balconies or terraces overlooking the bay. Krups coffee makers, kettles and loose teas add extra class. Glorious bathrooms with Sicilian ceramics, brass fittings and copper bathtubs.

Palazzo Seneca attracts visitors from all over the world to the small fortified town of Norcia, in Umbria's Sibylline Mountain National Park. People come here to savour its impeccable décor, unrivalled service and Michelin-starred restaurant.

After 7 years of meticulous renovation, Palazzo Seneca opts for tradition rather than trend, sourcing furniture exclusively from craftsmen. The result is a timeless elegance that is enhanced by monumental fireplaces, carefully calibrated lighting, modern art inspired by Burri and magnificent antiques.

The hotel has just 24 rooms, all of which share soothing earth tones and natural materials with a mix of antique furnishings. As with many historic residences, each room is laid out differently, and some offer dressing rooms, outdoor balconies or inviting leather chairs. The spacious bathrooms in black or ecru marble have a combination of rain and hand-held showers, as well as natural bath and body products.

Sleeping here is like being invited into the elegant home of friends. Guests are very loyal and return time and time again to enjoy the hospitality, fine food and well-appointed rooms. This small luxury hotel overlooks a part of Umbria, with olive groves and vineyards punctuated by hilly towns.

After spending two years renovating the abandoned property, owners Stefano and Paola have created a sumptuous and welcoming country retreat. The light-filled entrance hall leads to the main lounge and breakfast room, furnished with a mix of antique and contemporary pieces with a cheerful ambience.

In total, there are nine rooms of three categories, each carefully designed and elegantly furnished. The mattresses and bed linen are heavenly and luxurious, made in Italy. The bathrooms are in Italian marble with rain showers and toiletries. The best views are from the two superior bedrooms overlooking the pool and the valley.