Florence Travel Guide: Best Boutique Hotels & Restaurants
The best design hotels in Florence including The James Suite and Hotel Savoy, plus where to eat, shop and explore. A curated luxury travel guide.
2026-02-18
A Splendid Guide to
Italy
From the palazzi of Venice to the pine-scented terraces of the Amalfi Coast, Italy is where Splendid's eye has found its most constant subject. Our guides bring you the design hotels, hidden tables and slow itineraries we return to, told through first-hand editorial reporting and photography.
Stories from Italy
Amalfi Coast Guide: Hotels & Cliffside Dining
A curated luxury guide to the Amalfi Coast featuring the best boutique hotels, cliffside restaurants and scenic coastal drives from Positano to Ravello.
2026-02-07
The Venice Venice Hotel Review: Inside Palazzo Ca' da Mosto
A review of The Venice Venice Hotel — Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo’s reimagining of Palazzo Ca’ da Mosto, a 13th-century palace on the Grand Canal.
2026-01-17
A Weekend in Rome: Palazzo Roma Review + Where to Eat
A 48-hour design-led guide to Rome — inside Palazzo Roma on Via del Corso, plus the trattorias, galleries and hidden corners worth the walk.
2025-12-09
A Weekend in Lecce: Where to Stay, Eat & What to See
The Splendid guide to Lecce — Palazzo Bozzi Corso and its art collection, the tables worth booking, and a baroque city carved from golden stone.
2025-08-29
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best luxury hotels in Italy?
Italy's most celebrated luxury hotels include Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole, Le Sirenuse in Positano, Hotel de Russie in Rome, The James Suite in Florence, The Venice Venice Hotel on the Grand Canal, Hotel Santa Caterina on the Amalfi Coast, and Palazzo Margherita in Puglia.
When is the best time to visit Italy?
Late April to early June and September to mid-October offer the ideal combination of warm weather, open seasonal hotels and lighter crowds. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, especially on the coast. Winter suits the cities (Florence, Rome, Venice) for quieter museums and lower rates.
Which Italian region should I visit first?
For first-time travellers, a combination of Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast captures the classic Italian experience across cities, coast and countryside. Design-minded travellers should consider Venice (for architecture and art), Puglia (for masserias and Baroque towns) and Milan (for fashion and restaurants).