Villa d'Este

Once hosting aristocratic travellers, Russian royalty and renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, a half century hiatus as an office building ended with a glorious restoration and re-establishment of this Roman icon. The Hotel de Russie lies between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo on the Via del Babuino, within easy walking distance of Rome’s main attractions, fashion houses and Via Condotti. Though surrounded by the ceaseless buzz of the city, behind the hotel’s unassuming frontage, is a soothing tranquility – both in design and ambiance – and vast private 18th century terraced gardens, a rare oasis away from it all. 122 rooms and suites are thoroughly up to date amenity wise, complete with Bisazza mosaic and Carrara marble in the bathrooms. Some feature private terraces and many rooms have views over Rome, Piazza del Popolo or the garden. The Stravinskij Bar is renowned for its apertivos, while Le Jardin de Russie and its chef, two-Michelin-star chef Fulvio Pierangelini, serve up simple yet refined dishes Mediterranean dishes in one a most romantic of settings. Furthering the Hotel de Russie urban oasis credentials is the De Russie Spa, one of Rome’s best health clubs.

After falling for the ruins of this dramatically perched 17th century convent while boating in Salerno Bay, the American owner of the Monastero Santa Rosa spent the next decade painstakingly renovated and restoring the building, creating the stunning and secluded boutique hotel it is today. With only 20 rooms and suites, but plenty of outdoor living areas and private spaces dotted around the estate, this unique property is dedicated to total relaxation, as you can take your pick from the various secluded sun terraces perched on the hillside. Make your way down the lush tiered gardens to reach a truly breathtaking infinity pool where you can soak up the sweeping, panoramic views across the Amalfi Coast. The sisters’ former winery is now the setting for a vast sanctuary of a spa – an impressive selection of some 400 wines now stored in the cellar of Ristorante Il Refettorio, where guests can expect an innovative Mediterranean gastronomic experience with the freshest ingredients from the gardens and surrounding Campania region. The convent sits in the quaint fishing village of Conca dei Marini, just a 20-minute car or boat ride from the most scenic towns along this glamorous coastline – notably Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. An array of excursions can be organised, from walking trails and cultural tours, to diving and windsurfing.

The Cristallo has been welcoming guests to Cortina d’Ampezzo for over a century. The town has many claims to fame having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and provided the backdrop for the films The Pink Panther, For Your Eyes Only and Cliffhanger. Situated on the Boite River in an alpine valley, Cortina has long been a popular skiing destination but it’s also an ideal base for hikers and those wanted to enjoy spectacular mountain scenery. Rooms are elegant and sophisticated with rich fabrics, hand decorated wall panels and parquet flooring. Most come with views of the surrounding parkland or of the mountains themselves. With four restaurants to choose from, there’s ample opportunity to sample cuisine from the local region and further afield. The circular Gazebo restaurant is surrounded by glass so you can watch the sky and the peaks change colour as the evening draws in. Make sure you spend an evening at La Stube 1872 restaurant, a celebration of traditional with its wooden walls and majolica stove and ingredients sourced from small local farms. For real relaxation, check into the spa or while away the hours on the terrace, covered in flowers during the summer and transformed into an ice rink in the winter.

Sat amidst the rolling green hills, deep in the heart of Tuscany, you will find the inviting haven of Borgo Pignano, a hotel built into a perfectly renovated 18th-century country villa. From this 750-acre hilltop estate, which offers exquisite views of Tuscany’s olives groves, fields and woodlands, you can indulge in the upmost comfort found in the 14 elegantly furnished rooms and suites. While the hotel has been renovated, it hasn’t forgotten its historic roots, and some rooms still feature their original frescoes under rustic wood beams. The hotel grows a lot of its own produce and has also started growing antique and heritage crops. The broad cross-section of flowers and plants you’ll find here attract bees, helping with the vital process of pollination of vegetables and fruit trees. The infinity pool is certainly one of the hotel’s most enticing features, cradled by old stone walls and looking out towards the impressive landscape. The wellness centre can be found just a few steps from the main building and offers a range of treatments which have been created using organic ingredients grown on the estate. Over in the hotel restaurant you can dine on fine Italian cuisine made from home-grown and locally sourced ingredients. The pasta here is made from wheat flour produced from grains grown on the property, so you can be assured you are really getting a true taste of Tuscany. This hotel is perfect for those seeking both relaxation and a range of exciting activities. Yoga classes take place inside the property, while those wishing to explore the outdoors can do so on horseback, or by bike. Painting classes, cooking classes and wine tastings are all part of the fun here at Borgo Pignano, making every stay unforgettable.