Just before Christmas the lovely folk at boutique hotel specialist Mr & Mr Smith sent me their latest hotel guidebook on Italy. If I wasn’t already daydreaming about returning to one of my favourite countries, what with its rolling hills and superb food and wine, then I was now.
The book landed on my doorstep oozing style with a Mr & Mrs Smith-branded ribbon and a signed hotel door hanger wrapped around the book. For those not familiar with Mr & Mrs Smith, they’re one of the best boutique hotel experts to grace our lovely land and have been spot on with every one of the gorgeous hotels I’ve visited in their collection. Opening up the book of cherry-picked luxurious places to stay across the breadth of Italy has pushed over my urge for exploring more of the country.
Venice
Keen to visit the romantic city of Venice this year, I love the sound of Ca Maria Adele, with its canal-side location, boho decor and irresistible ancient oak beams. I’ve never had the opportunity to sleep in a cave before so Sextantio le Grotte della Civita hotel in the Unesco World Heritage site Matera entices me with its cave rooms, offering up plenty of candlelit alcove opportunities.
Lose yourself in the caves at Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita
I can thoroughly recommend Fontelunga, a stunning villa-style boutique hotel in Tuscany, and the only hotel I’ve stayed at in the Italy collection (hint hint A). At Fontelunga the owners made us feel at home, especially with a wonderful dinner party on the first night and giving us fabulous restaurant recommendations, which led us to dreaming of buying a second home among the rolling hills. I suppose a first home would be a start though.
Devoted To Travel 