The Hotel Excelsior is a pleasant three-star hotel with its own restaurant in the popular seaside resort of Loano on the Ligurian coast. This is where Italy curves westward to meet France (Nice and Monte Carlo), enclosing the beautiful clear and warm waters of the northern Mediterranean. Hotel Excelsior, Savona
Calabria — An elegant 3-star hotel with great dining, conference and sports facilities, private beach, boat trips and organised excursions. Hotel Club Kennedy. Hotel Club Kennedy, Reggio Calabria
Swimming pool
The Hotel Pasitea in Positano, on the scenic Amalfi Coast, is perfectly placed for touring the Campania region. This crisply turned out, three-star hotel in Amalfi was renovated only a couple of years ago, and features pretty, traditional architecture and striking wrought-iron metalwork. Hotel Pasitea, Salerno
Only 4km from the centre of Verona, the comfortable Hotel Brandoli is ideally situated for taking in the sights of this fascinating Italian city. It has 36 well-appointed rooms (each with a balcony, private bathroom with shower and hairdryer, air-conditioning, satellite TV, direct-dial telephone, minibar and safe), a restaurant and a bar. Hotel Brandoli, Verona
The town of Francavilla in the heart of the beautiful Alcantara valley is in ideal base from which to explore eastern Sicily. The lively seaside resort of Taormina and the breathtaking volcano of Mount Etna are both only 20 kilometres away, and there is local natural beauty to be found at the nearby olive-groved gorges. Hotel D Orange D Alcantara, Messina
Hotel Elisir in Rimini has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with helpful staff and comfortable rooms. For families there is an outdoor play area for children and the pretty garden is perfect for relaxing in after a long day's sunbathing or exploring the city. Hotel Elisir, Rimini
A hotel-holiday complex outside Bologna, The Centro Turistico Citta' di Bologna offers well-priced self-catering accommodation in pleasant green surroundings around four kilometres from the city centre. Centro Turistico Citta' di Bologna, Bologna
Venice's Hotel Firenze is an elegant three-star hotel located close to St. Mark's Square and Venice's major monuments. This Venetian hotel has 25 tastefully decorated, comfortable rooms, all with en-suite facilities, satellite TV, direct-dial telephone with internet connection point, stereo and minibar. Hotel Firenze, Venice
