Set right in front of the main railway station, this modern hotel in Ferrara is an ideal base for visitors to this historic city in Emilia-Romagna. In the late Middle Ages, Ferrara was home to one of the most artistic and culturally developed courts in Europe. Hotel de La Ville, Ferrara
A stone's throw from the monuments of Classical Rome, this hotel in Italy is the perfect pace for exploring the Eternal City. The four-star Hotel Pace Helvezia is within walking distance of the Colosseum, Pantheon and Foro Romano, and just a few hundred yards from the central railway station. Hotel Pace Elvezia, Rome
The Relais Sant'Eligio is a dazzling four-star hotel situated on a beautiful stretch of coastline close to the town of Ostuni, in Italy's Puglia region. The hotel has 22 elegantly decorated rooms, all with air-conditioning and en-suite facilities as well as direct-dial telephone, satellite TV and a generously stocked minibar. Relais Sant' Eligio, Brindisi
Just minutes from Taormina, Sicily, the Hotel Lido Mediterranee is a superior four-star hotel set on a private beach overlooking a peaceful bay. There are 72 spacious, well-appointed rooms, many with balcony and all with en-suite facilities, internet link, telephone and TV. Hotel Lido Mediterranee, Messina
Swimming pool
In the middle of the countryside but only ten minutes from the sea, this four-star Sicily hotel is based around a newly restored country house and offers ultra-modern style and elegance in a setting of olive groves and rugged, volcanic hills. Hotel Poggio Del Sole Resort, Ragusa
A city centre Rome hotel offering four-star comfort just off the Via Veneto. Your air-conditioned room at the Hotel Savoy offers everything you'll need to unwind after a hard day seeing the sights of Rome. Savoy Hotel, Rome
Swimming pool
The elegant Hotel Plaza in Desenzano del Garda, overlooking Lake Garda itself, has 30 spacious, comfortable bedrooms, all with private bathrooms, air conditioning, colour TV, telephone, hairdryer, minibar and safe. It also has a good restaurant, a bar and a well equipped meeting room. Hotel Plaza, Brescia
Originally a 19th-century hunting lodge, the Albergo villa Marta is now an attractive, family-run country-house hotel. Each of the 11 rooms has en-suite facilities, air-conditioning, satellite/cable TV, direct-dial phone line, and a well stocked minibar. Albergo Villa Marta, Lucca
Swimming pool
