What kind of hotel advertises itself as “fully disinfected”? A hotel made of trash, that’s what. This temporary hotel was erected on the banks of the Tiber in Rome to bring attention to the threat posed to Europe’s beaches by the mountains of trash left by careless tourists each year. …

If you were to tell me that you are going to stay in a “0-star hotel” I might wonder if you are planning to sleep in a ditch. But I would be very ill-informed. The Dunant Hotel has chosen to bill itself as “0 stars” to reflect its philosophy of …

In the bloodbath of medieval Europe, ruling families had a lot to lose. Their serfs were vulnerable to attack from all sides. So they designed their villages around a central ruling tower - like the Prendiparte Tower which stands at 12 stories tall. Ruling families would each have a floor …

For hundreds of years, The Medicis were one of the most powerful families in Europe. If anyone knew the most beautiful spot in Italy it was them. Their summer houses were legendary. Now you can stay in one of their great buildings located in the Val d'Orcia which is a …

Ok, so you can enter this Venetian boutique hotel in a gondola, sailing in under the portcullis into the kind of mysterious tunnel you might expect to find Cardinal Richelieu doing something crafty in; but luckily for you, this is not revolutionary France, this is modern-day Venice and you are …

In the grand Dolomites – a mountain range located in the North Italian Alps – there is an award-winning design hotel. Built by architect, Matteo Thun, his idea was to create a luxury eco-hotel that draws inspiration from nature and also blends with its natural surroundings so local woods and …

This 18th Century villa is still privately owned by the Sersale family who opened their summer house as a hotel in 1951. It was just about the time the Positano region of Italy was growing as a tourist destination thanks, in no small part, to John Steinbeck remarking in an …

This was once a convent. Built in the 16th Century, the cloisters and passageways once echoed with the sound of rosary beads and prayers. Today, it is the building that contemplates on a rock overlooking the sea while, inside, the residents relax. Thousands of religious hours have been worn into …

When arriving at Masseria Torre Coccaro, you will see ancient olive groves where connoisseur olive oil is pressed, a wave-lapped Adriatic shore where a private yacht is moored, and a restored farmhouse where you will be staying. The farmhouse is hundreds of years old and is more fortress than a …

This hotel bills itself as ‘Hotel & Motel, Love & Sex, Business & Relax all become One’. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a terrifically messy evening. But then, maybe I’m not Italian enough. You can choose whether to stay in the Hotel building or the Motel …

The Rome Cavalieri is a super-luxurious hotel that boasts 15 acres of unique garden to explore. There are lots of activities for you to try. Celebrate ritualized murder with a gladiator training session! Design a diamond-encrusted cashmere sweater for your dog! Clear your chakras out with a precious stone massage! …

Set in beautiful Tuscany this lovingly restored 14th Century villa is a haven of warm tiles, bare beams, and stunning aesthetics. An acclaimed artist, Anna Izzo set out to create a hotel with soul allowing you to stay inside a living, breathing work of art. Vibrant contemporary artworks merge with …

If Donatella Versace and Lewis Carroll designed a hotel – it might look something like this. Its stylish furnishings and avant-garde aesthetics will make ‘wow! Look at that’ the most uttered sentence of your stay. The walls are upholstered with leather or fabrics woven with real gold and silver strands. …

The Byblos Art Hotel is unique among its peers. It houses a collection of contemporary art by 39 of the world’s most renowned modern artists. Pieces by Damien Hirst and Arnish Kapoor sit alongside classical Venetian paintings and interior design by Alessandro Mendini. Architect Michele Sanmicheli worked alongside the artists …