86 Unique Hotels in Italy

Checking into a hotel room that once flew at 30,000 feet requires a certain suspension of disbelief. The Natur Air Suite, a 1968 Fokker 27 converted into Italy's first airplane hotel, sits in the countryside near Brembate di Sopra, an hour from Milan. Gianpiero Bianchi discovered the aircraft through an …

Walk through Rome's historic center, past centuries-old churches and crumbling ruins, and you'll eventually find yourself confronted by an unusual sight: a pair of doormen who look more like nightclub bouncers than hotel staff. Welcome to Romeo Roma, where getting through the front door requires more than just wandering in …

There's something deliciously impractical about building a hotel on a cliff. While most sensible hoteliers would plant their flag on a sandy beach or charming piazza, Francesco Mansi had grander ideas back in 1956. Fresh from his adventures in Mexico, he took one look at the Amalfi Coast and thought: …

Tucked away in the picturesque Passeier Valley, Quellenhof See Lodge is an adult-only playground. It's one of the region's smallest 5-star luxury hotels and has a Maldive-style "lake" that will take your breath away. The spa resort sits on an enormous artificial lake spread across 4,500 m², reflecting the breathtaking …

Rome's Casa Monti has been created as a contemporary interpretation of how Ancient Roman patricians might have lived today if history had taken a different path. Inside these walls, you can imagine yourself as part of the upper class of Roman society and celebrate life with an abundance of colors, …

The Madama Garden Retreat is on the banks of a major canal in the Cannaregio district of Venice, within the walls of the historic noble residence Palazzo Antelmi. It has a romantic watergate that you can enter in style when you arrive on a boat. The hotel overlooks an intimate …

Within walking distance of the Certosa Railway Station, where trains take you quickly to Milan's downtown, voco (an upscale sub-brand of InterContinental Hotels Group) runs a hotel like no other. If pressed to describe the voco Milan in two words, it would be innovative & brave! The hotel's modern and …

The idyllic countryside of the Apennine encircles the hilltop Relais Roncolo 1888, which has the best of everything the region offers. The magical land around Roncolo 1888 was shaped by a powerful woman, Matilda of Tuscany, who reigned during the Middle Ages. Her fortification of four castles (of which one …

The awe-inspiring setting in Southern Tyrol with the Dolomites peaks is one of the best-selling points of the Forestis hotel, but it also has the highest rooftop bar in the world. The Dolomites is Italy's spectacular mountain range with 18 peaks above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) and a UNESCO World …

Set on 17 acres (7 hectares) ofof picture-perfect-perfect land with lush Mediterranean greenery and a private cliffside setting, Mezzatorre Ha stunningel is an Italian seasideing type. A quick ferry ride from Naples, and you arrive at the picturesque island of Ischia. Often overlooked by tourists rushing to the Amalfi Coast …

Venice has been facing major challenges recently. The city is gradually sinking, and some estimates put its final farewell to 2100. No wonder tourists have started flocking to see "the city of canals" in ever-increasing numbers. Consequently, Venice's small territory became so overcrowded that the city authorities had to act. …

The South Tyrolean, family-run Hotel Chalet Mirabell, offers alpine luxury above the picturesque town of Merano. The charming Italian location is famous for its spas and art nouveau buildings. The hotel's 64,600 ft² (6,000 m²) SPA & Relax zone features the longest heated natural swimming pond in South Tyrol. But …

An imposing mountain chalet rises in a sunny and quiet spot at the gates of Vermiglio. Chalet Al Foss Alp Resort's sun-soaked and mountainous surroundings are bursting with greenery in summer and buried under the beauty of a blanket of snow in winter. During ski season, a free bus will …

South Tyrol's contrasting region of the gorgeous Mediterranean landscape and Alpine peaks is home to an exceptional resort built around a 5,800 sqm (62,431 sqft) lake. The property sits on a 40-hectare alpine park overlooking pine forests and mountain peaks. San Luis's greatest asset is its natural environment; as you …

Milan's central landmark, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, opened its doors to the public in 1877. Italy's oldest active shopping gallery, with its iconic iron-and-glass roof, is an architectural masterpiece by Giuseppe Mengoni. In 2007, they decided to open a luxury hotel, initially named TownHouse Galleria. Today, it's called the Galleria …

The scenic Cala di Volpe Bay is located north of Sardinia. It's part of the Costa Smeralda, AKA Emerald Coast, famous for its white-sand beaches, exclusive hotels, and ability to attract celebrities and other affluent visitors. The place is so unique that The Spy Who Loved Me, a James Bond …

This neoclassical railway station opened in 1840, and trains ran from Milan to Monza, the second-oldest route in Italy. Today, it has been redesigned into a hotel by a top hotel brand, Avani. When these fashionistas designed the rooms, they were thinking more of dreams than where you would hang …

Neo-Moorish is an exotic architectural style that reached its peak popularity in the mid-19th century. It took elements and inspiration from Islamic art. There are only a handful of examples of such buildings in Europe. One of them is Villa Crespi, which lies near Lake Orta's shores in the scenic …

Sorrento, the charming cliff-side town on the famous Amalfi Coast, features beautiful architecture. It's the last stop on the Circumvesuviana rail line running from Naples, only taking an hour to reach your destination. Sorrento is renowned for its gorgeous handicrafts such as ceramics, lace, and woodwork. Maison La Minervetta embraces …

Taormina is a charming medieval hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. Hotel Villa Ducale sits right above the old town blessed with exceptional panorama on Mount Etna and the Strait of Messina. In the right weather condition, you can see as far as the ancient port city, Catania. …