Tranquillity and comfort in a guesthouse in the Marche countryside - airy rooms for couples with huge windows onto good views

Dreamy, languid beauty outside and in at this spacious, airy, arty house in typical Pugliese countryside

Pluck grapes, splash in the child-shallow pool by your beautiful, quirky, dolls house trullo. Friendly owners can fire up the pizza oven...

Eco-friendly B&B overlooking Lake Como with marvellous mountain and lake views. Heaps of space, generous hosts, a menagerie of animals

Blend into the spectacular scenery of this remote promontory – a mountainous backdrop to turquoise waters – stroll to the beach

A rather smart hotel with spa & restaurant; rooms are dotted around an apple-producing hamlet in the lap of the Apennine mountain range

Simple exuberance bounds over beams, brickwork, beautiful interior design. Sip wine in the garden, join gentle hosts for dinner: gorgeous

Dine under chandeliers, sleep under decorated ceilings, take a coffee to the roof terrace – perhaps before a day on the slopes of Mount Etna

Creative dinners, a sparkling pool and views of the Morainic Hills at a laid-back agriturismo close to Lake Garda and Verona

You’re at the centre of the action in this quintessentially Italian flat full of character and charm. Ideal for exploring the capital.

Move into this handsome big Trastevere flat and become authentically Roman: little shops, gardens, cafés galore; the forum just 15 mins away

On a tranquil Tuscan hillside, a comfortable farmhouse with a large pool. Wander acres of olive groves, dine al fresco beneath starry skies

An inherited estate sensitively restored and immaculate. Reluctant self-caterers will love the 'wine bar'. Classic Chiantishire surrounds

Balconies have Lake Como views, food is divine and cobbled Varenna enchants – as do your lovely Italian hosts. Take the train from Milan

Deep in vineyards near Liguria's coast, find manicured lawns, infinity pool, sophisticated decor and child-free serenity: relax!

A rarity, a smart little newly-refurbished eco-hotel in the middle of Palermo with a roof terrace for all-organic breakfast

Elegant antiques, gorgeous views, local food and comfortable bedrooms at this hilltop retreat and unspoilt village in Cilento National Park

Immerse yourself in sentiment and romance at Valeria’s charming Veronese villa. The walls sing with framed opera programmes and music scores