Honest first-hand reviews of the best luxury hotels in Italy: Tuscan retreats, Florence, the Sicilian coast and the Alps.

Behind the quiet façade of a 16th-century palazzo, The James Suite Hotel Firenze 1564 is Florence's newest address for private, understated luxury.

A 16th-century monastery above the Tuscan hills, restored into a boutique retreat. La Monastica is unlike anywhere else in the region.

Twenty kilometres from Siena, The Club House at Le Fontanelle is a boutique Tuscan retreat: rolling countryside, a panoramic pool, and fine dining.

Verdura Resort runs across 230 hectares of Sicilian coast, bigger than Monaco: two golf courses, a huge spa, and a beach that feels private.

Preidlhof in South Tyrol is one of the finest spa hotels in the Alps: DolceVita relaxation, serious wellness, and fine dining in the mountains.