Best palazzo and palace hotels in Italy

Why it makes the list. Set inside the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli on the Grand Canal, with original Tiepolo-school frescoes, gilded piano-nobile salons and private gardens, run with Aman's calm and discretion. Among the most extraordinary hotel interiors in the world.

What to book. A Grand Canal-facing room or one of the frescoed signature suites; the piano-nobile salons are the showpieces.

Honest con. With only a couple of dozen rooms it books far ahead and prices at the very top. The palazzo's protected interiors mean rooms vary considerably in size and light.

Why it makes the list. A 1525 palazzo, once a doge's residence, on the Grand Canal opposite Santa Maria della Salute, with antique-filled rooms and a celebrated canal-side terrace. The quintessential old-world Venetian palace hotel.

What to book. A Grand Canal-view room or suite; the Riva Lounge terrace is one of the great aperitivo spots in the city.

Honest con. The traditional Venetian decor is opulent and antique-heavy, which not everyone wants. The popular terrace and central position mean it is lively rather than secluded.

Why it makes the list. Centered on the 14th-century Palazzo Dandolo, with a famous gilded Gothic staircase and a lagoon-front position by St Mark's. A palace hotel steeped in Venetian history and ceremony.

What to book. A lagoon-view room in the historic Palazzo Dandolo wing rather than the later annexes; the staircase and piano nobile are the heart.

Honest con. The hotel spans several buildings of differing character, so insist on the historic palazzo wing. Its St Mark's-side location is magnificent but among the busiest in Venice.

Why it makes the list. A 19th-century palazzo between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo with a celebrated terraced Secret Garden, a rare green retreat in central Rome, and a courtyard bar that is a city institution. Rocco Forte's flagship Roman address.

What to book. A garden-view room or suite; the Stravinskij Bar and the tiered garden are the reasons to choose it.

Honest con. The contemporary-classic interiors are less overtly historic than some Roman palaces. The prime shopping-district location is central but busy.

Why it makes the list. A family-run palace hotel crowning the Spanish Steps, with a rooftop restaurant looking over the rooftops of Rome and a long tradition of old-world service. Position and pedigree are the draw.

What to book. A room with a view over the Spanish Steps or the city; the rooftop Imago restaurant has one of Rome's best panoramas.

Honest con. The classic decor is traditional rather than design-led. Sitting atop the Spanish Steps means crowds directly below, though the hotel itself stays serene.

Why it makes the list. A restored historic palazzo near the Pantheon rebuilt with reclaimed materials, travertine and a Roman-bath-inspired spa, bringing Six Senses wellness to a centuries-old building. A modern, sustainable take on the palace hotel.

What to book. A higher-category room for space; the rooftop restaurant and the thermal spa are the signatures.

Honest con. The contemporary, sustainability-led interior is a departure from the gilded Roman palace tradition, which traditionalists may miss. Central location means city noise.

Why it makes the list. Two restored Renaissance buildings, the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca and a former convent, set in the largest private garden in central Florence, with frescoed and stuccoed salons and a Michelin-starred restaurant. A palace stay with room to breathe.

What to book. A room overlooking the garden or with original frescoes; the eleven-acre park is the rare luxury here.

Honest con. It sits a short walk outside the immediate historic core, so the major sights are ten to fifteen minutes on foot. The grandeur is formal, which suits some occasions more than others.

Why it makes the list. A palace on the Arno with Renaissance and Medici-inspired interiors, frescoed suites and St Regis butler service, steps from the city's central sights. Florentine grandeur in a riverside setting.

What to book. An Arno-view room or a frescoed signature suite; the butler service is included.

Honest con. The richly traditional decor is opulent to the point some find it heavy. The central Ognissanti position is convenient but busy along the riverfront.

Why it makes the list. A Ferragamo-owned property in a historic Lungarno building with large, residential-feeling suites overlooking the Ponte Vecchio and a famously personal, host-led service style. Discreet luxury in the best position in Florence.

What to book. A suite facing the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio; the kitchenette suites suit longer, residential stays.

Honest con. It is a refined historic building rather than a frescoed grand palace, so heritage-spectacle seekers may prefer the Four Seasons. The riverside Ponte Vecchio spot is central and lively.

Why it makes the list. A 16th-century cardinal's villa on Lake Como, set in formal Renaissance gardens with a famous floating lake pool. One of the most storied grand hotels in Europe, and the definitive Como palace stay.

What to book. A lake-view room in the historic Cardinal building; the gardens and the floating pool are the signatures.

Honest con. The classic grandeur is formal and traditional, not contemporary. It is seasonal, typically closing in winter, and peak-summer demand is intense.

Why it makes the list. An 18th-century villa above Moltrasio, restored by the Passera family of Grand Hotel Tremezzo into an intimate, art-and-antique-filled palace with terraced gardens running down to the lake. A more personal alternative to the grand institutions.

What to book. A room in the main villa with a lake view; the garden suites add privacy and terrace space.

Honest con. With around two dozen rooms it is small and books out far ahead. The hillside terraced layout involves steps and levels, and it is seasonal.

Why it makes the list. A 12th-century palazzo high in Ravello, family-run, with a pink facade, frescoed interiors and a Michelin-starred restaurant looking down the Amalfi Coast. A historic palace with one of the great coastal views.

What to book. A sea-view room or suite; the Rossellinis restaurant and the clifftop Lobster and Martini Bar are highlights.

Honest con. Ravello sits high above the coast, so the beach is a drive and a descent away. The Amalfi Coast is at its most crowded in July and August.

Why it makes the list. A palatial, art-filled hotel in quieter Anacapri, with a renowned contemporary art collection, a leading medical spa and suites with private gardens and plunge pools. A palace stay above the Capri crowds.

What to book. A suite with a private garden or pool; the art collection and the medical spa are the distinctive draws.

Honest con. It is in Anacapri, up the hill from the famous Piazzetta, so reaching the buzz of Capri town means a drive or funicular. The grand interiors are classic rather than design-forward.

Why it makes the list. A Belle Epoque grand hotel beside Taormina's ancient Greek theatre, with terraced gardens and views to Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. A historic palace hotel with one of the most cinematic settings in Italy.

What to book. A room facing Etna and the theatre; the terrace bar at sunset is the signature moment.

Honest con. Taormina perches high above the coast, so beaches are reached by cable car and transfer. The town is extremely popular in high summer, so shoulder season is calmer.