Where I stayed in Italy — five incredible hotels from the Eternal City to the Dolomites

Italy is a place that lingers with you long after your suitcase is unpacked and your clothes are put away. And for me, some of the most memorable parts weren’t just the views or the vino, but the hotels themselves. From waking up in the Dolomites to soaking in thermal waters in a tiny Tuscan village, these five stays played a leading role in making the journey unforgettable.

D.O.M Hotel Roma

Rome is like an open-air museum, with its movie-worthy cobbled streets, well-known landmarks, and abundant history. To revel in all its glory, we spent our single night in the Eternal City at the D.O.M Hotel, which was once a 17th-century palace turned Claretian monastery. Set on the elegant and relatively quiet Via Giulia, the name is an abbreviation of “Deo Optimo Maximo”, a Latin inscription found on the church adjacent to the property.

This boutique hotel is small but rich with atmosphere. Think exposed brick walls, velvet armchairs, dark wood, and flickering candlelight. It feels like old-world Rome, mysterious and theatrical, but with the polish of a contemporary art gallery.

My room had one of those beds you melt into, high ceilings, and a view over the terracotta rooftops of the city. One of the best parts was the location, with Trastevere, known for its charming buildings and delicious food scene, just a short walk across the river, along with many of Rome’s best-known sights, like Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona.

Hotel La Posta

Next stop, the tiny, postcard-perfect village of Bagno Vignoni, where the main piazza is a steamy thermal pool. For two glorious nights, Hotel La Posta became my home away from home and it’s safe to say I didn’t want to leave. This is Tuscany at its most tranquil — no crowds, just Italian cypress trees, rolling hills, and the gentle hum of thermal springs.

The hotel blends charm with contemporary calm. Once a post office, it’s now a beautifully refurbished retreat, all Travertine marble and gentle, warm hues. The highlight? The outdoor thermal pools that overlook verdant rolling hills and faraway towns. It’s the kind of place where time slows down and you toy with the idea of moving to the country.

And the restaurant, well, that’s an experience in itself. Led by chef Matteo Antoniello and paired with views that can only be described as breathtaking, La Rocca Restaurant is a celebration of local flavours with a farm-to-table food philosophy, showcasing ingredients sourced from the surrounding hills — fresh olive oil, wild herbs, seasonal vegetables, and, of course, famed Tuscan wines.

La Gemma Hotel

Florence has a magic of its own, but staying at La Gemma Hotel made it feel like I was in my very own Italian fairytale. Housed in a 19th-century palazzo, the hotel is all about refined elegance — high ceilings, velvet drapes, Art Deco lighting, and marble finishes that would make even Michelangelo pause.

The interiors are warm, drawing inspiration from the jungle with rich greens and soft pinks entwined with sumptuous textures, marble-adorned bathrooms, and soft lighting. My room, one of 39, meticulously crafted by Italian interior designers, gazed over the hustle and bustle of Florence, with tall windows that let in the honeyed Tuscan light.

At La Gemma, mornings began with cappuccinos and handmade pastries in the lounge, afternoons consisted of aperitivos, and evenings ended with dinner at the resident Luca’s Restaurant, followed by a flute of Franciacorta in the softly lit bar.

The spa, tucked into the building’s ancient cellar, is a hidden gem. It’s cool and quiet, with exposed stone walls and little nooks to unwind in between sauna sessions. After a day of exploring the Uffizi Gallery and hunting down the perfect gelato, it was something like heaven.

Adler Lodge Ritten

Perched in South Tyrol, Adler Lodge Ritten is the sum of Alpine tradition and eco-luxury. When thinking of a word to describe this place surrounded by forest, silence, and snow-dusted peaks, “enchanting” is what comes to mind. And getting here is part of the magic — a winding bus ride up from Bolzano, followed by a short shuttle.

The wooden suite felt like an upscale tree house, complete with a sauna, rain showerhead and panoramic windows worth writing home about. Here, mornings unfurled with yoga or forest walks, and breakfasts of local cheeses, freshly baked bread, and fruits. Afternoons meant saunas enveloped by pine trees and gliding through the heated infinity pool, hypnotised by the natural mountainous spectacle beyond. Evenings had a similar pace, characterised by slow, indulgent dinners featuring local produce and wine in flickering candlelight.

Rhinoceros Roma

Rhinoceros Roma was the setting of our last night in Italy, a bold and brilliant property designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel. Nestled within the historic confines of Velabro, Rome’s oldest neighbourhood, it’s unlike anything else in the city. The location alone is extraordinary, right between the Roman Forum and the Aventine Hill. From the outside, it looks like a historic palazzo. Inside, it’s part contemporary art installation, part luxury residence.

Each of the 25 suites combines modern and industrial design details with state-of-the-art appliances and indulgent amenities. But it’s not just soaring ceilings, sleek kitchens and floating beds. Throughout the year, the establishment runs a rotation of exhibitions, displaying works by globally acclaimed artists like Picasso, El Greco and Michelangelo.

My room is an artwork comprising polished concrete floors, minimalist lighting, and a view over ancient ruins. It’s cool, the kind of place that inspires you to write, sketch, or start a novel. But the rooftop is where the real magic happens — a place where hours can be spent ordering spritzes from the in-house restaurant and watching the city glow at dusk. Rome is already surreal, but from this perspective, high above, with the Colosseum and Palatine Hill in sight, it’s something out of a dream.

This isn’t your typical hotel — it’s a place for creatives, thinkers, and travellers who want a deeper connection to the city. And I couldn’t have imagined a better way to say “arrivederci”.

+ Alexandra Casey was a guest of D.O.M Hotel, Hotel La Posta, La Gemma Hotel, Adler Lodge Ritten and Rhinoceros Roma. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication.