From Palermo’s Baroque splendour to Naples’s colourful street-art alleys, our city escapes prove you can have both UNESCO-listed heritage and sun-kissed shores in one perfect holiday.

Discover boutique beachside retreats where rooftop pools overlook azure bays, artisanal breakfasts fuel museum mornings, and 10-minute transfers whisk you from opera-house steps to palm-lined sands.

🏖 Sandy Shores Steps Away – Mondello’s powder-white sands and turquoise bay are literally under your feet the moment you step outside.

🎨 Artful Intimacy – With fewer than ten bespoke rooms, every suite feels like a private design gallery.

⏱ Seamless City & Sand – A ten-minute taxi (or 30-minute No. 806 bus) whisks you from rooftop pool to Palermo’s UNESCO-listed treasures.

🏛 Palermo’s UNESCO Heart – Lose yourself amid the Palatine Chapel’s mosaics, the baroque theatre of Quattro Canti and panoramic rooftop views at the Duomo.

🏊 Rooftop Pool & Lido-Style Chill – Swap beaches for the hotel’s pool deck—float in the azure water, then lounge under striped parasols with a spritz in hand.

🚆 Charming Cefalù Escape – Hop the train north to explore the honey-stone cathedral, wander medieval cobbles and dip into Spiaggia di Cefalù’s golden shore.

Ready to swap predictable city breaks for a slice of Sicilian seaside sophistication? At Unico Hotel d’Arte, Palermo’s art, history and beach life collide in wildly unforgettable style. Pack that sun-hat—Mondello awaits!

🌿 Secret Garden Sanctuary – A leafy courtyard perfect for whimsical breakfasts and afternoon repose.

🖼️ Living Gallery – Suites adorned with original artworks, bespoke furniture and handcrafted jewellery.

👩‍🍳 Homely Welcomes – Inès’s freshly baked Neapolitan pastries and artisan coffee each morning.

🔮 Story-Driven Décor – Rooms inspired by carnival masks, ocean breezes and local village tales.

🏛 Historic Spaccanapoli – Lose yourself amid Naples’ UNESCO streets, Duomo splendour and the Veiled Christ at Cappella Sansevero.

🛥️ Spa Day on Ischia – Hydrofoil hop to thermal baths and seaside pampering at one of the island’s renowned spa resorts.

🚣 Nerano Coast Kayak – Paddle from Marina del Cantone beneath towering cliffs, discovering hidden coves and crystalline waters.

Pair Naples’s creative soul with the Bay’s shimmering shores—at Atelier Inès, artful hideaway meets seaside adventure.

Step off the beaten path into fishing-boat harbours and medieval lanes where every corner leads to a hidden cove.

In Gallipoli, Ortigia and Taormina, boutique palazzos and seaside villas invite you to snorkel rocky reefs by day, savour family-run trattorie by night, and fall asleep to the gentle lull of Ionian tides.

🏰 Historic Island Setting – Perched on its own limestone islet, Gallipoli’s old town is a maze of sun-bleached alleys and fishing-boat-dotted harbours.

✨ Palazzo Chic – A 17th-century noble residence reborn with vaulted-ceiling suites, a rooftop terrace and private dinghy pick-up to secret swim spots.

🌊 Crystal-Clear Ionian Waters – Explore the transparent coves of Cala Purità and the snorkel-perfect shallows at Baia Verde, all framed by Gallipoli’s dramatic limestone headlands.

🦪 Gallipoli Fish Market Delights – Sample harbour-fresh shellfish at the historic Ponte Nuovo market stalls, featuring mussels “alla tarantina” and ricci di mare hauled straight from the old port.

🌲 Porto Selvaggio Natural Park – Just 6 km north, explore pine-shaded trails, sheer cliffs and the freshwater lagoon of this unspoilt coastal reserve—and cool off in its hidden sea grottoes.

At Palazzo Presta, centuries-old charm meets Ionian sea-serenity—your gateway to Gallipoli’s storied streets and unspoilt coastal nooks.

🏛️ Island of Antiquity – Step out into sun-drenched piazzas where Greek temples and Baroque churches rise beside the Ionian’s glassy edge.

🌅 Private Sea Access – A jettied platform for morning dips and a glass-bottomed pool overlooking Ortigia’s coral-hued rooftops.

🗿 Ear of Dionysius & Temple Walk – Wander the ancient quarries and the Temple of Apollo, tracing 2,700 years of history right by the sea.

🏖️ Fontane Bianche Beach – A short drive south delivers sail-soft sands and shallow turquoise bays, perfect for lingering swims.

🌿 Vendicari Marine Reserve Day-Trip – Head south to this protected lagoon: snorkel among Posidonia meadows, spot flamingos in salt pans and relax on the unspoilt Calamosche Beach.

At Giuggiulena, ancient stones meet sapphire waters—your elegant base for exploring Ortigia’s heritage and seaside splendour.

🏛 Historic-Centre Charm – Tucked on Corso Umberto amidst cobbled streets and bougainvillea-draped balconies, you’re steps from the Greek Theatre and a ten-minute stroll to Piazza IX Aprile.

🌅 Rooftop Sea & Isola Bella Views – Your room—and the breakfast terrace—frame Mazzarò Bay’s turquoise sweep and the jewel-like silhouette of Isola Bella at dawn.

🙌 Impeccable Sicilian Hospitality – From seamless check-in to personalised local tips, the Carlotta team turns every hiccup into heartfelt service—just like family.

🎭 Ancient Theatre at Dawn – Greet the Ionian sunrise from Taormina’s cliff-side Greek Theatre, where centuries-old stone seats overlook a sea of fire-tipped horizons.

🏝️ Isola Bella Swim – Hop on the cable car down to Mazzarò, then slip into the pebble-studded nature reserve of Isola Bella for snorkelling in glass-clear waters.

🗻 Etna Volcano Trek – Venture up Mount Etna’s lunar slopes for a guided hike among steaming fumaroles and ancient lava flows—Europe’s loftiest active volcano at your feet.

🏞️ Alcantara River Gorge – Wander the basalt-walled canyon of the Alcantara River, paddling through cool pools and marveling at cathedral-like rock formations carved by millennia of rushing water.

Villa Carlotta fuses Taormina’s timeless charm with seaside luxury—your headquarters for Etna’s glow and Ionian blue.

Leave the mainland hustle behind for (almost) pedestrian-only paradises fringed by volcanic cliffs and thermal springs.

From Ischia’s healing grottoes and Michelin-green menus to the Aeolian isles’ terraced vineyards and lava-lit nights, these barefoot retreats fuse barefoot freedom with unforgettable Mediterranean vistas.

🌊 Sea-Edge Serenity – Perched on the shore a short stroll from Casamicciola, with exclusive beach access via lift or footpath.

♨️ Natural Hot-Water Spring – A thermal spring bubbling directly from the sea, framed by parasols, deckchairs and sunbeds on a spacious sundeck.

🍹 Sundeck Indulgence – Sip aperitivi or light lunches from the seaside bar, savouring snacks under your parasol as waves lap at your feet.

💧 Nitrodi Thermal Grotto – Venture inland to Ischia’s ancient healing spring, famed since Greek times for its mineral-rich waters.

🏰 Castello Aragonese & Ischia Ponte – Explore the medieval fortress and wander the pastel-hued lanes of the old fishing village at its feet.

🌅 Evening in Sant’Angelo – Stroll the car-free harbour, dine on fresh seafood and toast the sunset over Procida with a local Falanghina.

Immerse yourself in Ischia’s legendary thermal waters by day and savour bar-side aperitivi by night—only at Hotel La Madonnina, where the sea’s warm embrace is your everyday backdrop.

🌿 Garden-to-Sea Location – A five-minute stroll to San Montano’s gilded sands, the pastel streets of Lacco Ameno and the steaming pools of Negombo Thermal Park.

🍽️ Epicurean & Ethical – Three farm-to-table restaurants (including a Green Michelin-starred gem) serving locally-sourced, seasonal produce and botanical-inspired dishes.

♻️ Genuine Sustainability – Green Globe-certified: solar panels, water-saving systems, locally grown ingredients and community-focused initiatives ensure minimal footprint and maximum well-being.

🏖️ Negombo Thermal Park – Immerse yourself in its heated lagoons and aromatic grottoes, then relax on private beach benches in this eco-minded spa haven.

🌺 Mortella Gardens – Explore William Walton’s botanical masterpiece, curated with rare and native species to showcase Ischia’s biodiversity.

🗻 Etna Volcano Trek – Venture up Mount Etna’s lunar slopes for a guided hike among steaming fumaroles and ancient lava flows—Europe’s loftiest active volcano at your feet.

🏰 Castello Aragonese – Wander the sea-sprayed causeway to this medieval fortress, where panoramic views remind you why we protect such treasures.

At Botania Relais & Spa, every guest becomes part of a living pledge—to savour Ischia’s natural gifts, support local communities and leave only footprints in the sand. Pack light, tread lightly, and let the island’s green heart inspire your stay.

🌊 Bay of Marina Lunga Panorama – A short stroll brings you to Lipari’s historic centre, where sweeping views of Marina Lunga Bay and Lipari Castle greet you at every turn.

🏺 Sicilian–Arabian Design Harmony – Thoughtfully curated furnishings, materials and décor fuse Western and Arabian influences to reflect the islands’ layered heritage.

🏘️ Heart of the Harbour – Steps from pastel-fronted seafood trattorias and the bustling marina, yet cocooned in Mea’s serene elegance and genuine Aeolian hospitality.

🏰 Castle & Archaeological Museum – Explore Lipari’s ancient acropolis and volcanic museum, with panoramic sea vistas at every turn.

🛥️ Excursion to Vulcano – Ferry to Vulcano for therapeutic mud baths, sulphur springs and sunset hikes.

🚶‍♀️ Sea-Path Promenade – Wander the coastal trail from Marina Lunga to Canneto Beach, pausing to swim in hidden pockets.

Hotel Mea elevates Lipari’s volcanic heritage with oceanfront elegance—your launchpad to Aeolian exploration and sea-swept serenity.

Wind through olive-groves and rolling vineyards en route to sandy lidos and nature-protected bays.

Whether you’re chasing Sicilian baroque in Noto, Tuscan sunsets in Capalbio or conical-roofed trulli in Puglia, each self-drive adventure pairs rustic charm with effortless sea access for the ultimate Italian road-trip.

🌳 Rustic-Chic Retreat – A lovingly restored 18th-century farmhouse set among century-old olive groves and carob trees.

🍷 Farm-to-Fork Flair – Farm-fresh breakfasts, candlelit dinners under the stars and organic wines from the estate’s very own vineyard.

⏱ Coastal Proximity – Just a 25-minute drive to Vendicari’s protected marine reserve, with powder-white bays and crystalline snorkeling spots.

🏛️ Baroque Noto Tour – Lose yourself in Noto’s honey-stone façades, ornate churches and sun-drenched piazzas, UNESCO-listed for a reason.

🏖️ Capo Passero – Self-drive down to Portopalo di Capo Passero for sea-turtle spotting, seabirds and hidden coves fringed by dunes.

🚗 Sicily Self-Drive Loop – Wind coastal roads past ancient tuna fisheries, citrus orchards and the medieval Castello di Donnafugata.

At Masseria della Volpe, olive-grove tranquillity and Ionian brilliance unite—your self-drive haven just minutes from Sicily’s most pristine shores.

☀️ Eco-Chic Energy – A 200 kW photovoltaic array and rainwater harvesting power daily life, from heated pools to olive-grove irrigation, marrying design with true sustainability.

🧖‍♀️ Ritual Spa & Steam – Journey through hot tubs, emotional showers, Hammam steam and sauna in a garden-fringed spa—an ancient Tuscan wellness path reimagined.

🚴‍♂️ Countryside Activity Hub – Lace up for running trails through olive groves, pedal rented e-bikes past cypress-lined vineyards, or serve up match-point on tennis and padel courts.

💦 Cascate del Mulino, Terme di Saturnia – Wander the travertine terraces and volcanic pools where spring water percolates for 40 years before erupting at 37.5 °C—nature’s thermal spa in postcard form.

🚗 Argentario Coastline Drive – Spin along the panoramic SS 474 from Orbetello to Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano, dipping into hidden coves and fishing-village charm.

🌼 Tarot Garden, Capalbio – Lose yourself among Niki de Saint Phalle’s 15 m-high sculptures—the Major Arcana rendered in vibrant mosaic—just 20 km from Locanda Rossa.

At Locanda Rossa, Maremma’s rugged beauty and Tyrrhenian elegance collide—your self-drive retreat between rolling vineyards and sapphire seas.

⚪ Iconic Conical Trulli – Sleep in lovingly restored trulli clustered among olive groves, with white-washed walls and vaulted ceilings.

💧 Apulian Luxury Spa – A serene wellness centre featuring olive-oil wraps, aromatherapy and a panoramic pool overlooking the valley.

🚗 Adriatic Access – Roughly 30-minute drive to the crystalline shores of Torre Guaceto or the lively sands of Capitolo.

🏰 Alberobello & Martina Franca – Cruise the Itria Valley’s trulli-strewn lanes, baroque churches and hilltop vistas in style.

🏖️ Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve – Self-drive down for snorkeling in Posidonia meadows and birdwatching along untouched wetlands.

🍴 Farmhouse Feast – Dine on homemade orecchiette, local burrata and organic wines in a nearby masseria, under a canopy of stars.

At Leonardo Trulli Resort, Itria’s fairytale cones meet unspoilt Adriatic coves—your perfect self-drive sojourn between white-washed charm and sapphire seas.

For true sand-between-your-toes escapism, these secluded hideaways offer private staircases to turquoise grottoes, kayak launches to untouched bays and dune-backed bungalows just steps from foaming surf.

Immerse yourself in unspoilt marine environments where every moment feels like your own slice of Italian paradise.

⛱️ Beach Club Bliss – Grab a day-pass to Tono Beach and enjoy your own sun umbrella, sunbed and towel; sea-view pool access; yoga & fitness classes; bar service to your lounger; plus showers, changing rooms and parking.

💧 Day-Spa Sanctuary – Indulge in two indoor heated seawater pools, one indoor/outdoor pool, hydro-massages, waterfalls, Kneipp path, steam bath, sauna, sensory showers, outdoor solarium and relaxation rooms (robe, towel & slippers included).

🌊 Sea-Edge Setting – A dramatic cliff-top location with bar and restaurant right on the beach, where every sip and sea breeze feels utterly exclusive.

🤿 Snorkel the Grottoes – Glide through sunlit sea caves around Capo Vaticano, spotting colourful reef life.

⛵ Stromboli “Fireworks” Cruise – Embark on a sunset boat trip to watch Stromboli’s lava bursts from the deck.

🎾 Sea-View Tennis – Rally on the resort’s courts overlooking the Ionian.

🗿 Zungri Rock Settlement – Explore the Sbariati di Zungri cave village, climbing ancient stone staircases into millennia-old dwellings.

Every path at Capovaticano leads you from cliff-top comfort to untouched turquoise coves—pure Ionian splendour awaits!

🚶‍♂️ Walk-Out-Your-Door Coves – Glass-front pods open onto boardwalks that lead straight into crystal-clear shallows, perfect for private snorkels and seaside strolls.

🌄 Hillside Wellness – A heated sea-view pool with hydromassage jets and waterfall features, plus outdoor massage pavilions nestled among ancient olive trees.

🌅 Intimate Beach Club – Elevated solariums with canopied sunbeds, beach-bar bites and sunset aperitifs infused with garden-fresh herbs—Stromboli’s glow your nightly backdrop.

🚣 Cove-Hopping by Kayak – Paddle from the retreat to the hidden coves of Praia i Focu, accessible only by sea, and dive into unspoilt Posidonia meadows.

🧘 Yoga & Meditation Groves – Reconnect amid fragrant gardens with sunrise yoga sessions or private guided meditation in your own olive-grove nook.

⛵ Grotticelle Boat Cruise – From Tropea marina, embark on a small-boat tour to the stunning Grotticelle beaches and Riaci Bay—snorkel in azure waters and sip prosecco as the coast drifts by.

🗿 Zungri Rock Settlement – Explore the Sbariati di Zungri cave village, climbing ancient stone staircases into millennia-old dwellings.

At Midenza Seaside Nature Retreat, every path leads from tranquil olive groves to untouched Ionian waters—your dreamy escape for two awaits.

🚶‍♀️ Tranquil Dunes & Crystal Seas – Just 500 m from L’Isuledda’s sugar-white sands and 3 km from La Cinta’s lagoon-fringed shoreline, with Cala Brandinchi, Porto Ottiolu and Budoni a scenic drive away.

🌿 Quiet, Scenic Escape – A charming three-star tucked among juniper-scented dunes and Mediterranean maquis—perfect for unwinding in Sardinia’s most unspoilt marine enclave.

🏡 Bungalow-Style Comfort – Low-rise elegance with private terraces overlooking fragrant gardens and the shimmering gulf beyond.

💦 Water-Sport Playground – Sail, kite-surf or scuba-dive in azure bays—San Teodoro’s windswept beaches are a water-sport enthusiast’s dream.

🦩 Flamingos at La Laguna – Spot pink flamingos on the salt-water lagoon trail, best enjoyed on horseback or gentle stroll.

🌲 Monte Nieddu Trek – Conquer the 15 km uphill path to panoramic peaks, waterfalls and secret natural pools—breathtaking vistas guaranteed.

🗿 Zungri Rock Settlement – Explore the Sbariati di Zungri cave village, climbing ancient stone staircases into millennia-old dwellings.

Costa Caddu marries laid-back charm with Sardinia’s wild marine beauty—pack your sandals and let the unspoilt shorelines of San Teodoro soothe your soul.