Across Italy, these are the most romantic hotels – the centuries-old palazzos to hide out at in Venice, the cliff-front villas with the best views on the Amalfi Coast and the cave hotels built into the rocks in Matera.

SANTA CATERINA

AMALFI

The best bit of this old-school favourite – run by the fourth generation of the family that founded it – is the beach club deck, where sunbeds sit right on the water's edge. With views straight out to sea and around to the town of Amalfi, this is up there as one of the most outstanding locations on this stretch of coast.