The 12 Most Gorgeous, Historic Hotels You Can Book In Italy, According To Travelers

When Palazzo Tirso Cagliari MGallery, then known as Palazzo Tirso, was built in 1927 by Italian engineer Flavio Scano, it was immediately recognized as an exquisite building well-known in Sardinia thanks to its ideal location in the heart of Cagliari; its Art Nouveau-inspired architecture; and its look that paid homage to the storied history of the island. Although nearly a century has passed since then, this historic building is still known for much of the same — although now, it has new life as a boutique, modern hotel with 85 guestrooms.

During the 1920s and beyond, Palazzo Tirso was an office building. Through the years, it housed major companies such as the Sardinian Electricity Company, Instituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino, and Bastogi S.p.a.. Still, by 2019, many companies had moved out, and the historic space was re-imagined as a hotel designed by Studio Marco Piva. Today, while the building still has its Art Nouveau-style façade, it employs colorful rooms with modern touches, an outdoor terrace with amazing views of the city, two onsite restaurants, and a spa. It's all located in what is perhaps the most coveted location in Cagliari along the Piazza Deffenu, near many local attractions and the waterfront. The hotel even has its own beach club with a shuttle to take guests to and from Poetto Beach and a hotel and rest area there. 

Perhaps the former customers of Central Institute of Savings Bank, which was inside the building that's now the Aleph Rome Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton, didn't appreciate its location in Rome, which is also a great spot for winter couples' getaway, but hotel guests do. This hotel, which was the site of the bank from the 1930s through the 1990s, is located near must-see Rome attractions like the Spanish Steps, the Villa Borghese, and the Trevi Fountain. Even though it's been nearly a century since its construction, it still maintains its historic charm thanks to the hotel's former owners. Once the bank closed in the 1990s and a hotel company purchased the building, architects restored the structure to its lavish former Italian Renaissance style, even using Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" as their muse.

The Aleph Rome Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton has 88 guestrooms with modern amenities but original features, such as the building's marble and onyx touches. Guests can even see pieces of the old bank inside — onsite Le Caveau By Narducci Hair & Spa is located inside the former bank vault with a Finnish sauna, hot tubs, massage rooms, and a gym. Plus, as a nod to the hotel's past, the onsite eatery is called the 1930s Restaurant. Those calling the Aleph Rome Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton home for the night can also check out its cognac lounge with lush teal banquettes and marble lobby bar.

One of the best aspects of visiting Florence, a must-visit spot in Tuscany, is the immersion in Renaissance history. That's especially true at Hotel Bernini Palace, which dates back to the 14^th century, the start of the Renaissance. At the time, the wealthy Italian Della Pera family called Bernini Palace their home. By the 17^th century, it had transformed into a luxurious hotel and the only such option in the city with running water. But that was far from the only reason that Hotel Bernini Palace was an upscale place to spend the night. Its 74 rooms are unique, but they all feature different stunning details, such as parquet flooring, four-poster beds, wood-beamed ceilings, gold ornamentation, or lush tapestries.

Even the dining areas at Hotel Bernini Palace are both beautiful and historic. Its onsite La Chiostrina restaurant sits inside a portico dating back more than 500 years and serves traditional Florentine fare and international eats. Plus, a colorful, detailed fresco on the ceiling lines its jaw-dropping Parliament Hall and the space once hosted members of Parliament to dine, hence the name. Guests can pick from a buffet of organic and artisanal foods that represent the best of what Florence has to offer. The ornate ambiance of Hotel Bernini Palace has been so special throughout history that even celebrities like Sophia Loren, Patty Smith, Richard Branson, and Claudia Schiffer have frequented it.

Milan has long been the epicenter of culture, fashion, and elegance in Italy, and you'll find the Grand Hotel et de Milan at the heart of it all, just a five-minute walk from the legendary La Scala opera house. Fittingly, La Scala has influenced the hotel's history since it opened in 1863, with greats like Maria Callas, Giuseppe Verdi, and Mario Lanza finding respite there. Verdi actually lived in the Grand Hotel et de Milan for nearly three decades — earning it the moniker "Verdi's House" — and you can book the suite he once resided in. The Verdi Suite features three terraces, a fireplace, high ceilings, French windows, and traditional décor combined with modern amenities.

The Grand Hotel et de Milan, the first hotel in the city to offer postal and telegraph services, underwent renovations and expansions over the years. Still, it never lost its historic charm and nods to the past. The name of Its onsite restaurant, Don Carlos, also serves as a tribute to Verdi and his famous five-act grand opera of the same title. The Grand Hotel et de Milan's historical ties extend beyond La Scala. Roman ruins dating back to 250 A.D. were discovered in the basement in 1993 during renovations, and visitors can now see them in the Don Carlos wine cellar.

It doesn't get much more historic than a stay in an Italian village-turned-hotel. Castello Di Gargonza, which dates back to the 13^th century, is precisely that. Centuries ago, Castello Di Gargonza was a small but mighty Italian village where residents pressed olives, kept animals, sewed clothing, and grew produce in a farming community with 13 buildings. It even housed the castle where Dante spent his exile after he departed from Florence. However, after years of flourishing, the residents abandoned the community in the 1900s when they sought more urban lifestyles. Roberto Guicciardini Corsi Salviati swooped in and restored the village, and Count Roberto later converted it into one of the first historic inns in the region, possibly in the 1960s.

At Castello Di Gargonza, all rooms differ from the next, with each located in a separate building in the former village. They're also all named after the people who once lived or worked in that building, such as the dwelling of the gamekeeper Celso or the home of the seamstress Niccolina. Other buildings in the village have also found new life at Castello Di Gargonza, such as the buffet breakfast offered inside the former cellar where residents pressed olives to create olive oil. For a meal in yet another historically revamped space, visitors should head to the hotel's La Torre di Gargonza, which once served as the storage area for the village's agricultural machines. There, guests can indulge in traditional Tuscan eats such as homemade pasta.

With its roaring Vespas, flowing wine, animated people, and busy cities, Italy doesn't exactly scream tranquility — but Relais Monastero San Biagio does. The ancient monastery in Nocera Umbra dates back to 1215 A.D. It has since undergone a conversion into a hotel focused on physical and mental well-being through features ranging from its simple rooms with no TVs to its spa with a long list of treatments. Although no monks have called the former monastery home for a while, visitors can still find peace with spa services like the Pilgrim's Way, which includes a steamed Turkish bath as well as a body scrub with St. John's wort oil; and the Etruscan Bath Route, which is a hot bath in a hydrorelax tank that also includes a sweet herbal tea drink. 

Unlike the several ornate hotels within the country, Relais Monastero San Biagio's rooms focus on minimalism with exposed wood beams, wood headboards, arched windows, and terracotta floors dating back centuries. Also, in contrast to other Italian destinations that focus on wine, beer takes center stage there. Relais Monastero San Biagio has earned renown for its San Biagio, a simple yet satisfying unfiltered craft beer that mirrors the qualities of the accommodation. Guests can enjoy it onsite at the hotel's restaurant or take it home to taste this Zenlike retreat wherever they live.

As anyone who has visited Italy knows, the beautiful country boasts countless hotels that offer stunning facilities and rich histories that span centuries. Given this, it was no walk through Piazza del Duomo to find the best hotels to include on this list. Explore read numerous accommodation and Italy guides, travel blogs, historical websites, and reviews to discover hotels with exciting and culturally significant histories that served as more than museums. To make the cut, they also had to have the amenities and comforts travelers look for when deciding where to go for a relaxing and luxurious stay.