Once upon a time, Sardinia was an unassuming, mountainous island, west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia and immediately south of the French island of Corsica.

Few destinations photograph quite as majestically as Italy.

The western shore of Italy’s most celebrated and arguably most beautiful lake, is generally considered the superior one.

Hotel de la Ville located on via Sistina is Rocco Forte’s latest opening in the heart of Rome, close to the top of the Spanish Steps.

In The Maremma, the sound of cicadas singing in the trees above the pool house is the only sound interfering with the absolute peace and stillness of this remote part of Italy’s idyllic countryside.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is rich in culture, fine wines and a distinctive cusine. It is also one of our favourite European destinations, especially off season.

Italy is a land blessed with an exceptionally long and interesting coastline, three major beautiful lakes, the majestic and craggy Dolomite mountains, historic cities, inviting towns and villages and gorgeous offshore islands.

How often have we by-passed the historic city of Naples, leaving its airport in the seedy Capodichino area to the north-east of the city, en route for either Capri or the Amalfi Coast?

The heel of Italy is a relatively well-kept secret. There is little in the way of inspiring scenery or architecture on the drive south from Bari to the pretty little port of Savelletri.

Though its obvious charms may be historical – its campaniles, campos, cathedrals and canals, its frankly faded grandeur – there’s a contemporary side…

Of the classics, there is Grand Hotel Tremezzo, facing Bellagio in one of the finest (dual aspect) locations on the lake; or the fabled Villa d’Este at Cernobbio closer to Milan, across from the main town of Como.

We love Venice full stop, but there is something particularly ravishing about La Serenissima in winter.

Grand Hotel à Villa Feltrinelli, to give it its full name, was originally the private home of Bob Burns, founder of Regent Hotels. As the story goes, Bob purchased the derelict villa on Lake Garda (headquarters of Mussolini during World War II) in 1997 and set about restoring it at huge cost.