Italy – Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay
Description
There is no history of bed and breakfast in Italy as there is in Britain; the Italian breakfast of a diminutive cup of coffee quickly slugged back with a sweet pastry hardly makes a satisfying meal, but this isn’t what it’s all about. Italy is fabulously rich in culture and traditions, and, of course, great food and wine, and we give you a way to get under its skin. We have a smattering of hotels in the big towns and cities. Instead we have opted for smaller properties within easy reach of famous places, so you can make day trips by car or use public transport. And a swathe of countryside treasures from the simple to the sumptuous – some selfcatering, too.
Why go to Italy? Turn these pages and you will meet awe-inspiring buildings, life-changing experiences and seductive people
Fresh, regional food is an irresistable feature of Italy. Choose for yourselves at local markets, eat with the family, dine in palazzo-style splendour
Italy is where the Slow Food movement began – and we salute it. We, too, have strong environmental credentials
Stay in simple agriturismi, in sun-drenched luxury on Sardinia’s Costa Smerelda, in beautiful townhouses in Florence or Venice. We inspect them all – thoroughly, regularly and subjectively
120 places are new to this edition
