Tuscany and Campania, Italy

The hiss of cicadas, the distant call of a honey buzzard echoing across the wide valley and the satisfying pop of a cork from a bottle of local Sassicaia wine. These are the sounds of rural Tuscany, where tree-lined, white-gravel roads wind up gentle slopes to tranquil, terracotta-roofed villas and hill towns. In summer, spend your days sipping wine and taking lazy romantic strolls through vineyards and olive groves before dining under the stars as the warm evening envelopes you. In truffle season (October and November) you can join the Lagotto Romagnolo truffle dogs on the hunt for the elusive and highly prized fungi.

AdAstra is a small, delightfully romantic, 14-room boutique hotel in Florence where you can live in style in an Italian nobleman’s villa. It’s perfect for couples. AdAstra is in the Oltrarno quarter, a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio and the city’s historic centre. Some rooms look onto one of the largest private gardens in Europe. Although the garden is out of bounds you can gaze on it for as long as you like, starting at breakfast, which, in summer, is served on a beautiful wrap-around terrace. The garden has a 19th-century tower built by the original marquis to stargaze from – hence the name AdAstra, which is Latin for ‘towards the stars’. The current marquis lives on the ground floor, while AdAstra guests inhabit the upper floors in individually decorated rooms with original Italian design items, furniture and artwork. Each room has a rolltop bath, which is ideal for a romantic evening in.

At Casa Angelina, wake under soft sheets and take a moment to let your eyes adjust to the opalescent light filling your room. Throw back the curtains and there lies one of the most romantic and breathtaking views in Europe: the glittering Mediterranean calling you in for a dip. The immaculately designed rooms and suites are Arctic-white cocoons furnished with designer chairs, unique sculptures and thankfully not much else. This makes them relaxing and uncluttered, and the perfect frames for the fabulous sea portraits outside your window. Some have balconies while others have 30sqm sun terraces but if you can drag yourself away from your private temple to Hollywood chic, head for the cool, blue-tiled pool, whose southern end is shaded by fragrant lemon trees. Post-swim, you can dry off with fluffy towels, order a negroni and start thinking about what you want for supper up at the rooftop restaurant.

Casa Angelina is movie-star cool and highly recommended by Italy travel specialist Lulu’s Luxury Lifestyle as the go-to spot on the Amalfi coast.

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