10 Best Hotels in The Veneto and Friuli–Venezia Giulia, Italy

This elegant pink-washed hotel in a 16th-century building overlooks the main square and has wide views over picturesque Asolo or its leafy hinterland. This was once the actress Eleonora Duse's preferred haunt, and you can choose to stay in the room where she regularly entertained the poet and libertine Gabriele D'Annunzio. All the rooms are large and furnished with turn-of-the-last-century antiques. Decoratively tiled, the bathrooms have massage showers, which might come in handy for legs that have climbed up the hill for a view (or spent time in the fitness room). The terrace is a great place for a sunset drink or dinner in summer.

Bang smack in regal Piazza Unità d'Italia, this grande dame of a hotel is beautifully furnished in Venetian Renaissance style, with dark-wood antiques, rich carpets, and plush fabrics. In the basement, below sea level, is one of northern Italy's most impressive indoor pool-spa complexes: it's reminiscent of ancient Roman baths. On the ground floor is Harry's Restaurant and there are a few smart apartments, especially handy for families. Suffice it to say this place has come a long way since its original incarnation as a 19th-century dockers' café.

Set on gorgeous, verdant grounds with stunning sea views, this cliff-top hotel—a villa with a modern annex—offers a mix of traditional and minimalist rooms, many with private balconies. The restaurant, Le Terrazze, features a mare e terra (sea and land) menu and a lovely terrace above the sea, where breakfasters can linger before heading down to the Riviera bathing area.

There's plenty of architectural character mixed with contemporary, artsy warmth in the guest rooms of this central, 18th-century building, while the nearby annex offers four spacious apartments. Public areas include a small patio enclosed by Roman walls; the cozy breakfast room is a wonderful spot to share in the owner's passion for coffee, tea, and tisane (infusions) from around the world. 

In a residential area a few minutes' walk from the Arena, this contemporary Best Western hotel offers respite from the busy city as well as easier parking. Both guest and public rooms have a functional, modern style with light, furniture, and some family rooms sleep up to five.

The Palladian facade of columns and arches here hint at the well-proportioned interior layout: expect an elegant contemporary take on Art Deco in public spaces and immaculate if impersonal traditional-style decor in guest rooms. Bathrooms are a decent size and accommodations reasonably quiet, despite the central location, while the clubby library and bar are fabulous places to unwind.

Handily placed near both the Arena and train station, the art-inspired Indigo is a handsome 1920s Stile Liberty palazzo with stylish design touches and a sophisticated loungy feel throughout. Many of the more spacious rooms and public areas, including the Arya Bar & Mixology, dining area, and patio/garden marry tasteful design with a peaceful atmosphere. 

Housed within a 16th-century palace, where renowned Florentine architect Bartolomeo Ammannati carved colossal statuary, the four spacious suites and three apartments with kitchenettes here offer a wonderful atmospheric alternative to regular hotel accommodation. Beyond the handsome courtyard there are cavernous rooms with some period furniture and historic artworks.

From its 19th-century furnishings to a 21st-century spa and a romantic garden, this luxurious 16th-century villa turned hotel strives for opulence. Once owned by the Venice restaurateur and hotelier Giuseppe Cipriani, the property is now owned by Massimo Zanetti, the coffee magnate. Superior-class rooms have views; the two suites with private terraces are pricey, but views are absolutely stunning. The restaurant terrace overlooks the garden and hills, a perfect place to sip an aperitif.