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I T A L I A N C I T I E S W I T H M R & M R S S M I T H

A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 5 b y M I S S D I N K Y

Of course Mr & Mrs Smith wi l l make travel l ing round the

beauti ful Ital ian ci t ies even more glamorous with their superb

edi t of top boutique hotels with fabulous services and service.

So take t ime out to enjoy the dazzl ing array of art, archi tecture

MISS DINKY

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and cul ture and of course the stunning mouthwatering selection

of f ood.

Milan

Art, f ashion, furni ture and footbal l are Mi lan’s heal thy

obsessions.

The hub of the designer shopping area around Via

Montenapoleone is goldcard ni rvana, where you’ l l f ind local

heroes Missoni , Armani and Etro, f antastic vintage, and highly

covetable design and ki tchenwares. Eating and partying here are

equal ly as styl ish, wi th bars and clubs designed to appeal to the

crème de la cognoscenti , and sushi f i t f or the fussiest

supermodel .

The Gray Milan, Italy Mr & Mrs Smith (Check Availability)

Steps f rom the Duomo, in the heart of Mi lan, the art deco façade

of The Gray hotel masks 21 à la mode bedrooms ki tted out with

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glam gadgetry. The lobby’s twoseater fuschiaupholstered swing

hints at the hotel ’ s playful in room style: vivid hues and tacti le

textures – cream padded leather, f aux animal pel ts and two tone

wood veneers – to entice guests to get cosy. Look beyond your

love nest to f ind mod Mediterranean cuisine in design led Le Noir

restaurant, and sample G Bar’s tempting cocktai ls whi le curled

up together on a canopied sofa on the Aria roof terrace.

Need To Know Rooms 21 individual ly designed rooms, two with

private gymsCheck–OutMiddayEarl iest check in, 2pmRates

Double rooms f rom £189.50 (€263) , excluding tax at 10 per

cent. Please note the hotel charges an addi t ional local ci ty tax of

€5.00 per person on checkoutMore DetailsRates exclude

breakfast.

At The HotelRoof terrace, valet parking and WiF i (€5 an hour) .

A personal shopper can be arranged on request. In rooms: hydro

showers and/or hydro bath tubs, f latscreen TV and DVD player,

iPod dock, CD player, radio and minibar. The ‘Urban and f i t ’

Junior Sui te has a smal l private gymOur Favourite RoomsFor

pure indulgence we love the Gal lery rooms, which have incredible

views of the Gal leria Vi ttorio Emanuele, swathes of zebraprint

and Af rican fabrics and a large round Jacuzzi bath tub with a

bui l t in TV. Choose a Ci ty Deluxe Room with a monochrome

hanging bed and you won’ t need a chandel ier to swing f rom, or

you can opt to have a Phi l ippe Starck bath tub just a f ew steps

f rom the bedAlsoPeti te pets can stay for €50 a night; be sure

to alert reception before you arrive.

Hotel RestaurantLauded across the ci ty, the hotel ’ s restaurant

Le Noir l ives up to i ts name with black lacquered surfaces. The

restrained minimal ist style is tempered with whimsical hints of

zebra print and low l i t chandel iers f ashioned out of cutlery; i t ’ s a

sui table sett ing in which to sample a menu of creative

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Mediterranean fare. Del icate f ish, hearty slabs of meat and

seasonal vegetables, are accompanied by a local vintageHotel

BarGrab a predinner drink at the hotel ’ s intimate watering hole

G Bar. Sip a zesty moji to surrounded by copperenveloped wal ls

or grab a redvelvet stool at the bar. For laidback al f resco

drinks and l ight meals head upstai rs to the Aria terraceLast

OrdersBreakfast is served f rom 7am–11am, lunch f rom

12:30pm–2.30pm and dinner f rom 7:30pm–10.30pm. The Aria

terrace and G Bar both stay open unti l 1amRoom ServiceThe

restaurant’s à la carte menu is avai lable in room f rom 12.30pm–

2.30pm and 7pm–10.30pm; otherwise, snacks such as smoked

salmon and insalata caprese are avai lable round the clock.

Naples

The birthplace of pizza, tri coloured icecream and an oversized

take on the rum baba, Italy’s ancient ‘new ci ty’ has always

known how to attract attention.

Edgy and intense, Naples isn’ t a looker when compared to the

tourist head turners of F lorence, Rome and Venice. But don’ t be

fooled by appearances: i t ’ s what’s inside that counts. Who cares

about canals or Gucci trodden shopping streets when you’ve got

the best pizzerias on the planet? Si tuated on the eponymous

gul f , wi th Vesuvius visible f rom almost every angle, Naples is a

modern ci ty with a long history: the remains of the ancient

Neapol is ( ‘new ci ty’ ) are sti l l evident, wi th i ts countless churches

and mediaeval universi ty. It ’ s also the gateway to the Campania

region and the fai rytale scenery of the Amal f i Coast, as wel l as

the impressive Roman ruins at Pompei i . The bui ldings may be

crumbl ing, the traf f ic hectic and the volume loud, but that’s what

makes Naples fun. It divides opinion, but look beyond i ts

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reputation: this vast, energetic ci ty has an animated nightl i f e, a

bustl ing port and some of the world’s tastiest f ood. Neapol i tans

are proud of their ci ty – visi t, and you’ l l f eel the same.

Romeo Hotel Naples, Italy Mr & Mrs Smith (Check

Availability)

The imposing Romeo Hotel overlooks Naples’ hectic docks but,

inside, the impeccable art col lection of owner Mr Romeo makes

you feel l ike you’ re wandering around a dazzl ing antiquestuf fed

home. This sleek glass and metal hotel and spa in the heart of

one of Italy’s gri tt ier ci t ies has Michel instarred gastronomy, an

af icionadoapproved cigar room and onshow wine cel lar, and is

f requented by a Gucci clad cl ientele almost as gorgeous as the

views of Vesuvius

Need To Know Rooms83, including 13 sui tes and 10 junior

sui tesCheck–Out12 noon, but f lexible on request ( subject to

avai labi l i ty and a charge) . Earl iest check in, 2pmRatesDouble

rooms f rom £189.96 (€264) , excluding tax at 10 per cent.

Please note the hotel charges an addi t ional local ci ty tax of

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€5.00 per person per night on checkoutMore DetailsRates

include a dai ly buf fet breakfastAlsoCigar af icionados wi l l

appreciate the striking glasswal led Cigar Room. The main

attraction (aside f rom the Davidof f humidors ful l of topdrawer

cigars) is a Francesco Clemente painting created especial ly f or

the hotel .

At The HotelSpa, gym, gardens, f ree WiF i throughout. In

rooms: minibar, Nespresso cof fee machine, f latscreen TV, Jacob

Jensen and Bang & Oluf sen telephones, the hotel ’ s own bath

productsOur Favourite RoomsAl l rooms are outf i tted with

Caprai f abrics, Don’do by Pol trona Frau chairs and local ly made

Tramontano leather goods, and many look out over the bay. For

the best views, go for the Studio Corners: you’ l l get the Amal f i

Coast and Capri on your right as wel l as Vesuvius and the ships

in the docks to the lef t. The Garden & Pool Sui te has i ts own

tranqui l garden and outdoor whirpool tub. The F i tness Sui tes are

def ini tely not for gymdodgers: each has i ts own mini gym with

exercise bike and weights, and the decor wouldn’ t look out of

place in the pages of Men’s Heal th ( think leather rugs) Packing

TipsArt, design and antiques buf f s wi l l want a notebook, camera

or sketch pad to hand to record their f avouri te pieces f rom Mr

Romeo’s col lection. We loved the Edoperiod Japanese armour in

the sushi bar and the early 18thcentury wooden model of Naples

in the lobbyAlsoThe glossy Dogana del Sale spa has a sal t

room, f ive treatment rooms, three Jacuzzis and two saunas

(entrance to the spa costs €20 to guests) . Gol f ers missing their

greens f ind comfort in the vi rtual gol f room, and there’s also a

gym

Hotel RestaurantOn the top f loor, Michel instarred Il

Comandante serves up an adventurous and regularly changing

f inedining menu, as wel l as some jawdropping views of the bay

through the f loor tocei l ing windows. It also of fers bar services.

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A Modern Med menu includes regional classics such as sl iced beef

tenderloin with summer vegetable stew or lemonscented sal t cod

carpaccio with capers and salad greens. There are tasting menus

for the indecisive. Romeo Sushi Bar (on the ground f loor) serves

tasty morsels at the downstairs counter or upstai rs in Il

Comandante. The Beluga Sky Bar serves great views, as wel l as

a buf fet breakfast, lunch and snacksLast OrdersBeluga Sky

Bar serves breakfast, lunch and snacks 7am–8pm; l l Comandante

serves dinner 8pm–midnight. Drinks are poured at the restaurant

bar during opening hoursRoom ServiceRoom service is

avai lable 24/7: order antipasti and sandwiches or hot dishes, l ike

homemade raviol i or sea bass f i l let.

Rome

It ’ s true: Rome wasn’ t bui l t in a day – and almost every moment

of i ts lengthy and splendid history is st i l l visible in some form.

Parts of the ci ty are perfectly mediaeval; Renaissance and

Baroque bui ldings soar skyward, and breathtaking sculpture si ts

on every corner. With the Vatican in town, Easter and Christmas

are highl ights on Rome’s calendar, but pi lgrims of an artist ic

persuasion f lock to the t iny ci ty state al l year to adore Raphael

and Michelangelo’s Sist ine Chapel f rescoes. Rome is also about

the art of l i f e – food, f ashion and fun are enjoyed with rel igious

zeal in this most sensual of capi tals. L ive la dolce vi ta as the

locals do: colonise a café in the Campo de’ F iori ; l inger longer

over rustic pasta in a tradi t ional trattoria; let your f eet wander

and your eyes roam.

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Babuino 181 Rome, Italy Mr & Mrs Smith (Check

Availability)

These two threestorey renovated palazzos – set side by side –

have a quiet elegance that bel ies their ci tycentral location near

the Spanish Steps, wi th luxurious but understated sui tes

decorated in earthy hues. Returning to Babuino 181 hotel af ter

adventures in Rome is l ike having your own highend apartment,

and there’s a ci tysavvy concierge to boot.

Need To Know Rooms24, spread out over two neighbouring

palazzos, including six sui tesCheck–Out11am, but can be later

for €100. Earl iest check in, f rom 2pmRatesDouble rooms f rom

£139.60 (€194) , excluding tax at 10 per cent. Please note the

hotel charges an addi t ional government tax of €3.00 per person

per night on checkoutMore DetailsRates exclude a Continental

breakfast buf fet of homemade pastries, local cheeses and cold

cuts, hardboi led eggs, f rui t salad, f resh juice and tea or cof fee

(€20 a person, f ree for under–10s) AlsoClose to the hotel is the

eponymous ‘babuino’ – one of Rome’s ‘ talking statues’ ,

nicknamed ‘ the baboon’ f or i ts grotesque appearance. The

fountain is next to the Chiesa di Sant’Atanasio dei Greci , on Via

del Babuino.

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At The HotelFree WiF i throughout. In rooms: f latscreen TV,

iPod dock, minibar and Nespresso machineOur Favouri te Rooms

Rooms are simi lar in terms of furnishings and faci l i t ies; what

dist inguishes them is location. Room 105 is a Deluxe Sui te on

the corner of the bui lding, with views of both Via Margutta and

Via del Babuino. Room 302, the Babuino Sui te, is f i t f or

fami l ies; with two rooms, a guest toi let and a lounge area with

space for two single beds.

Hotel RestaurantThere’s no restaurant or bar, just a host of

local eateries to choose f rom, spanning casual pizza joints and

Ital ian f ine dining. The roof top terrace serves Continental

breakfast, and guests can pick a f ree cocktai l each f rom the

extensive menu af ter 6pmHotel BarNone, but plenty nearby –

try the Art Studio Cafe (+39 06 326 09104;

www.artstudiocafe. i t) at 187a Via Dei Gracchi . Al ternatively, raid

the minibar for plonk and snacks i f you want to stay inRoom

ServiceStock up on in room treats f rom the local del is, as the

hotel doesn’ t of f er room service.

Venice

It may seem curious in a ci ty that si ts out in the sea and is

characterised by i ts gl i ttering waterways, but i t ’ s walking you

should prepare for when you visi t Venice.

One of the most beauti ful ci t ies on earth, La Serenissima is an

atmospheric maze in which to lose yoursel f . With most of i ts

bui ldings right on the water’s edge, Venice hides al l the snap

happy sightseers wel l ; dri f t along the canals by gondola and f loat

back in t ime as you admire Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque

archi tecture. Give the f i lm fami l iar Piazza San Marco a chance to

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sink in, then fol low the locals of f the main drags to the best

restaurants, hidden churches and l ively markets. With so many

palazzi and piazze to discover, Venezia is a place for early nights

and misty mornings spent wandering charming, traf f ic f ree

al leys: i t ’ s the romance capi tal of the world

QS Venice, Italy Mr & Mrs Smith (Check Availability)

This intimate Venetian boutique hotel of f ers plush and private

l iving in the heart of the island ci ty i ts individual ly designed

rooms blend comfort wi th impeccably executed contemporary

tastes. Sprinkled with modern art, photography and sculpture,

and f lavoured with archi tectural hints of i ts Gothic past, I Qs

does ‘urban hideaway’ wi th stylesavvy panache.

Need To Know RoomsThree apartmentstyle sui tesCheck–

Out11am, al though this may be f lexible; earl iest check in,

2pmRatesDouble rooms f rom £154.02 (€214) , excluding tax

at 10 per cent. Please note the hotel charges an addi t ional local

ci ty tax of €2.50 per person per night on checkoutMore

DetailsRates do not include breakfast. Buy ingredients local ly

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and the hotel ki tchen has everything you need to whip up a feast

in the morningAlsoI Qs can arrange breathtaking hel icopter

trips over Venice and water taxis to take you around the ci ty

f rom i ts private pier.

At The HotelPrivate pier; l ibrary of books, music and f i lms to

borrow; f ree WiF i throughout; laundry. In rooms: ful ly equipped

ki tchen, computer, f latscreen TV, CD/DVD player, Nespresso

machine, La Bottega del l ’A lbergo f ig essence toi letriesOur

Favourite RoomsEach apartment has been designed in a

di f f erent modern style, but al l preserve a twinkle of their Gothic

archi tecture. Larger sui tes Q3 and Q4 overlook the canal: Q4’s

seven windows and f i replace make i t the l ighter of the two, but

we l ike the tatami f looring in Q3 – a thoughtful Oriental touch

that dovetai ls nicely with the bright white hues and highgloss

Corian bathroom. Q1, the studio, can be annexed to Q2 to form a

bigger twobedroom sui teAlsoSmal l pets are welcome. I Qs can

arrange hel icopter trips over Venice and water taxis to take you

around the ci ty f rom the hotel ’ s private pier. In room massages

can also be arranged on request.

Hotel RestaurantThis is more l ike staying in a serviced

apartment than a hotel: every room is equipped with a ki tchen

containing an oven and al l the pots, pans and plates needed to

whip up a meal . If you don’ t ‘do’ cooking on hol iday, the area

around the hotel is blessed with plenty of eatingout options

Hotel BarThere’s isn’ t one in the hotel , but you can stash

drinks in the f ridge in your room, and staf f wi l l bring ice i f you

ask. Ask the concierge to point you towards the nicest nearest

watering holesRoom ServiceNone, but you can have groceries

del ivered to your door.

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Verona

Shakespeare chose to set his smouldering tragedy, Romeo &

Jul iet, in this green and honeycoloured historic ci ty, and no

wonder: these are streets to fal l in love in.

The Romans once rested their shields and spears in Verona,

leaving behind an impressive cul tural and archi tectural f ootprint:

mediaeval palaces, f resco festooned churches and of course, the

ancient Arena, where some of Italy’s f inest opera seduces the

ears. The other senses aren’ t neglected here, ei ther: sample

polenta or peperi ta (boi led beef with a spicy cheese sauce) ; gaze

at the gl i ttering Adige river and the ci ty’s stash of statues and

mosaics; touch the statue of Jul iet by her balcony. And i f ( i f )

you should long for adventures further af ield, Venice is only an

hour and a hal f away by train…

Palazzo Victoria Verona, Italy Mr & Mrs Smith (Check

Availability)

A mediaevalmodern mashup dominates Palazzo Victoria hotel ,

where Roman ruins, Ionic pi l lars and 14thcentury f rescoes share

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space with white leather sofas, projector screens and wal ls clad

in concrete and acidgreen l ichen. There’s a Michel instarred chef

in the ki tchens, a pool table in the salon, and whiteandgold

Jacuzzis in the shiny marble bathrooms.

Need To Know Rooms74, including 12 sui tesCheck–Out12

noon, but f lexible, subject to avai labi l i ty. Earl iest check in,

2pmRatesDouble rooms f rom £154.59 (€215) , excluding tax

at 10 per cent. Please note the hotel charges an addi t ional local

ci ty tax of €3.00 per person per night on checkoutMore

DetailsRates include Continental buf fet breakfast ( cooked

options are extra) .

At The HotelProjector screen in the lobby for f i lm screenings,

pool table, gym with bikes and benches, f ree WiF i , private

parking (€40 a night) . In rooms: f latscreen TV and minibar

stocked with local treatsOur Favourite RoomsBook 107, a

Junior Sui te with an incredible mediaeval f resco above the bed, a

tof feebrown pol ished parquet f loor, a l i tt le si tt ing area in the

corner with a plush armchair and pouf fe, and a Jacuzzi toting

mini marble kingdom where you’ l l want to just stay in and soak.

Room 214 (another Junior Sui te) has wal ls dressed in yolkyel low

si lks, two 14thcentury mosaics and romantic russet roof top

views. Room 106, a Grand Deluxe, is decorated in Veneto’s rich

regional colours and has an enviable marble bathroomAlso

Smal l , wel l behaved dogs can come too at no extra charge.

Hotel RestaurantThe ai ry greyandwhite Corso Porta Borsari

brasserie has an open ki tchen, big windows and clusters of white

tables topped with rosemary sprigs in l i tt le loop vases. The

seating is a relaxed mishmash of Luci te and wooden chairs;

potted ol ive trees add splashes of colour. As wel l as a gl i ttering

kni fe col lection, chef Carmine Caló (whose moto is ‘ ingredients

and imagination’ ) has a Michel in star. Put your trust in Carmine

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and opt for the tasting menu: l ight, elegant dishes that rely on

Italy’s best produce – eggs f rom hens reared on goat’s mi lk,

ricotta sourced f rom Sici ly and so on. Some of the most popular

wines are displayed on the vintage apothecary cabinet at the

back. Ask the sommel ier to talk you through the grapesHotel

BarThere’s a dark and romantic l i tt le bar with an excel lent

selection of local wines (many produced by Al legrini , wi th whom

the hotel enjoys a f rui tful partnership) . Al ternatively, si t in the

mascul ine salon postpool wi th a whisky or cocktai l and admire

the chequered f loor and the artefacts; on cold days, pul l up a

chair beside the arty f i replaceLast OrdersThe breakfast buf fet

is avai lable between 7am and 11am; lunch is served f rom

12.30pm unti l 3pm; dinner is 7pm unti l 11pmRoom ServiceA

selection of pastas, salads and desserts can be prepared around

the clock (we recommend ordering the wonderful deconstructed

ti ramisu and enjoying i t in bed)

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