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Exquisite Italy: From Roman retreats to starry palaces and glorious golf, these hotels promise a dash of delicious luxury

• Explore Rome from an 18th-century palazzo and experience the best of Sicily with a Palermo palazzo and coastal golf retreat

Ad feature by British Airways Holidays

By MAIL ONLINE REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 14:30, 14 March 2024

The hustle and bustle of piazzas, the rolling green hills, ornate churches, hearty food and rich wines - it’s all captured in the magic of Italy. Rocco Forte offers a selection of impressive five-star properties in the most privileged locations, from the buzzing heart of Rome, to spectacular beaches on the Sicilian coast.

Book with British Airways Holidays for an ATOL-protected package that includes British Airways flights and a generous 23kg baggage allowance per person. With deposits starting from £60 per person* and the chance to pay the balance in as many instalments as you like, it’s easy to plan your trip.

Get into the spirit of la dolce vita and explore these Italian stays.

Rocco Forte offers a selection of impressive five-star properties in the most privileged locations

Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Unfurling across a sprawling 570 acres in a quiet spot on Sicily’s southern coast, Verdura Resort is home to the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open, and two of the best golf courses in the country.

Beyond the golf, this unique resort also offers rolling countryside, sweeping coast and a private beach. Here you’ll find world-leading luxury, from the spacious rooms and suites in muted hues with breathtaking Mediterranean views - and some with private pools - to the spa with signature treatments inspired by Sicilian ingredients.

The Juventus Training Experience is a thrilling opportunity for budding young footballers, or you can take to the water for flyboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking and jet surfing. The four restaurants all share an exquisite culinary offering and sea vistas, whether you want succulent seafood at Amare, Mediterranean delicacies at Zagara, the typical Sicilian trattoria at Liola or a fresh and delicious breakfast at Buongiorno.

All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected and come with a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your European beach holiday now with a low deposit* ba.com/verdura

Unfurling across a sprawling 570 acres in a quiet spot on Sicily’s southern coast, Verdura Resort is home to the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open, and two of the best golf courses in the country

Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Combine palatial elegance with stunning sea views at this Belle Epoque beauty in Palermo, thoughtfully restored to its golden age.

Once a private palazzo, with gorgeous gardens dipping down to the coast, Villa Igiea became a hotel in the early 1900s hosting royalty, Hollywood stars and dignitaries. It was fully refurbished in 2021, with understated interiors that combine with original Art Nouveau flourishes.

The enchanting Tyrrhenian Sea view from Villa Igiea’s sumptuous deluxe rooms and suites wraps you in romance. And the tiered gardens are all colourful flowers, soaring pines and palms and sprawling lawns.

Your splendid dining options include the poolside Alicetta Bistro, serving fresh and artfully crafted dishes under a pretty pavilion; Florio Restaurant, housed in an original Louis XVI hall, and the atmospheric Igiea Terrace Bar with its original frescoes and wrought-iron chandeliers.

All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected and come with a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your European beach holiday now with a low deposit* ba.com/villaigiea

Combine palatial elegance with stunning sea views at this Belle Epoque beauty in Palermo, thoughtfully restored to its golden age

Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Crowning the Spanish Steps, this lively 18th-century palazzo takes in sweeping views of the domes and rooftops of the Italian capital from its stylish rooms and suites. The hotel’s privileged location puts it a stone’s throw away from bustling Via dei Condotti shopping district, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona.

Inside, the hotel has embraced its historical character, recreating the fabrics, antiques and rich colour of the era it was built, a conflation of neo-classical Roman design and contemporary cool.

Set in the hotel’s romantic inner courtyard, the flagship restaurant Mosaic offers an eclectic menu of Italian favourites with international influences, curated by renowned chef Fulvio Pierangelini. Atop the hotel, the effervescent Cielo Bar allows Rome to unfold before you, serving a gourmet selection of seafood and meat specialities crafted with local, seasonal produce.

All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected and come with a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your European beach holiday now with a low deposit* ba.com/hoteldelaville

Atop the hotel, the effervescent Cielo Bar allows Rome to unfold before you, serving a gourmet selection of seafood and meat specialities crafted with local, seasonal produce

All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected and come with a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your European beach holiday now with a low deposit* Verdura Resort | Villa Igiea | Hotel de la Ville

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