Italy

Description

This guide covers the hot spots of Tuscany and the Italian lakes, but we have found special places all over the country: from the heel of Puglia to the mountains of Val d'Aosta, via Italy's amazing islands. We look for owners, homes and hotels that we like, and we are fiercely subjective in our choices. 'Special for us is not about the number of creature comforts, but relates to many elements that make a place work'. Certainly, the way guests are treated comes as high on our list, as the setting, the architecture and the food.

Author description

Alastair has been publishing the Special Places to Stay guides since 1994. His travel publishing company was born of a successful tour company that took groups on off-the-beaten-track trips across Europe. An avid environmentalist (founding Avon Friends of the Earth and currently a trustee of the Soil Association), he is keen to encourage B&B and hotels owners' by celebrating their use of organic and local food. Alastair Sawday Publishing offsets its carbon emissions and strives in other ways to be as ethical as possible, for example by printing on recycled paper and making regular charity donations via The Greater Bristol Foundation. The company has won an award from Business Commitment to the Environment and moves to its own eco offices in 2005.