Where to stay in Italy?

In Cannaregio, 1.6 km from the centre, the most lived-in sestiere of Venice. A simple hotel for those who want the bacari of the Strada Nova in the evening and the Rialto on foot in the morning.

Via Ortigara, in Mestre, next to the station, 8 km from Venice. A hostel for small budgets who sleep on the mainland and reach Santa Lucia in ten minutes by train.

Fondamenta Cavagnis, in Castello, on a quiet canal, away from the crowds but within walking distance of St Mark's Square. A simple guesthouse for those who want a lived-in neighbourhood in the evening.

In the sestiere of Santa Croce, a residential area the groups desert in the evening. A guesthouse for those who want to walk to the Rialto Bridge and sleep away from the bustle.

In Cannaregio, on the Grand Canal, 1.5 km from the centre and a few minutes from the Rialto. A palace for those who want the canal beneath their windows and a quieter district than San Marco.

A 15th-century palace listed as a national monument, next to the Ca' d'Oro: the grand staircase and its frescoes are worth stopping for.

On the Riva degli Schiavoni, in Castello, the quay that runs from St Mark's Square towards the Arsenale, facing the lagoon. For those who want the island vaporetti at the door and St Mark's a few minutes away.

Tchaikovsky stayed here in 1877 and wrote part of his Fourth Symphony here.

In the sestiere of Castello, east of St Mark's Square, an area that quietens down at the end of the day. For those who want St Mark's on foot and the vaporetti to Murano and Burano within reach.

The neighbouring Pietà church, linked to Vivaldi, regularly hosts evening concerts.

In the sestiere of Santa Croce, away from the queues at St Mark's, a palazzo for staying in residential Venice. For those who want the Rialto Bridge on foot and evenings without the crowds.

The palazzo houses Enrico Bartolini's Glam restaurant: book your table before you leave.

Campiello Barozzi, in the sestiere of San Marco, a small square away from the main routes, a few minutes from the basilica. For those who want St Mark's Square on foot early in the morning, before the groups.

Via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, 1.3 km from the centre, between the station and San Marco. A hostel with a pool for those who want the San Lorenzo market on foot and the Duomo fifteen minutes away.

Viale Francesco Redi, in San Iacopino, 2 km from the centre, on the Porta al Prato side. A hostel for small budgets who are happy with a twenty-minute walk or the tram to reach the Duomo.

Via dell'Oriuolo, 500 m from the centre, just behind the Duomo. A simple hotel for those who want the historic centre on foot and to sleep a stone's throw from the cathedral without paying neighbourhood prices.

Lungarno degli Acciaioli, 300 m from the centre, on the Arno a few metres from the Ponte Vecchio. For those who want the river beneath their windows and the Uffizi on foot.

Owned by the Ferragamo family: the Salvatore Ferragamo museum, in the neighbouring Palazzo Spini Feroni, takes an hour to visit.

Borgo Pinti, 1.2 km from the centre, in a quiet neighbourhood east of the Duomo. For those who want a garden and silence, and a fifteen-minute walk to the historic centre.

The Giardino della Gherardesca, the largest private park in Florence, surrounds the 15th-century palace: enjoy it first thing in the morning.

Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 1 km from the centre, on the Arno on the San Frediano side. For those who want the river and the view, with the Ponte Vecchio fifteen minutes' walk away.

Via Torino, in the Castro Pretorio district, 200 m from the centre and near Piazza della Repubblica. A design hostel for those arriving at Termini who want the Trevi Fountain on foot.

Via Palestro, in Castro Pretorio, 700 m from the centre, between Termini and San Lorenzo. A hostel for small budgets who want student bars in the evening and the metro to the Colosseum.

Via Angelo Poliziano, on the Esquiline hill, a lived-in area away from the most touristy streets. A hostel for those on a tight budget who want the bars of Monti on foot in the evening.

A hotel with gardens in central Rome, for those who want some greenery between visits. The Spanish Steps and Via del Corso are on foot, the Vatican by taxi.

On Piazza del Popolo, with a terraced garden designed by Valadier climbing towards the Pincio: the entrance is on the left of the square.

Via Ludovisi, in the Ludovisi district, 900 m from the centre, at the top of Via Veneto. For those who want Villa Borghese on foot and the Spanish Steps a ten-minute walk downhill.

La Terrazza, the top-floor restaurant, is one of the best-known tables with a view in Rome: book well in advance.

Via Sistina, in Campo Marzio, 1.1 km from the centre, at the top of Trinità dei Monti. You walk down the Spanish Steps in the morning, before the crowds, and climb back up in the evening.

Piazzetta Trinità alla Cesarea, in the Materdei district, 2.3 km from the centre. A hostel for those who want a working-class neighbourhood, quiet in the evening, and the metro to the centre and Pompeii.

Via Melisurgo, in Rione Carità, 1.7 km from the centre and next to the Molo Beverello. A hostel for those leaving early for Capri who want to walk to the port with their bags.

Vico Tre Re a Toledo, in the Quartieri Spagnoli, 2.1 km from the centre. For those who want the Naples of narrow lanes and washing hung from windows, with Via Toledo close by.

Via Partenope, in Pizzofalcone, 2.9 km from the centre, on the seafront facing Castel dell'Ovo. For those who want the bay and Vesuvius from the Lungomare, and the centre by taxi.

The tenor Enrico Caruso died here in 1921: the top-floor restaurant bears his name and looks out over the gulf.

Corso Vittorio Emanuele, in Chiaia, 3.6 km from the centre, on the hill above the bay. For those who want the view and peace, with the funicular to get down into town.

The oldest hotel in Naples, opened in 1870 on the Corso hill: go up first and foremost for the view over the gulf.

Via Partenope, on the seafront, facing Castel dell'Ovo, at the foot of Pizzofalcone. For those who want to walk along the bay in the evening and reach the Chiaia seafront on foot.

Via Armando Diaz, in the Rione Carità, a step away from via Toledo and its metro station. For those who want the historic centre on foot and the ferry port a few streets away.