Suite spots indulge in Italy

How do you decide where to stay in a country like Italy, which is crammed with good hotels, apartments and B&Bs? It's not just a question of location, cost and star ratings, which aren't such a reliable indicator of quality here, in any case. The deciding factor should be authenticity. Italy is fortunate in that it still has a high proportion of hotels run by families or by small boutique groups that have strong personal ties with the country. Hip interiors and state-of- the-art technology are all very well, but what really counts in Italy, which is made up of 20 fiercely individual regions, is a hotel that is faithful to its origins and isn't trying too hard to run with the pack. Here are 10 of the best places where you won't feel you're staying in a bland international chain, or one dreamed up by a design agency in Manhattan, but somewhere with character, heritage and style that reflects the history and culture of the landscape outside your window. With no scrimping on comfort, of course.