Discover boutique and luxury hotels for Italian island holidays

The ankle of Italy’s boot is a great kick-off point for unhurried island adventures. Sicily belies its size to deliver an Italy-in-microcosm melange of crowd-pulling cities, dramatic coastlines, jagged peaks and calming countryside where, in summer, the sun slows things down to a suitably serene pace. From Trapani, take a ferry to en vogue isle, Pantelleria: a rustic, rocky and romantic outcrop tempting tastemakers and peace-seekers alike with its Arabic-inflected architecture and secluded seaside towns. Sardinia, to the west, is worth a trip for its bellissima beaches alone, though venturing inland is rewarded with a pleasing patchwork of verdant valleys and abundant olive groves.