A 15th century Franciscan monastery with amazing views of Florence and boasting a façade by Michelangelo – there can be no more quintessential Italian experience, especially if you opt for the Michelangelo Suite, the Limonaia Suite or the new Garden Suites. Villa San Michele, fully restored by Orient-Express Hotels and voted one of the world's most beautiful hotels, promises a rare experience indeed. And Chianti, the Medici Villas, San Gimignano, Siena, the breathtaking Tuscan countryside with its picture-book villages and, of course, the Renaissance splendour of Florence, with its museums, churches, art galleries and designer shopping, are all on your doorstep.