Hotel Don Carlo, San Marco Argentano, Cosenza, Calabria

Hotel Don Carlo, near Cosenza

A superb old hotel in Calabria. The Hotel Don Carlo is in San Marco Argentano, in Calabria's Cosenza province. This historic town was the birthplace of Bohemond I of Antioch, and boasts a wealth of historic sights, including the Abbey, a number of churches and the Norman tower. The development of the town largely came about under the Normans in fact, who invaded much of southern Italy during the eleventh century. The hotel occupies a palazzo built in the latter half of the sixteenth century.

Beautifully renovated, this antique building offers the ultimate in modern comforts. Relaxation is key, with facilities including a wellness centre, sauna, gym, massage facilities, Turkish bath, jacuzzi and Hammam. The hotel is non smoking throughout, there is a library, free WiFi internet access, currency exchange, car rental, shoe shine ... everything to make your hotel stay in San Marco Argentano as comfortable as it can be. Rooms have minibar, bathroom with shower and toilet, radio, satellite television, air conditioning, bathrobe, work desk and hairdryer.

San Marco Argentano is inland, as Calabria climbs up to the central mountains (it actually lies at the foot of Mount Magna). This is beautiful countryside - Calabria boasts one of Europe's largest national parks in the Pollino, and the mountains are marvellously rugged and wild. But with Italy narrowing to its 'toe' at this point, you are never far from the sea. Calabria has a superb mix of sandy beaches and rugged, rocky coves. Head 10 or 15 kilometres east of here and you are on the Tyrrhenian coast. The Ionian coastline is some 40km to the east.

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Double room from €85