The 14 Best Eco-Friendly Hotels in Italy

Just a few steps from Milano Centrale station, the Starhotels E.c.ho boasts both cutting-edge style and ethical substance. The 143 rooms are decked out in the best of taste regardless of any eco-credentials – which are extensive. Materials have been chosen with careful attention to their production process and come from certified sources. Thermo-insulation and intelligently designed heating and lighting systems mean minimal energy is used while keeping your room comfortable and cosy. The restaurant – in partnership with Italian marketplace chain, Eataly – serves seasonal organic food, sourced from Milan and the surrounding countryside.

Villa Crespi was built in 1879 by Cristoforo Benigno Crespi, a pioneer of the Italian cotton industry. Following a business trip to the Middle East, Crespi created his very own Moorish-style hideaway on the romantic shores of Lake Orta. Today, the gorgeous parquet flooring and period furniture are enjoyed by guests looking for a luxury stay in a hotel which keeps an eye on its environmental commitments. Energy usage is carefully monitored to help avoid waste, rooms are cleaned by steam only and the restaurant – whose patron chef is TV’s Antonino Cannavacciuolo – uses organic, local produce where possible.

With an arresting location on the banks of the Arno, Ville sull’Arno is a hotel already deeply connected to nature – so it’s no surprise their policies are geared towards safeguarding the environment. The building itself is well insulated while waste is collected separately for recycling and the kitchen uses produce from the local area. Guests are also offered free bicycles to explore Florence.

Hotel Cristina is an A-rated energy efficiency building – a rarity in Italy where historic palazzi are regularly given the lowest grade. This modern build was constructed with reduced energy consumption and environmental sustainability in mind and a host of simple but effective policies help it to achieve its goal. The hotel uses only green energy and has air conditioning that automatically switches off when windows are opened. Situated in the western suburbs of Naples, it’s a little way out from the main sights but easily accessible by metro.

The Bella Rosina is an 18th-century farmhouse turned four-star hotel set in the verdant grounds of La Mandria Regional Park in Turin, northern Italy. From the comfortable and refined rooms to the organic restaurant, the hotel follows a number of ecological policies. Heating is partially solar powered, cleaning products chosen for their reduced impact on aquatic life and biodegradable pens and paper are used throughout the hotel.

A former Venetian Palace, Palazzo Barocci is set right on the Grand Canal and offers guests stunning views of one of the world’s most romantic cities. This chain of hotels has a comprehensive sustainability strategy that includes choosing low impact amenities and materials, the reduction and reuse of water and reducing the carbon footprint of guests. Since 2007, NH Hotels has reduced its water consumption by 31% and energy consumption by 29%. Their hotels, including Palazzo Barocci, go green by avoiding plastic bottles, opting for Fairtrade and local produce and choosing biodegradable materials. Palazzo Barocci also takes part in a number of events throughout the year aimed at promoting sustainability, such as M’Illumino di Meno, when the hotel facade is plunged into darkness to highlight the importance of saving energy.