PALAZZO MARGHERITA
Sofia Coppola chose to hold her 2011 wedding at her father’s latest hotel venture, the Palazzo Margherita, in the dusty limestone village of Bernalda, well off the beaten track in Basilicata, a rugged part of southern Italy. Francis Ford Coppola formed a bond with the village after many summers spent there, and jumped at the chance to buy this 19th-Century mansion. The nine rooms have high ceilings and exotic murals, but the main enchantment is the garden, designed by Coppola himself. It extends beyond the scented courtyard where Sofia made her vows and is filled with herbs, hibiscus, roses, and an ornamental vegetable plot, beside an elegant pool. 10 miles away is the Riva dei Ginepri beach where hours can be spent swimming and soaking in the sun. www.coppolaresorts.com/palazzomargherita
Best For Baroque Charm PALAZZO HEDONÉ
All the riches of a Mediterranean coastline gather gloriously on the limestone hilltops, ridges, and clefts of Sicily’s rugged hinterland in spring. Borage casts its gauzy purple veil across the rocks and competes with yellow cape sorrel, wild iris, and creamy snapdragons. These grow everywhere, pushing out of the stony cracks of the Baroque churches of Ortigia, Noto, and Scicli. Immerse yourself in the culture here and imbibe its sleepy rhythms at Palazzo Hedoné, with its garden terraces zigzagging up the soft volcanic rock. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a cinema in a grotto, and 13 simple bedrooms that contrast with the antique-filled grandeur of the piano nobile. www.palazzohedone.it
Best For Wild Flowers SAN FANTINO
70 varieties of wild orchid grow on Mount Cervati, as owner Sebastiano Petrilli will point out on hunting-gathering tours while searching for wild asparagus, mushroom, saffron, and the various herbs and flowers he adds to his so-called Miraculous Soup. A former London-based entrepreneur, Petrilli has given up the buzz of the city for a simpler life managing the working farmcum-guesthouse in the unspoilt Cilento region, beyond the traffic fumes and crowds of Amalfi. The seaviews from the farmstead, across iris- and poppy- strewn meadows, are breathtaking. With excellent food and wine produced on the estate, this is a delightful base for exploring the region’s secret beaches, remote hill towns, and fishing ports. Enoteca Osteria Perbacco nearby is all about languid lunches beneath vine-clad pergolas with specialities such as stuffed courgette flowers with ricotta and anchovies. Or try U’ Zifaro, one of the best fish restaurants in the south, in the glorious port of Scario. www.sanfantino.com