Palazzo Manfredi, Rome, Italy
Set in the centre of what was once imperial Rome, built over the ruins of the Ludus Magnus (the gymnasium used by Roman gladiators), and directly across from the Colosseum, this small but luxurious hideaway is a history buff's dream.
Décor ingeniously blends the ancient and the new (16th-century antique paintings meet contemporary creations), and unparalleled vistas of ancient Rome are beautifully matched by the culinary delights of Aroma (one of Rome's most romantic rooftop restaurants).