Grand Hotel Imperiale ★★★★★

Fringed by tall palms and elegant Roman-style pots of flowers, the Grand Hotel Imperiale is the epitome of a stylish Italian villa with classic balconies and bright, limoncello-yellow stucco facade. Inside, you’ll find its more palace than quaint Italian villa though, with refined antique furniture, shiny marble floors and columns and sparkling crystal chandeliers – a real sense of timeless elegance.

Rooms are festooned with dreamy ice cream shades of creams, peaches and pastels, with gold panelling and luxurious fabrics in satin and silk. Made to feel rich and sophisticated, they feature private balconies, en-suite marble bathrooms, LCD TVs, fax and Wi-Fi.

And if you’re bringing the family – your kids or even your pets – the Grand Hotel Imperiale caters for them too. While pooches are cared for and pampered, kids will have a great time being entertained in the Kid’s Club. This unique space is devoted entirely to children and highly qualified staff are on hand to organise a range of fun and creative activities for them.

Walk just 350 metres from the door of the hotel and you’ll find the private Minerva Beach – a luxuriant bathing station with 40 tents, sun-beds, deck chairs and drinks service. There are no rudimentary beach towels on the ground or sand in your sandwiches here - this is a day on the beach Hollywood style.

Forte dei Marmi means ‘Fort of Marbles’ in Italian and the town takes its name from the magnificent fortress located in the main square. The fortress was built to defend the coastal town from attack, but by the 20th Century it had become the place where marble quarried from the Alpi Apuane Mountains was stored. Today, the fortress is home to a museum of satirical art, which shouldn’t be missed. To explore the town or coastal area further, why not grab a couple of bicycles available to guests from the hotel reception?

As well as lazing on the beach and visiting the town’s most important historical sites, shopping is the order of the day in Forte dei Marmi, where lavish designer boutiques sit along the tree-lined streets. Think Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Miu Miu – well what would you expect from the town where Armani decided to buy a villa?

The hotel offers not one, but three gourmet restaurants, serving the very best in Italian cuisine, so you can dine however you choose. The Olivo d’Oro (Golden Olive) offers dishes for sophisticated palates in an opulent dining room full of lustrous gold tones and fancy candlesticks. The Beach Restaurant is for those lovers of seafood, serving only the freshest of ingredients with a stunning seaside view. Meanwhile, the Garden Restaurant serves up quick Italian-inspired bites, perfect for a light lunch in a soothing marquee-like structure, surrounded by gardens filled with fragrant pines.

For utter indulgence and relaxation nothing beats the Imperiale’s spa, which is said to be one of the best in the whole of Tuscany. Featuring a sauna, deluxe Turkish bath and fitness centre, the wellness and spa area also offer a range of specialised treatments and massages – the perfect respite from the stresses of everyday life. There’s also a stylish outdoor pool for use in the summer, lit with stylish purple lights in the evenings to give a more contemporary feel to this al fresco space.

So if you want to live the life of the Italian aristocracy or modern-day glamorous designers for a week, then Forte dei Marmi and the Grand Hotel Imperiale will provide you with just that.