This 18th century monastery (once home to Visitandine nuns, no less) offers intimate rooms and suites, outdoor pool with a gorgeous view over the historical center of Maratea, great food, a fantastic multicoloured garden, the sea and the mountains nearby. The Hotel offers a free shuttle service to the beach with complimentary sunbeds and beach umbrellas.

It all adds up to the La Locanda Delle Donne Monache experience, one which brings together a melting pot of modern design with old world senses of space, light and atmosphere. By that we mean it may be centuries old, but extensive renovations have brought the Delle Donne Manache up the the 21st century in terms of refinement. Thankfully many of the monastery’s original characteristics have remained, so the rock and stone walls and flooring, for example, are still there but to this can now be added modern decoration and furnishings which include Murano artwork from Venice.

Call it what you will – post modern, new world chic, boutique - but it certainly works, whether we’re talking about the public areas or rooms, which are simple but stylish and again have that mix of the new and the old such as the wrought iron beds and wall painted in modern bright colours. There’s also a great bar, the L’Alambicco, which provides simpler dishes and snacks. The Hotel has got a fitness room and a massage room. Among the facilities there are a private, outdoor and free parking, free wi-fi, daily newspapers, library, DVD and table games.

For Italy, at least, this whole area has a less touristy feel about it, so on top of all the plus points mentioned, we can also add authenticity to the list.