Villa Politi Hotel, Syracuse (Sicily)

The Villa Politi hotel is located on a clifftop overlooking the rugged Sicilian coast. Designed by the Austrian noblewoman Maria Teresa Audien in 1862, the hotel was built over quarries used by the ancient Greek settlers. Entrance to the hotel is through a wrought iron gate, giving access to a lush garden, and the facade features a grand staircase covered by bougainvilleas.