Originally Posted by dr58

I second everyone here who recommended Aman Venice. Assuming it fits your budget, I would recommend it without hesitation.

My feelings about the FS Florence are a little more mixed. Yes, it's a great hotel by any measure -- lovely rooms, wonderful dining, terrific service all around -- but a little too far removed for my tastes. I love to walk around and get lost in big cities, but late-night walks from the historic center of Florence to the hotel seemed to go on forever, particularly when you factor in the inevitable getting lost time. We were there for a while, so we got used to it, but for shorter visits, I'd recommend something more centrally located like Lugarno or Portrait.

Finding a good hotel in Rome is much less a challenge. There are many great hotels in different areas, so I'd do as others suggest and pick the attractions you want to see and find something nearby. We most recently stayed at the St. Regis and were very happy with it. It's on the larger side and not as close to the key tourist sites as other hotels, but the walking distances weren't too bad and the hotel itself was fantastic.