Although I haven't been for a long time - I thought the Villa d'Este was wretched. Rooms were ok. Nothing fabulous. But we had a room on the American plan - and they couldn't accommodate us for dining our first night. Inexcusable. Wouldn't have entered my mind to make dinner reservations at a so-called luxury property when meals were included in the price of our room.

The Cipriani in Asolo wasn't extremely luxurious. But it wasn't bad. I consider it more of an excellent small town restaurant with really nice rooms than a luxury hotel.

Thought the rooms at the Cipriani in Venice were ridiculously small. Ditto with those at the Villa San Michele (even more so) but the food and common areas were fabulous.

Can't remember much about the Hassler. And I don't even know who now owns the place we stayed at in Milan.

I really think it's impossible to pick a "favorite place" out of the context of what a particular traveler is trying to do/see in Italy. Doesn't much matter if the "best" hotel is in Rome if you're trying to see the fashion shows in Milan. Robyn