Hôtel la Signoria

This refined, intimate country inn sits on a hilltop and has a garden patio restaurant, heated pool and five private villas and suites, plus a signature mini-spa.

• The anti-aging immortelle (everlasting flower) facial
• The original mix of hand-picked country antiques
• The convenient "Chambre de Voyage" pavilion in the park for guests who arrive early or have a late flight

Set back in a grove of cypresses and citrus trees, this lovely 17th-century auberge, owned by the Ceccaldi family, is a small gem of originality and style. The spacious 24 rooms are furnished with terra-cotta tiles, local antiques and patina-washed walls, and all have marble bathrooms and a sitting room. Since 2012, there are now five hillside "cassettas," small 2-3 bedroom villas with private gardens and pools.

The patio restaurant offers flavorful Mediterranean-style cuisine, dished up by a passionate chef and made with ingredients plucked from the hotel garden. The owner, who successfully developed her own organic beauty line using with "made in Corsica" natural essences, has added a lovely 4-treatment-room Casanera Spa to the hotel to showcase her top-quality products.

Couples and families who want easy access to Calvi and the beaches but appreciate the romantic tranquil atmosphere of a refined country auberge that is only 10-minutes away from the airport.