A classification of accommodation facilities in Italy: Italian – English – French glossary
Article 8 of Italian Legislative Decree no. 79/2011 (The Tourism Code) was an attempt to establish a national classification of tourist accommodation facilities with precise, accurate denomination of the various types of business operating in the hospitality sector. Following ruling no. 80 by the Court of Appeal on 5 April 2012 repealing the article, the regional authorities became responsible for regulatory issues in this matter, but they looked almost exclusively to the legislative decree for their inspiration.
Given the complexity of the hospitality sector and the confusion that arises from the different terms used, we thought it would be helpful to put together a trilingual Italian – English – French glossary of the terminology used for the various types of accommodation.
Accommodation facilities can be grouped broadly into three categories:
- hotels
- non-hotel accommodation
- open air facilities
See below for the glossary and Italian – English – French translation of tourist accommodation terminology.
| ITALIAN | ENGLISH | FRENCH |
| Strutture ricettive alberghiere | Hotel facilities / Hotel accommodation | Structures hôtelières |
| Hotel / Albergo | Hotel | Hôtel / Auberge |
| Motel | Motel | Motel |
| Villaggio-albergo | Holiday complex / Village resort | Village hôtel |
| Residenza turistica alberghiera | Tourist hotel residence | Résidence touristique hôtelière |
| Albergo diffuso | Albergo diffuso / Scattered hotel | Albergo diffuso |
| Residenza d’epoca alberghiera | Historic tourist residence / Period tourist residence | Hôtel de charme/Relais châteaux |
| Bed and breakfast | Bed and breakfast | Chambre d’hôtes / Bed and breakfast |
| Residenza della salute / Beauty farm / Albergo termale | Beauty farm / Wellness hotel / Spa hotel | Spa / Hôtel spa / Hôtel thermal |
| Strutture ricettive extralberghiere | Non-hotel accommodation | Structures d’hébergement non-hôtelières |
| Affittacamere | Guest house | Maison d’hôtes / Gîte |
| Locanda | Inn | Auberge |
| Casa vacanze / Casa per ferie | Holiday rental / Vacation house | Maison de vacances |
| Residence | Tourist residence | Résidence de tourisme |
| Ostello per la gioventù | Youth hostel | Auberge de jeunesse |
| Agriturismo | Agritourism / Holiday farm / Farmhouse | Agritourisme / Ferme |
| Residenza rurale | Country retreat / Rural retreat | Gîte rural / Maison de campagne |
| Foresteria turistica | Lodge / Guest house | Hôtellerie / Maison d’hôtes |
| Rifugio alpino | Mountain lodge / Alpine hut | Refuge de montagne |
| Rifugio escursionistico | Hiking lodge | Refuge / Gîte d’étape |
| Strutture ricettive all’aperto | Open-air/Outdoor tourist accommodation | Hébergements de plein air |
| Villaggio turistico / Parco vacanze | Tourist village / Holiday camp / Holiday park | Village de vacances |
| Campeggio | Campsite | Camping / Terrain de camping |
