While the temperatures are cooling down closer to home, Europe’s spring is in full swing, and what better time to start planning for a long and wonderful summer.
With 13 towns spanning the iconic 50km stretch in Italy’s south, the Amalfi Coast makes for a magnificent getaway to enjoy the beach a stone’s throw from the Tuscan sun. Home to colourful fishing villages, pebble beaches, beautiful architecture and 11th-century villas, there really is something for everyone on La Costiera Amalfitana.
We’ve compiled some of the most luxurious hotels you should be calling home on your Italian adventure this summer.
Palazzo Avino
This beautiful 5-star hotel is just a few minutes from the iconic cliff gardens of Ravello. Here, not a ray of sunshine goes to waste; from the outdoor heated pool to blissful sundecks, terrace dining and an exclusive outdoor bar, you couldn’t resist being outdoors even if you tried. Its service is second-to-none, catering for check-ins 24 hours per day and staffed across the entire hotel at a ratio of two employees per room. Helicopter and limousine services at the ready, too, if you’re in the spending mood.
Belmond Hotel Caruso
Another beautiful Ravello villa is the Belmond Hotel Caruso, dating way back to the 11th century. The theme of green here reigns supreme throughout, which on some days will have you picking lemons straight from the trees while on others enjoying negronis in the garden. Hotel Caruso is also home to a beautiful restaurant with panoramic views, a heated infinity pool and even a piano bar. The rooms feature vaulted ceilings and offer a fine-aged charm hard to find. ln total there are 50 rooms and suites available.
Monastero Santa Rosa
At Monastero Santa Rosa, less is more at this mountainside hideaway. You’ll find four levels of gardens which lead up to a private residence that has just 20 rooms in total.
It’s a little more secluded than some of the regular villas along the coast, but given it’s more exclusive location, it makes for an ideal intimate getaway. Home to its own private wellness spa which focuses on rosemary and lemon treatments, inside you’ll find Nepolian interior design paired with Italian antiques. For those a little more intellectually inclined, you’ll be pleased to know there’s a library with a bar and they also offer classic board games to be played by the pool, if you’re keen to take it offline and back to basics.
Le Sirenuse
What happens when four Italian brothers turn their summer home into a resort? The result is an accommodation that is equal parts beautiful, family-like and charming. The story of this resort isn’t quite as old as most coastal villas but the mid-century hotel doesn’t fail to impress. Le Sirenuse provides guests with 58 rooms in the portside town of Positano. It has a lot to offer – from its own week-long fitness retreat ‘dolce vitality’ to a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Borgo San Michele
This small trio of quaint villas has a real homely feel to them. From the family-sized Epicuro with a private swimming pool and lemon garden to the more honeymoon-style Sogno fit with a romantic terrace and sunbeds, it’s one of the cosiest spots on the coast. Borgo San Michele’s location makes it a great starting point for coastal drives along the Amalfi Coast, too.
Hotel Belvedere
Splitting the distance between Positano and Amalfi is this quaint little luxury hotel set in a Mediterranean-style building. Conca dei Marini’s Hotel Belvedere boasts a bright and colourful interior complimented with Vietri-style majolica tiles, a staple of Persian design. The rooms are simple yet well-equipped with all your expected essentials plus a balcony with an ocean view. The sea pool and cocktail bar make for a lovely spot to watch the sunset, and better yet, for those wanting a little more privacy at its own secluded beach.
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