Elite Traveler Summer 2020

105 elite traveler SUMMER 2020

SEASIDE SANCTUARIES

Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria History abounds at this grande dame, which sits on the edge of a cliff in Sorrento, surrounded by a five-acre park and views of the Gulf of Naples. Opened in 1834 as the first modernized hotel in the region, and currently run by the fifth generation of the founding family, the place is rich with stories, from the Roman ruins discovered on site to the roster of royalty who have been guests. The decor is particularly sumptuous: Neapolitan paintings, Louis XVI decor elements, Biedermeier and Arts and Craft-style furniture, dramatic frescoes and the same Ernesto Basile chairs as at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris adorn the public spaces and 83 rooms and suites. Of appeal to the contemporary traveler are touches like pizza-making classes around the pool, a spa surrounded by gardens and a champagne bar, La Pergola, plus a private elevator that takes guests directly down to the Sorrento docks where the hotel’s boat awaits for day trips along the coast. One-of-a-kind Suites from $3,010 per night. Contact Tiziana Laterza, hotel manager, tiziana.laterza@exvitt.it, +39 081 877 7111, exvitt.it

Hotel Santa Caterina Head out on the iconic Amalfi Drive, just minutes from the town of Amalfi, to find this lush haven, domain of the Gambardella family since 1880. From its perch on the drive, the 66-room hotel winds its way down to sea level where a heated seawater swimming pool, private beach club and open-air restaurant await; elevators carved in the rock face and paths through the hotel’s olive and citrus groves lead to the terraced levels. All accommodations have private outdoor space, oversized tubs and a breezy white decor offset by colorful Vietri ceramic tiles; suites — including the two Special Suites — are elevated by private pools and extra-sweeping sea views. As of 2019, the Michelin- starred Glicine restaurant and all hotel dining are under the direction of chef Giuseppe Stanzione, who has worked in other Michelin-starred restaurants. Romeo and Giulietta Chalet from $2,000 per night. Contact Andrew Camera, hotel manager, info@hotelsantacaterina.it, +39 089 871012, hotelsantacaterina.it

Palazzo Avino In the 1990s, Giuseppe Avino bought and restored a 12th-century villa in the hilltop town of Ravello and turned it into the luxurious Palazzo Sasso (renamed Palazzo Avino in 2011). Today, two of Avino’s three daughters manage the operations of the chic 43-room hideaway, renovating and upgrading the property and its private beach club, Clubhouse by the Sea, as well as adding a chef’s table to its Michelin-starred restaurant and opening the courtyard Lobster & Martini Bar, which serves over 100 types of martinis. New in 2020 are seven Capsule Collection suites with materials that would have been employed during the 12th-century; the Belvedere Suite is a garden-set haven with a private whirlpool, dining area and a massive seaview terrace. Belvedere Suite from $3,030 per night. Contact Mariella Avino, managing director, mariella.avino@ palazzoavino.com, +39 089 818181, palazzoavino.com

Le Sirenuse Positano The illustrious Sersale family has included an ambassador, an archbishop, a mayor of Positano and, since 1951, four sibling hoteliers, who turned the family’s summer palazzo into the legendary Le Sirenuse. Set in the glamorous town of Positano, the 58-room hotel still feels like a private home, albeit one with multiple chic alfresco bars, a spa hosting wellness retreats, its own fashion line and a gourmet restaurant that’s lit up with 400 candles each night. In season, the hotel’s boats — one a vintage wooden Riva Aquamarine Special — are available for scenic cruises. Rooms and suites are accented with colorful majolica tiles and handpicked antiques; the top suites are located in the original house with sea views. Two-bedroom Suite from $4,000 per night. Contact Marilena Schiavo, reservation manager, info@sirenuse.it, +39 089 875066, sirenuse.it