Italy
Belmond Hotel Caruso, Amalfi Coast
Seemingly floating on the Mediterranean, this 11th-century palace perches on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to create an undeniably romantic hideaway. Spectacular views, best appreciated from the clifftop infinity pool or a cosy arch, characterise your star here. Quietly boasting all the original charm and romance of its former years, the hotel seamlessly blends coastal wonder and luxurious comfort in every aspect to give you somewhere you’ll never want to leave.
Location
The Amalfi landscape has played something of a muse to history’s great luminaries and it’s really no surprise why. Teetering on the top of the cliff line, Belmond Hotel Caruso is just a short cobbled path away from the picturesque town of Ravello which, sitting 350m above the sea, is a place that we have come to love, a place that André Gide once evocatively described as being “nearer to the sky than it is to the sea”. Should you seek to wander further, the ancient city of Pompeii, colourful Positano and idyllic Capri are all in easy reach, a short hillside drive or boat trip away.
Your room
Belmond Hotel Caruso’s fifty rooms and suites are all individually decorated in an elegantly classic Neapolitan style, many with original ceiling murals and 18th and 19th-century antiques. Sweeping vistas over the sky, sea and mountains greet you as soon as you open your door complemented by the sweet fragrance of freshly cut flowers. We loved the exclusive suites; truly a sight to behold, with private gardens and a magnificent terrace with views to match; it’s a pretty magical backdrop for a laid-back breakfast.
Why we like it
The pool. The pool. The pool. With some serious…’stop-you-in-your-tracks’ views, it’s hard to make out where the water ends and the sky begins.