Ah, The Amalfi Coast: that delicious and seductive stretch of Italian coastline that has lured travellers from far and (world) wide for centuries. It is also home to one of the most famous hotels on the edge of this rugged patch of Italy; Hotel Santa Caterina.

Hotel Santa Caterina feels like an almost impossible structure, as you find it precariously positioned on the side of a steep cliff.  A magical glass lift takes you from the private beach platform, via six levels of steep limestone, to the grand entrance. If these rocks could talk; each storey would tell a story. Because this opulent cliffside hotel boasts over a century’s worth of glitz, glamour, sophistication and satisfied guests, including the Jolie-Pitts.

As they say in Italy, (in my best Godfather voice), it’s all about ‘The Family’. Hotel Santa Caterina is no exception. The hotel was built in the 1880s by the Gambardella’s, and for over a century this fourth-generation family business has stood the test of time. Contrary to the obvious, it’s longevity is not simply down to its location. I believe it lends its success to the hotel’s quintessential, classic, Italian ambiance and more importantly to the attentive, yet seamlessly laid-back staff, who are clearly equipped with the skills to make guests feel at home while experiencing old-school hospitality at its finest.

A hotel of its stature and reputation cannot afford to make one slip up, and so everyone from the concierge to the waiters pirouette around you with precise subtlety, making sure your every wish is noted and granted.  It is certainly not a happy coincidence that Santa Caterina is the most talked-about hotel on the coast. They work hard to make it seem this perfect.

And speaking of perfect, the sunsets here are to be celebrated while sampling the offerings at the alfresco restaurants. Al Mare restaurant has a bustling, lively, open kitchen that serves up local dishes that would make the fussiest of mouths water. Upstairs, a second restaurant called Glicine, renowned on the international gastronomic scene was awarded a Michelin star in 2020. Like its sister restaurant downstairs, it also offers all of the romance of a Hollywood movie, both in ambiance and setting as it perches perfectly above Amalfi’s incredible coastline. Waiters in white uniforms are über attentive, though not much attention is needed here; you could sit for hours just staring out to sea and watching the lights twinkling in the nearby bay. However, ‘When in Amalfi’, and all that jazz…  so why not try chef Giuseppe Stanzione’s taster menu and experience a Mediterranean mouth explosion thanks to a cacophony of deliciously paired, fresh, local ingredients.

Meanwhile, back in your room, you can expect more Italian flavours in the form of cool, classic Italian interiors, bright white and yellow furnishings and exquisitely hand-painted floor tiles. But whether you are in one of the 66 deluxe bedrooms, junior suites or secluded garden suites – you will find that being indoors feels practically sinful, since there is so much more for the eye to see from the balcony. Not to mention there is a spa, boutique shop, wine cellar, and gym. Plus there are activities such as wine tasting (in the hotel’s well-stocked wine cellar), painting and cookery lessons available to those who feel the urge to get off their sun loungers.

The magic doesn’t end within the walls of the hotel. If lounging at the private beach club, dipping a toe (or jumping straight into the Med) or being fed frozen grapes and homemade lemonade are not your bag, then follow the aroma to Amalfi’s lemon groves a short distance away, and after that follow the sounds to its majestic cathedral. It is easy to explore Amalfi by foot once you reach the town, but going further afield is just as simple; only a short boat ride away lies many of the coast’s other famous locations, including Positano, Ravello, Sorrento and Capri.

Even though it is one of the most famed hotels on the coast, Hotel Santa Caterina still feels like a hidden gem, which is why it draws guests back time and time again. This glorious art deco villa with its impeccable service has the ability to lure you in, but be careful – you might never want to leave!

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