Le Sirenuse, Positano
John Steinbeck said of the Sirenuse and Positano “It bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you’re there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone”. How right he was, the Sirenuse is one of our favourite hotels in Italy and one of the few luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast that deserves every one of its five stars. Privately owned by the charming Sersale family, it maintains the ambience of the noble 18th century summer residence that it once was. Everything about this hotel is spoiling.
Almost all the public rooms and bedrooms overlook the enchanting bay and majolica tiled dome of Positano’s church of Santa Maria Assunta. Rooms are decorated with local antiques and artifacts that the Sersale family have collected over the years, these include a fantastic collection of photographs taken by Franco Sersale that adorn the high tech gym which makes working out a pleasure rather than a chore. The space age Aveda spa is world famous with Conde Nast Traveller recently naming it “the coolest spa in Southern Italy.” Its stunning modern architecture, all white marble, glass and steel create the perfect feeling of tranquility and a vast contrast with the comfortable homely feel to the public rooms above.
The beautifully designed bedrooms are all a good size with the majority overlooking the breathtaking Amalfi Coastline (most have small balconies or terraces over spilling with flowers). The colourful Vietri tiled floors and white washed walls are typical of the region, and local antiques and pictures yet discreet designer touches add to the overall feeling of luxury. Personal touches include your own personal “I-pod” butler who will produce a tailor made playlist for your stay, and the delicious Eau d’Italie range, created by Antonio Sersale’s wife Carla, that stocks all the bathrooms.
The hotel boasts one of the regions finest restaurants “La Sponda”, one of the few hotel restaurants in the area to attract guests from outside. At night it is romantically lit with thousands of tea lights that flicker against the shadows of the bougainvillea that creeps over the walls and ceiling of the restaurant. Guests can also dine at the outstanding Oyster and Champagne bar which serves sashimi style catch of the day. The service both day and night is exceptional.