Nestled beneath the violet flowers on a palisade in southwest Amalfi sits a cream-colored historic Hotel Santa Caterina. The boutique hotel took root in the 19th century, built from the ground up by the Gambardella family as their personal abode. Over the course of the next century, the family expanded their seaside oasis into a sixty-six-room luxury accommodation known as one of the Leading Hotels of the World. And in typical Italian fashion, it remains a family affair–run by the 3rd and 4th generations and led by sisters Giuseppina Gambardella-Gargano and Carmela Gambardella-Camera.

With sixty-four elegant rooms and two luxury suites comprising the central structure, as well as one five-bedroom Villa della Marchesa complex, the hotel offers an authentic experience of the storied seaside town’s innate beauty. Each accommodation was meticulously designed, decorated with Vietri-tiled floors and jutting terraces fit for enjoying a morning cappuccino with a view. An afternoon at the Beach Club promises a heated seawater pool and cocktails delivered to your sun bed. Unwind at the Spa with an Amalfi lemon massage for the Chakras, or make your way to the sauna, Turkish bath, or Hydrotherapy Shower, for your body and mind.

The delightful aroma at Hotel Santa Caterina is likely coming from one of the hotel’s four renowned restaurants. Glicine boasts a local traditional Mediterranean menu led by Chef Giuseppe Stanzione, awarded a Michelin Star. Perched on a terrace overlooking the sea sits Al Mare, a dining experience offering wood-fired pizzas and traditional grilled fish. For a more relaxed bite, guests can head to La Terazza for light salads or gourmet sandwiches. Recently opened raw bar Senzafine promises an unforgettable, exclusive rooftop dining experience. 

From delicious eats to glorious marble bathrooms, Hotel Santa Caterina is an Italian paradiso that will leave guests dreaming of Vesuvius views and endless groves of lemon trees. Tended as the family’s home, the Gambardella standard for hospitality is golden. The hotel welcomes small and large private parties for a range of memorable gatherings. To stay at Hotel Santa Caterina is to experience true timeless elegance, family style.