Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento

Location

This elegant, iconic Amalfi Coast landmark was founded in 1834 and has been run by the Fiorentino family for five generations. Set atop a high cliff where the Roman Emperor Augustus once had a private villa, with amazing views over the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, this Sorrento landmark comprises three elegant 19th-century buildings in 20,000 square metres of stunning Mediterranean gardens. The Excelsior Vittoria has welcomed royals, politicians, artists and celebrities from Enrico Caruso and Sophia Loren to Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, and offers exceptional service in an opulent setting. The main entrance on Piazza Tasso opens onto stylish shops, bars and cafes, and there’s a private lift down to the harbour.

Accommodation

The immaculately furnished rooms and suites range from garden view doubles with a marble bathroom and verandah to spacious superior and deluxe sea view rooms and suites of cultivated charm, many with frescoed walls and ceilings and large balconies or terraces.

Dining

The spectacularly sited Terrazza Bosquet Seafront Restaurant is headed by Michelin-starred chef Luigi Tramontano, and offers gourmet regional cuisine made with locally-sourced ingredients including herbs, vegetables and citrus fruits from the hotel’s own gardens. A selection of Neapolitan specialities is also available throughout the day at L’Orangerie poolside bar and restaurant. Breakfasts are served under a stunning frescoed ceiling, beside large windows overlooking the bay.

Facilities

The Boutique Spa La Serra has a selection of treatment suites in the renovated 19th-century greenhouse, and combines holistic Feng Shui with a wide range of wellness and beauty treatments with a Mediterranean accent. The white marble pool is set in the hotel gardens, which also offer shaded and scented walks among the groves, flowering plants, herbs and statuary. There’s an indoor gym, a full concierge service, and summer motorboat rental for guided excursions along the coast including some wonderful diving and snorkelling.