Postcard From: Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi

Hotel Santa Caterina, a five-star family-run hotel (run by the Gambardella family for more than five generations), is one of the oldest grand hotels you will find on the Amalfi coast. A long standing favorite of couples and families alike return year after year for the stunning views, attentive (but not in your face) service and unpretentious vibe.

Located just outside the town of Amalfi, the 107-year old hotel sits cliffside above the sea with breathtaking, sweeping views. The abundance of lemon trees and pink bougainvillea covering the grounds and the elevator (cut into the rocks) taking you directly to the private beach club and saltwater pool makes it difficult to leave the hotel to explore cornering towns of Amalfi, Ravello and Positano.

Where:   Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi

What:     A family-owned hotel for generations resting cliffside on the Amalfi coast

When:    August 2014

Why:      A much needed romantic summer getaway. A 2010 Departures magazine article that we had saved about the little town of Altrani on the Amalfi coast is all it took for us to choose this hotel.

Hotel Santa Caterina, a five-star family-run hotel (run by the Gambardella family for more than five generations), is one of the oldest grand hotels you will find on the Amalfi coast. A long standing favorite of couples and families alike return year after year for the stunning views, attentive (but not in your face) service and unpretentious vibe.

Located just outside the town of Amalfi, the 107-year old hotel sits cliffside above the sea with breathtaking, sweeping views. The abundance of lemon trees and pink bougainvillea covering the grounds and the elevator (cut into the rocks) taking you directly to the private beach club and saltwater pool makes it difficult to leave the hotel to explore cornering towns of Amalfi, Ravello and Positano.

Hotel Santa Caterina: WHAT WE LOVED

• The location – right on the cliff with breathtaking views of the sea. The town of Amalfi is within walking distance and the central location gave us opportunity to tour other towns.
• The scent of the lemon trees and bougainvillea everywhere. I wish I could bottle that smell…mmmm.
• The hotel’s old fashioned charm and authenticity. Our room had beautiful hand-painted tile floors.
• The service. Very friendly and hospitable but not intrusive.
• The  fresh flowers and wine in our room when we arrived.
• Eating brick oven pizza and drinking limoncellos al fresco by the pool at the hotel’s Ristorante Al Mare.

ROOMS TO GET

The suites with balconies with FULL sea views are the best – ask for a room above the 1st floor and away from the road and elevator as it can get noisy.

DON’T MISS IN AMALFI 

• The old school trattoria A’Paranzi right in the town of Altrani which serves right off the boat seafood – whatever is freshly caught that day!
• Eolo restaurant in the town of Amalfi also serves wonderful fresh fish on a terrace overlooking the beach.
• A stop at Camo, a jewelry store in the main square by the Duomo in Ravello. The store is crowded with beautiful handmade coral jewelry (including cufflinks) and cameos that make great gifts. Ask the owner Giorgio to view his private collection.
• Purchasing bottles of limoncello at Profumi Della Costiera in Ravello. They make their own limoncellos from locally grown lemons which you can purchase in hand-painted ceramic or glass bottles that are great souvenirs even after you drank the bottle!

Profumi Della Costiera

Camo

AMALFI TIPS

Take the hotel’s complimentary 3-minute shuttle into town where you can pick up a boat to Capri or Positano – it’s only a 45 minutes ride and a must!