Special Places in Italy

Hotel Santa Caterina, 5*, Amalfi, Italy

The history of this special resort is as impressive as its surroundings. In 1880, Giuseppe Gambardella costructed the original structure. Crescenzo Gambardella, his son, redesigned the property in 1904, constructing the original six guestrooms. Two generations of Gambardellas have improved the hotel, bringing the resort to its present 70 guestrooms and suites. Today, Crescenzo's daughters, Giusi and Ninni Gambardella, assisted by their children, directly manage the day-to-day operations of the hotel and take personal interest in the comfort and enjoyment of the resort guests.

Located on the famous Amalfi drive, a few minutes from the famous town of Amalfi, the Santa Caterina enjoys a panoramic coastal setting of incomparable beauty. The hotel sits at the summit of an extensive property, which begins along the Amalfi drive and tumbles down to the water in a series of landscaped natural terraces. Two elevators and scenic path transport guests past citrus groves and lush gardens to the seaside level, which includes a sea-water swimming pool, sunbathing decks, gym, café/bar and open-air restaurant.

Forty standard and deluxe accommodations and 13 Junior Suites and Suites are located in the main building. There are 9 additional accommodations between the garden Suites and the Villa Santa Caterina annex. The spacious deluxe rooms feature original antiques, hand-painted ceramic tile floors, sea view bathrooms and offer five-star amenities including brass fixtures, heated towel bars and a lot of privacy amidst the natural splendours of the Amalfi coast.

Each of the 62 luminous rooms and suites has a balcony with view on the Amalfi coast. Many have a large terrace or garden. They are furnished with early 20th century family pieces and decorated with Vietri multi-coloured ceramics. The rooms emphasise the atmosphere of exquisite welcome: each is different from the other and is enriched by a touch of fantasy. The suites are stunning, in particular "Romeo and Juliet" (an intimate two-storey chalet perched on the cliff above the sea), "Follia Amalfitana" immersed in the citrus grove, "Casa dell'Arancio" (House of the Orange), "Vite" (Grapevine), "Glicine" (Wisteria), "Campanule" (Bellflowers) and "Limoni" (Lemons). All the rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, direct dial telephones, ISDN lines, voice mail, PC outlet, satellite colour TV, minibar, safety box and deluxe junior suites and suites have Jacuzzis. 24-hour room service.

This hotel is a recipient quite a few of prestigious awards

Two elevators cut into the rock lead directly to the private beach and sea-water swimming pool open from 8.00 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to October, weather permitting. The area is cordoned off and therefore it is advisable for children to be accompanied by an adult

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