Rooms

The building was never intended as a hotel: it started out in the 12th-14th centuries as a patrician villa for the aristocratic Pitti of Florence and the royal d'Angio family of Naples, then was incorporated into the adjacent monastery of Santa Chiara, before becoming the residence of Lord Grimthorpe and the summer haunt of the Bloombury Set and other 20th-century artists. Only in the last decades have mere mortals been allowed the chance to stay in its huge and atmospheric rooms.

As you'd expect, no 2 rooms are the same: some have frescoed ceiling vaults, others a monumental carved-tuff fireplace or an arched opening to an elegant sitting room. Floors gleam with patterned majolica tiles from nearby Vietri, their colours picked out in the bed fabrics and curtains. You might find a sculpted walnut wardrobe, a tall gilded mirror or a massive desk with heraldic side-panels, all gently evoking its noble and historic heritage. But it's not overdone. Walls are white or pale-pastel with a sprinkling of botanic prints; the furniture (mostly antique pieces bought by Grimthorpe) sits fittingly and modestly in the huge space; and the overall impression is one of airy comfort which needs no gimmickery to underline its privilege.

There are some concessions to modernity: smart TVs, WiFi, heating / air-conditioning, and, in most bathrooms, whirlpool bathtubs or hydro-massage showers.

You pay extra for sea views, of course, but don't under-estimate the garden views from the Superior rooms. Deluxe rooms are larger, Studio Suites are larger still. The 2 suites are real honeymoon stuff: Lord Beckett has high painted ceilings, pink walls, a terrace and a sunken bathtub in the bathroom; Greta Garbo has a pretty private terrace, too.

Features include:

• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box

Eating

One of the luxuries of this place is the sense of space, which extends to the restaurant: you can dine at wicker tables by the pool, on a stunning terrace overlooking the gardens and vineyards, indoors in a vaulted hall, or even have meals brought to your room on a tray.

When we visited the gourmet Il Flauto di Pan restaurant we found the service to be impeccable, and the cuisine both delicate and unpretentious. But be aware that there are occasions when large wedding or party groups can take over somewhat.

It's no surprise to hear that it was awarded its first Michelin star in 2012. The young chef uses vegetables and herbs from the hotel's organic garden, combined with local recipes (and lots of homemade pasta), to prepare dishes which are light, tasty and beautifully presented. We enjoyed bersagliera (large macaroni) with aubergine, tomato and freshly plucked basil, then tender smoked salmon with capers and scallions, accompanied by an easy white 'Tramonti' recommended by the maitre.

Light lunches are also available - soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches - but, lest you imagine white-bread triangles with tasteless cress, we're talking homemade ciabatta with parma ham and buffalo mozzarella. And the breakfast spread is excellent, particularly the fruit platter.

There's also a café directly below the main belvedere, whose tiny tiled balcony is the most romantic spot for a gelato; and a tea room on the shady lawns behind. Both of these are liable to get busy in the middle of the day.

If you fancy eating out, we recommend Rossellini's in the Palazzo Sasso (expensive), cheffed by Pino Lavarra who worked with Raymond Blanc in the Manoir aux Quat'Saisons; Mamma Agata (moderate), which has just 6 tables and specialises in vegetable antipasti and lemon cake; Cumpà Cosimo (moderate) which is good but perhaps over-recommended (the rotund proprietress is full of 'mamma mias' and has a habit of telling you, rather than asking you, what to eat); and, for an informal pizza among the locals, Da Vittoria near the duomo.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Explore the gorgeous town of Ravello, with its impressive duomo, its airy and sociable Piazza del Vescovado, its tasteful shops (limoncello, ceramics and colourful clothing are the highlights), its coral museum and its historic Villa Rufolo, where Wagner composed parts of Parsifal, and which now hosts classical concerts in its gardens
  
  
• Take a small ferry from Amalfi or Minori along the coast to Positano or the isle of Capri for some glitzy shopping and dining, plus colourful sea-caves and cliffside villages
  
  
• Or hire a private boat to sea coves (the deep inlet of Furore is spectacular), caves (La Grotta dello Smeraldo is appropriately turquoise, but extremely popular) and to rocky islets such as Li Galli (where Nureyev had a villa)
  
  
• Or hire a canoe or pedalo from Atrani for more secluded coastal exploration
  
  
• Allow a day for Amalfi, with its impressive duomo (in whose crypt lie the remains of St Andrew), its small museum in the town hall (where you can see the first ever maritime law, the 16th-century Tabula Amalfitana), its paper factories, its Cappucin monastery (now a hotel), not to mention excellent pastry shops (try the creamy sfogliatelle of Andrea Pansa) and restaurants (Da Gemma is an old-fashioned trattoria, La Caravella a Michelin-starred and Michelin-priced indulgence)
  
  
• Hikers should not miss the lovely Valle delle Ferriere, a 5-hour walk heading deep inland from Minuta or Campidoglio, to re-emerge at Pogerola above Amalfi
  
  
• We need hardly tell you to enjoy the hotel's gorgeous gardens, preferably early in the morning before they open to non-residents

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Boat trips
  • Hiking
  • Sailing
  • Shopping / markets
  • Snorkelling
  • Swimming
  • Traditional cultures

Kids

Children are welcome; there is a charge for cots and extra beds.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Villa Cimbrone is near Ravello, on the Amalfi coast, about 70km south of Naples. It's a 10-minute walk from the nearest carpark, but porters will trolley your bags.

By Air
Fly to Naples Capodichino (90km), then take a taxi via Salerno or via Bomerano to Ravello (both routes are about 2 hours, the last part extremely tortuous). The hotel can organise a taxi with English-speaking driver.

By Car
We don't recommend hiring a car, as the roads are treacherous and clogged in summer, and the boat service along the coast is pretty efficient. If you do want to hire a car see our car rental recommendations.

By Helicopter
It's also possible to arrange a helicopter transfer from Naples - the hotel is the only one on the peninsula with a helipad. Enquire when booking.

Detailed directions will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Italy and getting around