Le Sirenuse is a luxury hotel with a unique history. It’s still owned by the family of its founder from Naples. An ancestor of theirs was an archbishop there in the 18th century and almost became pope. Another relative became mayor of nearby Positano in 1944 with the family opening the hotel in 1951.
The hotel’s design matches this eclectic history. A family member spent 30 years perusing auction catalogues to find antique furniture or art for Le Sirenuse. Some items are local 17th and 18th century Italian. Others come from the North African Moors and some of the rugs come from central Asia.
Each night, the hotel staff spend an hour lighting the many candles as the Mediterranean light fades. The La Sponda Restaurant offers seasonal food and spellbinding views of the Amalfi homes nestled into the cliffs. There’s also a cocktail bar and seafood grill out on the terrace.
North, on the way to Naples, you can find Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by Vesuvius two thousand years ago. If you’re keen on photography, then there’s a reason you can find a million photos of the Amalfi coast. Or you could head inland to the Monti Picentini Regional Park.