High on a clifftop where 17th-century Dominican nuns once contemplated life's greater meanings, this reimagined monastery now offers rather more earthly pleasures. The views alone are worthy of divine praise – sweeping vistas of the glittering Gulf of Salerno that stretch from a tiny fishing village below all the way to the horizon. Inside, vaulted ceilings and ancient stone walls whisper tales of the past.
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The spiritual heart of this place beats strong in its architecture, but these days meditation comes in the form of spa treatments using Santa Maria Novella products in what was once the nun's stronghold. Multi-level gardens cascade down the cliff like a green waterfall, each terrace offering a different vantage point for soaking in those gulf views. When hunger strikes, choose between Michelin-starred dining at Il Refettorio, casual bites by the pool, or a cocktail in the library bar – where the only rule of silence is breaking it with satisfied sighs.
Each of the 20 rooms and suites occupies what was once a nun's cell, though we'd wager the current incarnations are somewhat more luxurious. Jerusalem stone bathrooms with heated floors and rain showers have replaced more austere washing facilities, while the rooms themselves blend monastic architecture with decidedly un-monastic comforts. Each is named after an herb the nuns would have grown in their gardens (a lovely touch), and all command views that stretch from the fishing harbor below to the endless blue beyond. Eight suites offer private terraces where you can breathe in the fragrant Mediterranean air – and perhaps offer a small prayer of thanks for such good fortune.
The infinity pool that seems to float between sky and sea – it's the kind of spot that makes you question whether you really need to visit any other part of the coast at all.
Book a table at the Michelin-starred Il Refettorio well in advance. Chef Alfonso Crescenzo's menu pays homage to both local ingredients and the property's monastic history – though we suspect the nuns never dined quite this well.
The location, while spectacularly perched, means you'll need transport to explore the coast's famous towns. But trust us, tearing yourself away from those views is the real challenge
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A heady blend of cerulean waters & old-world glamour on the world’s most theatrical coastline.
