eyes in the blue
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Clinging to the cliff, a suite with private swimming pool.
Borgo Santandrea / press photo
A new five-star hotel on an Italian coast full of them?
The idea is bold.
But Borgo Santandrea has everything to distinguish itself.
Acquired in 2017, the former Saraceno, between Amalfi and Positano, has just been entirely transformed, brought back to its roots: beneath a heavy decoration was a structure from the 1960s with very pure lines.
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All that remained was to give a soul to this white liner clinging to the cliff: the result is dazzling.
As soon as you arrive, almost 100 meters above the water, you are caught up in the scene.
Led by the architect Rino Gambardella, the restoration mixes classic Mediterranean style and fifties decoration, all in a palette of colors oscillating between blue and white.
A refreshing summer duo that takes over common areas such as the 29 rooms and 16 suites, each offering breathtaking views of the sea and the fishing village of Conca dei Marini.
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Dolce vita design
To give it the look of a family home by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the new owners have called on the best to create a unique and "made in Italy" hotel: whitewashed walls, white marble paving selected in the Puglia and Tuscany, hand-blown Venetian glass lamps, Dedar and Rubelli textiles and rare designer furniture such as the Reale table by Carlo Mollino in the lobby, the Hans J. Wegner armchairs or the teak table in the signed wine cellar Englander & Bonta.
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Tribute to Italian design of the 1950s. Borgo Santandrea / press photo
In the spotlight: Gio Ponti, inventor of Italian design and architect of an iconic address in the region, the Parco dei Principi hotel in Sorrento.
Inspired by his work, they have called on local ceramists who sign 31 unique patterns of earthenware tiles: chevrons, diamonds, braids, undulating ribbons or geometric labyrinths… made in the neighboring town of Salerno.
Added to this is iconic furniture: chairs and armchairs reissued by Molteni & C and vintage pieces from the owners' personal collection.
Everything to give the impression that the place has always been like this.
It succeeded.
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Textiles or earthenware tiles, the decoration plays the Big Blue.
Borgo Santandrea / press photo
An exceptional setting
The building, as imposing as it is, is embedded in the rock as in the luxuriant vegetation.
In the terraced gardens, olive trees, lemon trees, beds of wild flowers, blue myrtle and winter jasmine flourish.
To bathe in the sea, which you can see at every step behind high windows or glass doors down to the ground, head for the elevator.
After seven floors in the rock, we discover what also makes the place unique: a natural private beach of small white and gray pebbles, a pontoon and a beach club housed in an old building where you can languish in the shade in a white sofa or a vintage rattan armchair.
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The old boathouse transformed into a summer bar.
Borgo Santandrea / press photo
At lunchtime, Il Borgo on a terrace just above, offers a menu of Italian essentials.
The other two restaurants, Alici and La Libreria, are developing a more selective gastronomy around Mediterranean culinary traditions thanks to starred chef Crescenzo Scotti.
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The terrace of the Beach Club restaurant.
Borgo Santandrea / press photo
The remote, exceptionally quiet location also allows those who wish to discover the more touristy towns of the region such as Positano, Ravello or Amalfi thanks to a shuttle service.
In short, la
dolce vita
.
From €528 per double room in low season.
Borgo Santandrea Via Giovanni Augustariccio 33, Amalfi, 84011 SA.