News from Italy
A Corner of Heaven on Divine Shores
by Ayfer Selamoğlu
A rare flower blooming on the Amalfi coast: Hotel Santa Caterina, located on the magical shores of Amalfi, known as the “divine coasts gifted by God to Italy” with its thousands of shades of the sea, its quaint towns that animate the region and its pastel colors, promises its guests a paradise between the sea and the sky.
Are you exhausted? Is everything going bad? Do you want to start over in life? The cure for all is on the lemon-scented Amalfi coast, the land of fertile bougainvillaea that carries all the colours of heaven. Hotel Santa Caterina rises like the “rare white flower of heaven” in the region, frequented by notable figures such as Andre Gide, John Steinbeck, Italo Calvino, and Elizabeth Taylor. The hotel, designed in the style of an Art Nouveau beach villa, boasts a fascinating atmosphere both inside and out. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Amalfi coast and its flower and vegetable gardens, the winds of beauty, prosperity and hospitality are blowing.
Hotel Santa Caterina deserves all the adjectives with its location, decor and facilities. But most of all, it is the family-friendly staff that makes this place such a pleasant place to stay. It is likely because of this that it becomes the second address of its guests from the very first day.
Overlooking the sacred shores, this epic white palace sits on a summit that descends towards the sea over a series of panoramic terraces. The journey to the sea through the terraces, surrounded by bougainvillaea, lemon, and orange groves, is genuinely fascinating. Ever-growing since its establishment in 1904, the hotel serves its guests with 54 rooms and 16 suites. Some of the luxurious and elegant mansions in their gardens feature private pools overlooking the Mediterranean’s endless expanse. The luxurious and comfortable private beach of the hotel is easily accessible via two hotel elevators carved into the rocks. All kinds of comforts are also considered for guests who want to engage in sports while relaxing on the beach, sunbathe in the solarium, or unwind in a heated seawater swimming pool.
Guests who want to enjoy the sea and sun on the beach all day are also catered to: Italian pizzas, snacks, and the seaside restaurant that prepares grilled fish plates are all options for them. Hotel Santa Caterina also features two panoramic restaurants with stunning sea views, offering a unique blend of Amalfi cuisine and creativity. The Glicine restaurant, located in the main building, holds a Michelin star. This attractive degree also turns into a reference point for international gastronomy.
All rooms of the hotel, which feature vegetation, reflect the classical Mediterranean architecture and the character of Amalfi. The spacious rooms, with white-painted walls, sea views, and balconies, welcome their guests with all their charm. The hotel’s style, characterised by pastel colours that complement the region’s natural beauty, is reflected in every corner through painted ceramic majolica and marble.
The hotel transports its guests from today’s world to a paradise of peace, pleasure, and happiness. However, those who need today and communication are also considered. For them, the technological infrastructure of the rooms is constantly being renewed.
Say what? Does the pleasure of a bed, a balcony with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, overlooking the blue of the Mediterranean, and the bougainvillaea adorning it like a painting, leave you tired or sick? Would we start life anew with Amalfi’s timeless youth elixir? Come on, if things are going bad, take a vacation. Let it be called Amalfi…
