Albergo Degli Amici

Centrally located in old town Monterosso, Albergo Degli Amici has an exterior that blends into the Italian village architecture with its canary-yellow walls and green shutters that echo the colors of lemon trees. A stone arch and iron bannister frame the entryway. Inside, the lobby has patterned marble floors, white walls and overstuffed cloth-covered couches to keep guests comfortable while waiting to check in or head out to the beach. The garden terrace is the highlight, with an impressive water view as well as sections for sunbathing, dining, and playing ping pong and foosball. 

The location of the Albergo Degli Amici is, for many guests, its greatest asset. Monterosso al Mare's beach area is one of the largest in Cinque Terre and the hotel is only a five-minute walk to it. For a village with traffic rules designed to limit the amount of cars in the old section, Albergo Degli Amici's location, only 11 minutes from the Monterosso rail station, is a big plus. For those traveling by air, the car ride from Genoa or Pisa airport will take about an hour and a half. Built in the Capuchin style, the convent of Monterosso al Mare, a five-minute walk away, is a notable attraction in town that houses artwork by Van Dyck and Luca Cambiaso. Within a four-minute walk of the hotel is the parish church of St. John the Baptist, which opened in the early 14th century and has a basilica-style layout and medieval bell tower. Numerous restaurants, bars and shops are also within walking distance. 

Albergo Degli Amici's rooms are simple and comfortable with a few notable perks. They come in three standard sizes: Double Standard, Single Standard with Balcony, and Double Comfort. Some of the rooms have cloth headboards and others wood, but the balcony is what's worth a higher room rate. The desk and nightstands, while serviceable, can't compete with a view of a seaside Italian village. The flat-screen cable TVs and free Wi-Fi are also nice perks, although some guests report the WI-FI can be unreliable. Albergo Degli Amici's marble-finished bathrooms tend to be a bit small, even by European standards, and include narrow shower stalls, toiletries, and bidets. 

A big reason to visit the Cinque Terre is to take in the seaside view, and the garden terrace at Albergo Degli Amici offers a wonderful respite with a full panorama. Guests can sunbathe next to lemon and olive trees and overlook the residences built into the rocky hillside, the bell tower of St. John the Baptist, and the gulf that leads to the sea. The hotel food is good traditional Italian fare. Each morning a reasonably-priced breakfast is offered with a menu of croissants, cereals, cheese, and cold meats.