Villa Piedimonte

Easily the most impressive thing about this converted 12th-century villa is the stunning panoramic views over the Amalfi Coast afforded from nearly every room and public terrace. The Villa Piedimonte’s terra-cotta pool terrace is a pleasant place to soak in these views, which span from the richly green mountains and the red-clay rooftops of Ravello, to the deep-blue Mediterranean Sea. Guests can also take their breakfast out here, instead of in the simple but attractive breakfast room with a black-and-white-checkered marble floor and tasteful olive-painted wooden chairs. The pathway -- built into the cliffside -- that leads up to the hotel’s small lobby is scented with lemon trees, and banks of grassy terraces surround the villa. Interiors are fresh and elegant, but limited, as there are no full restaurant or spa facilities. The Villa Piedimonte attracts guests looking for a sophisticated getaway in a stunning corner of Italy, with easy access to the nearest town.

The Villa Piedimonte sits at the top of a winding cliffside road like an aerie, and though it’s easy to forget that the outside world exists from this vantage point, the hotel enjoys relatively easy access into the center of Ravello. It's a 10-minute walk downhill (the walk back up may be difficult for some), or alternatively, the hotel runs a free shuttle bus service in a cute vintage minivan. Meanwhile, the Auditorium Oscar Neimeyer, a great concrete swoosh housing a world-class concert hall, is only a five-minute walk away. Farther afield, Amalfi is 20 minutes away by car, or 35 by public transport; Positano is an hour’s drive; and Sorrento, where there is a port with boats over to Capri, is 90 minutes away. Expect transfers to Naples International Airport to take 90 minutes by car, or nearly four hours by public transport.

The 22 rooms at the Villa Piedimonte are elegant and contemporary, and most have stunning views over the Amalfi Coast. They're all outfitted with beige tile floors, light-, white-, distressed-wood furniture, and linens in a soft palette. Some have walls painted a muted shade of coral, while others are lime-green or aqua. Classic Rooms have headboards with the hotel’s logo cut out and illuminated by LED lights. Bathrooms are lovely, featuring a walk-in shower with a rainfall showerhead, bidet, hairdryer, and toiletries. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, safe, AC, minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and fast, free Wi-Fi.Higher-category rooms have distressed-wood headboards, and a few add large black-and-white works of art. Classic Rooms each have a desk and chair, and a flat-screen TV that emerges from a high-tech enclosure at the foot of the bed. Classic Deluxe Rooms are larger, making space for a couch and a terrace with ocean views. Junior Suites are larger still, with space for a couch and two armchairs, and a tub with hydrotherapy jets in one corner of the room. Comfort Suites have a separate living room and Deluxe suites have sleek bathrooms with hydromassage tubs. Suites all have large, furnished terraces with sea views. 

The focal point of the Villa Piedimonte is its pool terrace, which provides jaw-dropping panoramic views over the Amalfi Coast. The terrace has a small pool, flanked on one side by a stone wall and a row of loungers under umbrellas on the other. It's a pleasant spot to soak in the sun and those views, but guests have complained that the pool closes too early in the evening. There's no full restaurant on-site, but the hotel offers a free buffet breakfast, and guests appreciate both the quality and variety of the food, consisting of bread, cakes, pastries, cheese, fruit, and charcuterie, as well as cooked options. A pool bar also serves drinks and snacks throughout the day. A free shuttle bus (using a vintage minivan) to and from Ravello runs throughout the day. Ample free parking is available at the hotel -- a rarity in this part of Italy -- and the hotel has fast, free Wi-Fi throughout.