Palazzo Belmonte Santa Maria di Castellabate

Castellabate, a small town to the South of Italy's legendary Amalfi Coast and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, provides the enviable location for the 17th century Palazzo Belmonte. Immersed in splendid gardens and just moments away from the National Park of Cilento, Palazzo Belmonte is a quite unique historic residence, situated within meters of the sea.

Palazzo Belmonte was 'originally built as the elegant hunting lodge of the Prince of Belmonte, whose descendents still live in a wing of the building. The Palazzo, surrounded by five acres of park and boasting stunning views of the sea, has recently been transformed so as to offer visitors to the area a unique coastal retreat, which still conserves the atmosphere of a private dwelling.

Peace and tranquillity reign supreme over an establishment which provides guest accommodation in sumptuous bedrooms, suites, and apartments, each of which bears the name of one of the sweetly scented flowers or herbs which grow in the gardens of the hotel. Rooms are located on the first and second floor of the main Palazzo, in the adjacent "Palazzina Edoardo", a delightful example of 18th century architecture, and in the dependence built in the same style and located in the park. Period furnishings combine with modern technology so as to offer the utmost in comfort. Rooms open out on to terraces overlooking the sea, the garden, the courtyard brimming with jasmine and bougainvillea, and the rooftops of the ancient village of Santa Maria di Castellabate.

An attractive swimming pool is located in a secluded corner of the hotel garden. From the Palazzo, pathways through the pine trees, hibiscus, and bougainvilleas lead directly to the sea and the hotel's sandy beach.

Guests dining at Palazzo Belmonte have the opportunity to savor the authentic taste of the Mediterranean, enjoying dishes prepared with the best of the region's produce. The delectable cuisine of the Cilento is served both on the poolside and on the "Terrazza Belvedere" which, with its breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri, provides the ideal setting for a romantic candle-lit dinner. For those wishing to experience a truly memorable evening, the hotel organises boat excursions to the nearby islet of Licosa, where to enjoy a pic-nic, listening to the melodies of a local guitarist. For the more adventurous, there is the opportunity to participate in a nocturnal fishing trip.

For small-scale conferences and business meetings, Palazzo Belmonte offers an attractive function room.