...Just back from
Palazzo Avino
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Bailey Robinson writer Harriet Whiting visited serene hotel Palazzo Avino in hilltop Ravello for mist-shrouded views and Italian glamour.
ROMANTIC RAVELLO
Even the hardest of hearts would struggle not to soften in this location of such utter romance. Solemn church bells echo around stone-clad piazzas, where the passing of time is marked by the light that moves over the forested hills, and sigh-inducing views stretch to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Throw in the good-life pleasures of Italian way-of-life, thousand-year-old art and culture, and the trappings of good food and excellent wine, and Ravello could be the most perfect spot in the whole of Italy. Harriet found only one thing to make her trip to Ravello better: staying at Palazzo Avino – a tranquil shrine to good taste with a three-tiered flower-filled garden and swimming pool, a Michelin-starred restaurant and spacious suites that overlook lucent-blue seas.
"Palazzo Avino is an extremely refined hotel, which exudes old-world Italian glamour. Staff are kind and charming, always ready to help or to pause for a chat."
Harriet Whiting
THE PINK PALACE
Palazzo Avino is known as ‘the pink palace’ because of its pastel-hued exterior but the hotel is so much more than this. Firstly, the location in Ravello is excellent, just a short walk from the Piazza Centrale so it makes it easy to stroll out for gelato or to amble about two of Italy’s most beautifully landscaped gardens: Villa Rufulo and Villa Cimbrone.
Even better, you have a serene haven to come home to. By the pool was a good spot, especially in the morning when it had full sun. The spa sits alongside the pool, so we enjoyed using the steam, sauna, aromatherapy showers and hydrotherapy pools. As the sun started to set, the rooftop jacuzzi which was a perfect spot for a prosecco. A cocktail at the martini bar kicked off our evening, especially as it came with numerous nibbles.
BREAKFAST AND BEACH CLUBS
We wouldn’t recommend missing breakfast, as the buffet of Italian hams, smoked salmon, champagne, local honey, Italian pastries and much more, were delicious but it’s worth knowing that taking one of the first shuttle buses to the hotel’s private beach club will ensure you a prime spot by the edge of the sparkling sea.
Service at the beach club was excellent and you can either take lunch by your lounger or head up to the restaurant for wood-fired pizza or seafood salads. You can definitely while away a few blissful hours here, sunbathing, drinking rosé and diving into the aquamarine ocean.
The Verdict
For a molto romantic break to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary or honeymoon, the dreamy Amalfi Coast and luxurious setting at Palazzo Avino is hard to beat. Arrange this for a loved one and you’ll be in the good books for time immemorial. To make your stay extra special, book one of the seven suites, designed by Cristina Celestino. They’re the best rooms in the hotel and all have sea views. We loved the Belvedere Suite, located in the gardens of the hotel with a large living area, master bedroom and a spacious terrace replete with hydro-pool and views over the Amalfi Coast.
Good to know
If you’re driving from Naples, you might want to stop by Pompeii, which is directly on your route. For something special, hire Palazzo Avino’s boat for a day and visit Positano and Capri or have lunch at an exclusive beach-side restaurant, only accessible by boat.
Trip idea
Italy’s Enamouring Lakes
An 11-day self-drive journey through northern Italy from Milan to Venice, with stops at lakes Orta, Como and Garda.
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