Fodor's Expert Review Grand Hotel Il Saraceno
Via Augustariccio 33, Conca dei Marini, Campania, 84011, Italy
Editor's Note: This property is currently undergoing renovations.
A gorgeous extravaganza with Gothic, Arabic, Oriental, and even Las Vegas influences, Il Saraceno occupies a cliff 3 km (2 miles) from Amalfi (its official address) and just steps from Conca dei Marini. Bordering on kitsch, the exotic decor, which pays homage to the Saracen pirates who roamed this coast centuries ago, begins with the lobby's museum-quality 19th-century Orientalist oil paintings and antiques. Mosaic floors, elaborate antique lighting fixtures, a medieval warrior in full armor, and gilded murals are among the other evocative design accents in the public areas, and guest rooms have crown-molded ceilings, rich colors, antiques, and terraces with floor-to-ceiling window panoramas. The hotel maintains a private Romanesque stone chapel, and garden terraces, illuminated at night, descend the entire hillside to the enormous private beach and its saltwater pool.
PROS
- ideal for living out your pirate fantasy
- gorgeous garden terraces
CONS
- distant from the action
- a little too kitschy for some guests
HOTEL INFO
HOTEL DETAILS
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–Mar., Free Breakfast, Credit cards accepted