Luxury Hotel · Italy
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Ravello
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At a glance
There are hotels with views, and then there is Caruso. Sitting at the highest, quietest point of Ravello, 365 metres above the Tyrrhenian Sea, this is a hotel that does not simply overlook the Amalfi Coast. It presides over it. The rocks and cliffs stretch out below, the sea fills every window, and the sense of being entirely removed from the world below is immediate and complete.
The building itself has been here, in one form or another, since the eleventh century. Originally constructed by a wealthy family shipwrecked on their journey to Constantinople and once known as Palazzo d’Afflitto, the Palace of the Afflicted, it could not feel further from that name today. Opened as a hotel in 1893 by Pantaleone Caruso, it quickly drew the kind of guests that define a property’s reputation. Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart, Jackie Kennedy and Virginia Woolf all found their way here. The building has been carefully and completely restored since, but the bones of the medieval palace remain, and they are extraordinary.
What makes Caruso worth booking today is what that history has produced. Fifty individually restored rooms and suites, a kitchen rooted in the finest traditions of Campanian cooking, an infinity pool that ranks among the most spectacular in the world, and a level of quiet, unhurried attentiveness that belongs to a different era entirely.
Highlights
- Eleventh-century medieval palace at the highest point of Ravello, 365 metres above the Tyrrhenian Sea
- Infinity pool positioned at the edge of the escarpment, with the optical illusion of water stretching endlessly towards the sea
- Private beach in Amalfi with scheduled daily shuttle service to Amalfi and Positano
Accommodation
Rooms
Each guestroom has been individually restored, finished with hand-crafted terracotta floors, marble bathrooms and antique furnishings that give every room its own distinct character.
The views across the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Amalfi coastline below are consistent throughout. The frescoed ceilings and arched stone vaults of the original palace structure remain visible throughout, giving the rooms an architectural quality that no purpose-built hotel could replicate.
Suites
The suites range from junior configurations with private terraces overlooking the sea, to the signature suite with its own sea-facing hot tub and kitchenette. For those who want complete seclusion, the Villa Margherita offers a private sweeping garden and some of the most remarkable panoramas anywhere on the Amalfi Coast. Every suite carries the same hand-restored character as the rooms. The difference is space, privacy and the particular view the suite commands.
Further information
Food & Drink
Ristorante Il Pantaleone
Chef Armando Aristarco has returned to the Amalfi Coast’s most sought-after dining terrace with a philosophy he calls Antiqua Cucina Nova, an approach rooted in the culinary traditions of Campania, using seasonal local ingredients and precise technique to let each element stand out cleanly on the plate, with a sweeping coastal views in every direction.
For those who want to go further, the kitchen team offer the opportunity to meet Chef Aristarco directly, a rare chance to understand the thinking behind one of the most distinctive menus on the coast.
La Piscina, A Caruso Club
La Piscina is Caruso’s exclusive private pool club and the newest addition to the property. The programme runs from poolside yoga and hands-on cooking workshops to film nights, set against an uninterrupted view of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the edge of the cliff.
Adagio, A Caruso Bar
Designed as a space where the aperitivo or late-night digestif becomes a moment of genuine contemplation rather than simply a drink before dinner, it sits within eighteenth-century frescoed interiors with the coast stretched out beyond. The signature Adagio Martini is the obvious starting point.
Spa & Wellbeing
The Caruso Wellness Centre sits within the hotel’s subtropical gardens and operates around the idea that the setting is as much a part of the treatment as anything that happens inside it.
Treatments by Aromatherapy Associates and Sothys cover the full range, from facials and body scrubs to the signature Ritual of Happiness, a foot bath, full body exfoliation and alfresco massage performed outside among wisteria, roses and lemon trees.
The open-air fitness centre is equipped with Technogym and looks directly out over the coast. Sunrise yoga above the water and guided hikes along the ancient Formichelle Path through Ravello’s lemon groves give the wellness offering a sense of place that a treatment room alone cannot provide.
The infinity pool completes the picture. Positioned at the very edge of the cliff and consistently ranked among the most spectacular in the world.
Italy
Italy is a long, narrow country running from the Alps in the north to Sicily and the Mediterranean in the south. The geography changes faster than the language. Alpine lakes (Como, Garda, Maggiore) in the north. Industrial cities, fashion and finance in Milan and Turin. The Renaissance cities of the central plain (Florence, Bologna, Siena). The capital and ancient sites in Rome. The southern coastlines of the Amalfi, Puglia and Calabria.
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Italy is one of the best places in Europe to experience culture, food and beautiful scenery. With so much character and colour, the Amalfi Coast is a personal favourite of mine.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
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