Yahoo News Bellevue Syrene exudes glamour from a bygone era
Built into a cliff looking out onto the Gulf of Naples, framed with wide wisteria-covered pergolas and a maze of ancient caves beneath, the Bellevue Syrene Hotel is the embodiment of Italian romance. Crowds gather at the quaint entrance on the corner of the town square to take photographs of the picturesque setting and the views over Sorrento. Inside, however, it takes on a calm, peaceful and elegant persona that evokes a sense of mid-century Italian cinematic Fellini glamour. Perhaps that is because of the hotel’s impressive heritage.
A grand villa dating back to second century BC once stood here, where notable Rome Emperors and their families would visit. In the late 18th century, the Mastrobuono Counts began construction on what would later become the beginnings of Bellevue Syrene. However, it was William Waldorf Astor who, at the turn of the 20th Century – seduced by the ancient Roman Empire – built the “Villa Pompeiana” that is almost an exact copy of the House of Vetti in Pompeii. The hotel as we know it opened in 1995 and consists of 50 individually designed sea-view-rooms, and has since built a solid reputation as the only place to stay in Sorrento.
This history gives the hotel it’s charm. As you make your way through the discrete, vine-covered cliffside entrance, ornate colonnades frame the stone walkway, and a pergola restaurant to your right, flooded in blossoming purple hues, looks out on the bay. When you finally reach the airy white and grey marble atrium, it’s clear why Royals, emperors, writers and Astor himself were spellbound by the property. Inside, frescoes and modern art adorn the walls, whilst staircases and tunnels take you on a journey into the history of the property with plenty of surprises along the way. This is not just a hotel; it’s an experience. It’s an ode to the past, yet mixed with contemporary interior design that’s both luxurious and welcoming.
The food is delightful, too. La Pergola serves a wide range of tantalising Mediterranean dishes and fine wine, and is the perfect place to take in the beautiful sunset over the Gulf, while a pianist provides cinematic ambience nightly. Try the tasting menu for dinner and you won’t be disappointed. The Villa Pompeiana terrace further embellishes its Roman heritage with a colourful marble floor and a peristyle with equally impressive views; breakfast is served here and catches the warm rays as they bounce off the sea below.
The gym can be found hidden deep inside the caves in the hotel’s foundations, thought by local myth to have been dug out by nymphs 2,000 years ago. Although small, it is magical. Where else can you use a rowing machine in a limestone open-air cove, with views out onto the bay below?
The wellness centre, located on the ground floor, takes tranquil to a new level and offers a range of face and body treatments, and also has a hammam. For men, the signature ice facial is a must, and for woman, it’s the red-coral innovation facial.
There is a small pool terrace on which to relax on low-key lazy days, but there is also the option to venture down to the hotel’s private sunbathing pier below, which jets out onto the sea – perfect for lounging and leisurely dips in the water.
The Bellevue Syrene is a hotel that takes care of its guests to the highest standards and provides a place to escape and unwind; it’s that rare find that you’ll want to return to time and time again.
The Bellevue Syrene, from about £360 a room a night. For more information and to book, visit www.relaischateaux.com.
