The iconic Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa has opened its doors for the 2023 season. This former 17th Century Dominican monastery, now a boutique hotel, is a must visit destination on Italy’s southern coast. Suspended over a cliff edge situated between Amalfi and Positano, Monastero Santa Rosa has been meticulously restored to offer 20 sea view rooms and suites, an infinity pool, which gives the sensation of floating over the coastline, a world-renowned spa and a Michelin-Star restaurant situated over the fragrant terraced gardens for which Monastero Santa Rosa has become famous.
Spring provides the perfect time to visit the Amalfi Coast, with fewer crowds and the opportunity for guests to sample produce from the first harvest of the property’s own garden. The seasonal bounty from April will include friarielli broccoli, unique to the surrounding area of Monastero Santa Rosa, artichokes, ‘taccole’ beans and peas, all of which will be expertly incorporated into fresh dishes by Executive Chef Alfonso Crescenzo who was born in the nearby town of Sarno.
New for the season will be live music performances taking place in the new outdoor lounge area, a completely updated gym offering and a redesign of the iconic swimming area.
A visit to Monastero Santa Rosa is made all the more memorable dining at the Michelin-starred, Ristorante Il Refettorio. Guests can sample fresh local cuisine from the Campania region, with seasonally-changing menus that feature fresh seafood delivered daily by the local fishermen, locally produced olive oil and organic vegetables and herbs grown in the hotel’s garden. Signature creations include ‘Il Crudo a Mano Libera’ - thinly-sliced raw fish of the day, served with ‘sfusato Amalfitano’ lemon-herb mayonnaise and a Campari-fruit emulsion as well as pastas such as housemade egg tagliolini with ‘Pollino’ summer truffle and raw sweet shrimp.
The Spa at Monastero Santa Rosa has been designed to fit within the original 17th century vaulted ceilings and ancient stone walls, and includes a Thermal Suite, which interconnects a stunning double height vaulted Tepidarium (warm relaxing room) with heated benches and whirlpool footbaths, a domed herbal Steam Room, a wood Sauna, Hydrotherapy Pool and a Rasul room. A private walled outdoor Treatment Pavilion is located under a shaded canopy and offers alfresco treatments, each exclusively created for Monastero Santa Rosa using the world-renowned Santa Maria Novella products.
The owner, Bianca Sharma, handpicked antiques sourced locally from Santa Rosa and throughout her travels in Italy, while historical photographs of the area and the monastery itself dot the walls, adding to the sense of history. The vaulted ceilings and arched windows of the nun’s rooms and refectory have been carefully preserved and are cleverly linked together with en-suite bathrooms to create truly contemporary spaces. Some of the rooms and suites offer private terraces overlooking the sea, ideal for romantic breakfasts and pre-dinner drinks.
Rooms start from €600 (approx. $658) on a B&B basis plus taxes
www.monasterosantarosa.com
