Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa: Suspended Over a Cliff Edge on the Amalfi Coast

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa: Suspended Over a Cliff Edge on the Amalfi Coast

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa is a former monastery suspended over a cliff edge, situated between Amalfi and Positano. The 20-bedroom hotel is home to a Michelin star restaurant, award-winning spa, outdoor gym, infinity pool, 12th century chapel, stunning landscaped gardens and historic herb garden and is a true hidden gem in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

DISCOVER – Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa is a former monastery which opened in May 2012, following a huge restoration undertaken by the owner, Bianca Sharma, who brought the property in 1999. Bianca caught sight of the property by chance when travelling in the area and immediately fell in love with the property which offers one of the most dramatic locations and views in the world. After acquiring the building, she worked closely with a local team of architects, engineers and historical authorities to transform the former monastery into a luxury hotel and spa whilst maintaining the integrity of the building. The hotel is built directly into the side of the cliff with the floors connected by a glass-fronted elevator allowing panoramic views of the hotel’s gardens and the sea. It combines a historical setting with completely unique rooms and boasts an incredible infinity pool literally ‘hanging’ over the cliff.

SLEEP – in one of the hotel’s 20 suites, all of which face the sea and are named after herbs grown in the hotel’s herb garden. Each room is individual and features antiques hand-picked by Bianca herself, sourced locally from Santa Rosa and from her travels across 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 suites offer private terraces overlooking the sea, ideal for romantic breakfasts and pre-dinner drinks.

RECHARGE – at Monastero’s extraordinary Spa, designed by Jane Goff to fit within the original 17th century vaulted ceilings and rustic stone walls. The spa is home to 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 Crushed Ice Fountain to refresh between thermal baths, a wood Sauna, Hydrotherapy Pool and Experience Shower. There is also a Rasul, Steam Room, two wet treatment tables, two dry treatment beds and relaxation area accommodating manicures/pedicures and footbaths. There is also a Private Walled Outdoor Treatment Pavilion located under a shaded canopy, for those opting to have their treatments outside. The treatments are exclusively created for Monastero Santa Rosa using Santa Maria Novella oils, creams and lotions handmade in a quaint factory in Florence. The products follow the ancestral tradition of Italian herbalists, using plants and flowers known for their healing powers as traditionally grown in the monasteries.

FEAST – on Michelin star cuisine at Ristorante Il Refettorio, the hotels exceptional restaurant led by Executive Chef, Christoph Bob. It has original vaulted ceilings and offers cuisine from the Campania region. Menus change with the season and dishes feature fresh seafood delivered that same day by the local fishermen, locally produced olive oil, and organically grown vegetables and herbs straight from the hotel’s garden. Signature creations include a starter of a trio of crustaceans – lobster with chickpea puree and smoked olive oil broad bean salad with Colonnata’s bacon and king prawn ravioli with Corbara’s tomatoes and candied lemon and for main – a mouth-watering fusilli with baby squids, Piennolo’s tomatoes and basil-scented aubergines. Destination dining experiences are also available upon request.

Monastero Santa Rosa will reopen for the season on April 15th and closes on October 24th 2021.

Rooms start from €400 / $490 on a B&B basis plus taxes

www.monasterosantarosa.com