Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi – A Historic Amalfi Coast Hotel

The Amalfi Coast is known for its incredible scenery and charming boutique hotels. For example, Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi is a former monastery, transformed into a 5 star Amalfi hotel with an unbeatable location. Perched 80 metres above sea level and the town of Amalfi, it’s a great base from which to explore the rest of the coast. Here’s why we think Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi is one of the best Amalfi Coast hotels.

Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi

We booked our stay here with Classic Collection Holidays, the leader in tailormade luxury holidays. They have particular expertise in Italian holidays and can arrange everything from airport parking and lounges, flights, accommodation to car hire or private transfers and VIP meet and greet airport services upon arrival. They have a 24 hour telephone hotline in case of any emergencies, which is definitely good for peace of mind. Before our trip they sent us our printed tickets, car hire voucher and a Berlitz Italy guide in a handy travel wallet. It was a great time saver, having everything pre-arranged.

Getting to Convento di Amalfi

The nearest airport to Amalfi is Naples. It’s around 2.5 hours from Naples to Amalfi, however you should allow up to 4 hours in the height of Summer. There are lots of picturesque places to stop along the way if you wish to break up the journey. The most popular touristic route is to take the A3 motorway from Naples to Vietri sul Mare and then the SS163 coastal road from Vietri sul Mare to Amalfi. However the locals often travel via Ravello instead. Even though it’s longer on paper, it’s generally quicker in Summertime and a lot less crowded.

First Impressions

Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi is part of the NH Hotel Group and the property has been skilfully renovated to the highest standards. However, the hotel retains its character with many original details. Arriving at the monastery, you park outside at the drop-off space reserved for hotel guests. A member of staff will then park it for you and whisk your luggage to your room while you take the lifts to reception. Parking spaces on the Amalfi Coast are like gold dust so it’s a handy arrangement. Once at reception, a friendly member of staff will bring you a refreshing drink on the terrace and assist you with the checking in process. The views of the Mediterranean Sea are absolutely spectacular from here.

History of Convento di Amalfi

Dating from the 13th century, the building was recorded as a priory owned by Cistercian monks in 1214, becoming an abbey in 1223. It was passed to the Capuchin Friars in 1583, who lived there until 1813. The Archbishop of Amalfi then owned it and used it as a dining hall before it became an inn. It later became a Nautical Institute before being used as a hotel from 1885. The 13th century Arab-Norman cloisters are in surprisingly good condition and are a popular spot for wedding ceremonies.

Next to the cloisters is a single-nave chapel. It has a typical Cistercian flat apse and an oval vault and is licensed for weddings. If you head to the top floor of the hotel you can also admire the original monastery bells.

In the grounds of the hotel you’ll also find The Monks’ Walk or Passeggiata dei Monaci. Guests can follow in the footsteps of the monks who used to perambulate here. The walkway is surrounded by colorful flowers and lemon trees. The sea views are simply unmissable.

Accommodation at NH Collection Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi

There are 53 beautiful rooms and suites at Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi. We recommend the Presidential Suite, which has a larger than average bathroom and a sizeable separate living room. It also has a private balcony overlooking the sea and another great sea view from the lounge area. Honeymooners will love the Suite dell’Eremita, tucked away in a private area of the property, with its own terrace and outdoor whirlpool bath. Alternatively, you could choose one of the guest rooms with a view of the old monastery bells.

All the rooms and suites are equipped with:

• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Flat screen TV
• Air conditioning
• Safe
• Tea and coffee making facilities

Our suite had a handy walk in closet with curtains. It incorporated the safe and plenty of storage. The bed was really comfy and thanks to the thick stone walls you don’t hear noise from other rooms. The marble bathroom has a good power shower and separate bath. We liked the fluffy bathrobes and towelling slippers.

Little Touches

As well as our welcome drink, we enjoyed a chilled bottle of Prosecco and a lovely fresh fruit platter.

For a truly special Amalfi Coast experience, you could take the Prosecco up on to the monastery roof to sip it next to the bells whilst admiring the sun set.

Dei Cappuccini Restaurant

Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi boasts a lovely restaurant with an outdoor terrace overlooking the bay of Naples, Dei Cappuccini. The name takes its cue from the hotel’s historic owners and means The Capuchin monks. successfully blends Italian and Mediterranean influences. The menu was designed by renowned Italian chef Natale Guinta and the dishes taste as good as they look.

The food is so good at Dei Cappuccini that we’d recommend having dinner at least one night during your stay. The restaurant is open to non-residents who book in advance. We particularly like the friendly service from the maitre d and his team. The sommelier really knows his stuff and will suggest suitable wines to accompany your meal if you wish. It’s generally warm enough to dine on the terrace from June onwards and the views of the Costiera Amalfitana are spectacular. There’s a particular focus on seasonal produce and quite a few of the ingredients are sourced from the Orto del Convento, the hotel’s private garden.

Breakfast

There’s a great selection of hot and cold buffet items for breakfast. Healthy options are plentiful, with salad, tomatoes, peppers and a range of fresh juices. Guests may also choose a dish from the hot menu such as a delicious omelette or tasty Eggs Benedict. Once again, you can enjoy the gorgeous views from the terrace or the air-conditioned interior if you prefer.

Facilities

There’s a lovely infinity pool at the end of the Monk’s Walk. It’s temtping to stay all day on the comfy sun loungers here. There are showers and restrooms close to the pool and a paved area with more sun loungers. Walking around the grounds is one of the nicest things to do and there are many areas in which to stop and admire the scenery. The swinging chairs are one of our favourite spots.

While we were there, a wedding took place, with the ceremony in the chapel and cloisters. The Monk’s Walk was adorned with fairy lights for the wedding meal and the area by the pool was transformed into a dance floor. It’s certainly a magical place to get married.

Back inside the hotel, there’s an excellent spa with treatments using The Ligne Mille – a luxury anti-ageing  skincare range by Marie Galland. You can even have a massage on the terrace overlooking the bay if you wish. There’s a Turkish bath and relaxation area within the spa too.

Here’s a recap of the hotel facilities:

• Fitness room open daily from 7 am to 10 pm
• Spa/Wellness centre open from 10 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday for hotel guests only. Advance booking required
• Outdoor heated pool
• Sun terrace
• La Locanda pool bar – lunch service from 1 to 3 pm; cocktails and snacks from 11 am to 6 pm.
• Kyushu restaurant and dining terrace
• Private chapel

Babysitting is also available for a fee.

Things to Do Near Convento di Amalfi

You can easily walk down to the town in 15 minutes or less. It’s a very scenic route which takes you through the hotel gardens, out via their private gate and directly to Amalfi town centre. Along the way, prepare to gasp at the sea views.

It’s also definitely worth visiting the nearby Amalfi Coast towns which are easily accessible from Amalfi. Read our guide to find out where the best secret Amalfi view is located and which hidden Amalfi restaurant you shouldn’t miss.

We also recommend visiting:

• Amalfi Cathedral
• Amalfi Paper Museum
• The Port
• The Nativity Fountain

Check out all our Italy guides here

Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi could well be the best place to stay in the Amalfi Coast. What makes this place so unique?

• Fascinating history of the property
• Amazing sea views
• Lovely infinity pool
• Ideal location away from the crowds but an easy walk into town

Have you ever stayed in a former convent?

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In association with Classic Collection Holidays

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