Hotel Palazzo Murat Positano

Right in the center of Positano there is a secret garden, hidden away from curious eyes and only accessible via a pathway illuminated by torches. This is the garden of Palazzo Murat, one of the Amalfi Coast's most prestigious historic hotels. Despite the passing of the centuries, surprisingly little has changed since the early 1800's, when Giocchino Murat, the then King of Naples, chose this Vanvitelli style palazzo as his summer residence.

Sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the town and immersed in the delicate scents of the flowers blooming in the botanic garden, Palazzo Murat has, over the years, been the preferred retreat of artists such as John Steinbeck, Escher, and Rudolph Nurejev, all of whom came here to experience the timeless beauty and unrivalled privacy of this historic hotel. Today, Palazzo Murat's bedrooms still offer a combination of old world charm and exclusivity, featuring wonderfully romantic four-poster beds and balconies overlooking the gardens and the picturesque townscape of Positano.

Just a short stroll through the narrow lanes of Positano and guests find themselves on the Spiaggia Grande, the town's largest and liveliest beach, the perfect place to laze in the Mediterranean sun or hop aboard Palazzo Murat's 'Marinella' boat which, each day, transports hotel guests to the secluded bays and hidden coves of the Amalfi Coast, many of which are only accessible from the sea.

In the evenings, guests dine by candlelight in the hotel's panoramic 'Al Palazzo' restaurant, which is surrounded by the green of the botanic garden and has breathtaking views of a townscape dominated by the majolica tiled dome of Positano's Church of Santa Maria. The vegetables and herbs used in Al Palazzo's flavor-packed Mediterranean cuisine are grown in the aromatic kitchen garden. A part of the Botanic Garden is reserved for small-scale wedding ceremonies and private parties.