La Conca Azzurra Conca dei Marini - Amalfi Coast

The Hotel Conca Azzura, the Blue Shell, sits high on the cliffs, above the fishing village of Conca dei Marini on the beautiful Amalfi coast. Originally a seaside house, where travellers took refreshment on the Grand Tour, the Conca Azzurra became a hotel in the 1950s. Today, this intimate hotel offers guests an unparalleled combination of light-filled rooms, private bathing area and delicious cuisine in an absolutely stunning location and has been voted one of the most romantic hotels in the whole of Europe.

The Conca Azzurra has been created with all the architectural details that are so evocative of the Mediterranean - terraces, pergolas, columns, porticos and verandas' all set amidst flowers and foliage. Guests stay in one of just 18 rooms or suites. Here the romance continues, - with soft shades, typical Italian décor, cool local ceramics, fine artisan made furniture complementing dreamy trompe l'oeil murals. Hand painted majolica tiles decorate the luxurious bathrooms, which in the suites and junior suites have hydromassage baths. Each room or suite has its own balcony, terrace or veranda from which guests can gaze out upon the amazing vista, extending over the sea as far as the Isle of Capri.

Outside, in the grounds of the Conca Azzurra, a path wends its way through the lush vegetation to the sea and to the hotel's private bathing place. Here there are terraces and sun decks, built into the rocks, from which guests can safely swim in the crystal waters of the cove.

The Conca Azzurra's two restaurants also have fabulous views of the sea. The cuisine of the "Conca Azzurra" and the "Calajanara" maximises the bounty of the Amalfi coast. Seasonal menus use the best of local produce and products in traditional seafood and fish dishes and in the specialties of the Lattari Mountains. The restaurants provide venues for dreamy candlelit dinners, banquets or wedding receptions to remember and on the rooftop terrace, with its sweeping views, ceremonies can be held.

The Conca Azzura's glass ceilinged Orangerie on the other hand is the ideal spot for a relaxing aperitif, cocktail or digestivo. In the cellar guests will find, amongst the extensive wine collection, some of the most prestigious labels from the Campania region and beyond, tastings of which are given by the hotel's sommelier. Snacks and drinks are available in the Art Shop Café. Here guests will find on sale a marvelous selection of articles displaying the art and skill of local craftsmen and ceramists.