Palazzo Belmonte Santa Maria di Castellabate

Arguably the most beautiful resort South of the Amalfi Coast, Palazzo Belmonte is a supremely elegant hotel situated within the walls of a 17th century historical residence, which once functioned as hunting lodge of the Prince of Belmonte. Palazzo Belmonte is immersed in some 5acres of garden and parkland, on the outskirts of Castellabate: one of Italy's most picturesque villages and a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998.

This exclusive residence, a wing of which is still inhabited by the direct descendents of the Prince, provides luxurious guest accommodation in bedrooms and suites located in the main Palazzo, in the adjoining "Palazzina Edoardo", and the dependence. Vaulted ceilings, period furnishings, and exquisite Italian textiles, characterise rooms from the terraces of which guests are afforded enchanting views of the sea, the flower-filled inner courtyard, the garden, and the historic center of Santa Maria di Castellabate.

Palazzo Belmonte's swimming pool, nestled in a particularly secluded part of the garden, is the ideal place where to indulge in moments of complete relaxation and tranquillity. Along a pathway which winds through sweet smelling pine and hibiscus trees, guests reach the beach and the wonderful warm sea of the Cilento.

At Palazzo Belmonte special attention is awarded to the quality of the food served both at the poolside snack bar and the hotel restaurant. The finest Mediterranean cuisine and, in particular, the gastronomic specialities of the Cilento, feature on the beautifully composed menus presented to guests dining on the panoramic terrace from where a magnificent view of the Amalfi coast and the island of Capri can be admired.

Among the many off-site activities organised by the hotel: evening pic-nics on nearby Punta Licosa, complete with live musical accompaniment, and nocturnal fishing trips.Palazzo Belmonte, with its elegant function room, offers a unique location for those wishing to organise a small-scale conference, business meeting, or corporate event.

Palazzo Belmonte is situated on the outskirts of Santa Maria di Castellabate, Salerno, South of the Amalfi Coast and just a few kilometers from Paestum, on a stunning stretch of coast which terminates in Punta Licosa.
From Palazzo Belmonte all of the principal sites of interest of the Campania region are within easy reach: the Doric temples of Paestum, Palinuro, the Charterhouse of Padula, the picturesque towns and villages of the Amalfi Coast (Ravello, Amalfi, Positano, Atrani, Vietri sul Mare), the city of Naples - dominated by mount Vesuvius, Pompei, Herculaneum, the Royal Palace of Caserta, Sorrento, the island of Capri, and the Oasis of Persano. Not to be missed: a visit to one of the dairies where the area's celebrated Buffalo Mozzarella is produced.

The hotel organises excursions to Punta Licosa, Palinuro, the Baia degli Infreschi, Positano, and Capri. For those wishing to take to the waters in one of the traditional sailing craft, Palazzo Belmonte offers clients the opportunity to rent one of the typical vessels used by the local fishermen, in which to sail as far as Punta Licosa, promontory named after Homer's Leucosia, the siren who saved Ulysses' life.

The waters of Punta Licosa, home to a Marine Reserve (the entire coast is a protected area) and a unique archaeological site, is of certain appeal to divers. The islet with lighthouse, situated directly opposite the promontory, is the ideal site from where to dive in to the waters and swim alongside the walls of the ancient port, now completely submersed by the sea. Untouched by the hand of man, a rare wood of Aleppo pines surrounded by the colors and scents of the Mediterranean shrub extends along the coast as far as the little harbour of Ogliastro Marina.

Visitors should not fail to take a trip to Palinuro's Grotta Azzurra, a wonderful sea cave where to witness a magnificent display of shimmering blue and turquoise light. The Baia degli Infreschi is a charming bay characterised by the lush Mediterranean vegetation which cascades over the rocks. Capri and Positano can be reached by hydrofoil or by private boat, the latter departing directly from Palazzo Belmonte.