Palazzo Avino Ravello

Palazzo Avino is a stunning five-star deluxe hotel on Italy’s famed Amalfi coast. Built in what was once a 12th century private villa for an Italian noble family and opened as a hotel in 1997, Palazzo Avino has been landed as one of the world’s finest hotels and boasts one-star Michelin dining.

Tucked away in the medieval hilltop village of Ravello, perched high on the cliffs, 350 m (1,000 ft) above the sparkling Mediterranean, Palazzo Avino overlooks some of the coast’s most picturesque fishing villages.

THE HISTORY
Originally built in the 12th Century, Palazzo Avino, like many other buildings along San Giovanni del Toro, was part of the aristocratic quarter of Ravello during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Some original rooms remain, such as the entrance hall and a small bathroom used as a cellar in the restaurant.

The building owes its name to the prosperous Sasso family from Scala, who were descendants of San Romoaldo, founder of the Cistercian order, and San Dominico Sasso, the successor to Saint Domenico who created the Dominican order.

The Sasso family settled in Ravello in about 1710 when Domenico Diego purchased the remains of the Palazzo Sasso from the noble Bonito family and subsequently restored it.

In 1756, his son, Andrea, built the chapel, dedicated to Maria Maddalena Penitente, which is now the lobby of the hotel. Andrea died in 1758 without an heir. The Palazzo was then abandoned until the beginning of the 19th century when it was purchased by the wealthy industrial Camera family.

In the mid-19th century, the first foreign visitors began to arrive, such as Francis Nevile Reid in 1851 and Richard Wagner. When James Becket bought and rebuilt Villa Cimbrone in 1904, Ravello attracted many prominent people, including Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, Maynard Keynes, D.H. Lawrence and Andre Gide.

The potential for tourism was not lost on the Camera family who, following the example of other local families, converted the Palazzo into a hotel.

In 1928 the Vuilleumier family assumed the management of the hotel. During the next half-century, Palazzo Sasso was known as Hotel Palumbo and its guests included Kings, Queens, aristocrats, poets and writers.

On the declaration of war against France (in 1939), the French-born Duchess Anna of Aosta (wife of the Viceroy of Ethiopia) was applauded by the people of Ravello when she appeared on a terrace above the Principessa di Piemonte Gardens.

The beauty of Palazzo Sasso has inspired many 20th century personalities; the playwright Eduardo de Filippo who wrote ‘Saturday, Sunday, Monday’ on one of its terraces and General Eisenhower was a resident when he was planning the attack on Monte Cassino.

Former celebrity guests Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini were fondly remembered as having giggled over dinner in the restaurant. This era was sadly interrupted in 1978, when the Vuilleumier family gave up the Palazzo in favour of the Palazzo Confalone. The Palazzo was closed and 19 years of abandonment followed.

Fully restored, it re-opened as Palazzo Sasso in July 1997 to continue its historic adventure. In 2013, Palazzo Sasso was renamed Palazzo Avino, finally bearing the name of its founding family.

The name change – the building of Palazzo Sasso and its transformation into Palazzo Avino, has every making of an Italian love story. There is passion, beauty and a dream. All played out along Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast.

“I love the Palazzo,” Managing Director Mariella Avino says. “I love the location. I love the views. I love every single element. I love it because I grew up here. I know its past (my father’s commitment and effort to create the property), I know its fantastic present, and I’m excited to write its future with my sisters with all our passion, our heart and love.”

BELVEDERE SUITE
The Suite is part of the special Capsule Collection, designed by architect Cristina Celestino, in the themes of coral, aquamarine, sand. Private Suite located in the gardens of the hotel with a large living area and a master bedroom, separate wardrobe, large terrace overlooking the Sea.

On the terrace there is a relaxing area with an amazing view over the Amalfi Coast with a private hydro-pool and a large dining area. King bed, bathroom with a walk-in shower. Size: 80 square meters (860 sq. ft.) + terrace of 40 square meters (430 sq. ft.).

INFINITO SUITE
Spacious duplex suite located on the top floor with a large living room that includes a dining area and a guest bathroom, one bedroom, one large master bathroom with both Jacuzzi bath and separate large shower.

The second floor features a relaxing living area with an expansive private terrace with amazing views of the Amalfi Coast, private infinity pool and a large outdoor dining area. Size: 100 square meters (1076 sq. ft.) + terrace of 50 square meters (538 sq. ft.).

DINING
Dining at Palazzo Avino is truly a unique experience. You can enjoy a candlelit dinner served in our acclaimed Rossellinis restaurant or a delicious casual meal at Terrazza Belvedere. New additions for the Rossellini’s are the Chef’s Table and the Sommelier’s Table.

ROSSELLINIS RESTAURANT
The Restaurant has just been awarded with very high ratings in all major Italian guides. These accolades mirror the endless passion our team has for offering the best culinary experience possible.

The restaurant is closed from November to March. During the season, Rossellinis is open for dinner only. For an unforgettable authentic, and creative Italian meal, look no further!

Guests can choose from myriad delectable dishes ‘a-la-carte’ or set tasting menus. Rossellinis features hand-picked regional wines that can be carefully paired with each serving.

THE CHEF’S TABLE
Sitting only four diners, the Chef’s Table at Palazzo Avino’s Rossellini’s is one the most exclusive and exciting dining experiences on the Amalfi Coast. Awarding complete privacy from the rest of the restaurant, a special menu has been created based on an ancient Neapolitan game, La Tombola.

Like bingo, numbers correspond to each dish taking diners on their own unique culinary journey fusing local seasonal ingredients with creative contemporary cooking techniques.

The ceramic culinary game and dishes have been specially created by a local ceramic artist, Lucio Liguori, in nearby Raito. Using ancient techniques dating back centuries, the artist has designed beautiful emerald green ceramics exclusively made for Palazzo Avino’s chef’s table.

A treat for the eyes, dishes are exquisitely presented as diners play the culinary game and are served a tasting menu of 5-7 different regional plates which are hand-picked with regional wines that are paired with each serving.

One of the most notable restaurants in the area, Rosselini’s has become internationally renowned for its authentic Italian cuisine. At the chef’s table, diners are offered an exclusive invite into the theatre of the kitchen and insight into one of the best culinary teams in the state of Campania.

THE SOMMELIER’S TABLE 
The Sommelier’s Table is for wine and cheese lovers. Candelit dinner for two is magical in this unique cave admiring the specially designed “Wine Library”.

CAFFE’ DELL’ARTE
Enjoy the views from the Caffé dell’Arte while trying one of our specialty cocktails that include unique choices of rare liqueurs, rum and brandies.

Caffé dell’Arte offers a relaxed atmosphere where guests can enjoy a digestive or aperitif along side a delicious snack. The soothing sounds of our pianist pave the way for lazy evenings where one can unwind and watch the blue of the sea and sky blend together

THE BELVEDERE TERRACE
Terrazza Belvedere serves an array of appetizing small bites and fresh pasta dishes. With a terrace perched over the property that offers magnificent views of the coastline, this is a casual dining favorite amongst guests. A special addition to the Terrazza Belvedere is the Lobster & Martini Bar opened from 6 pm.

LOBSTER & MARTINI BAR
The Lobster & Martini Bar opens at 6 pm. Clients can enjoy the freshest local lobster paired with refreshing Champagne or Prosecco amidst a backdrop of the awe-inspiring Mediterranean Sea. Alternatively, guests can enjoy their choice of 100 different Martinis uniquely crafted by the hotel’s in-house Martini mixologist!

Martinis range from traditional to exotic using ingredients such as seasonal fruits and herbs. The combination of watching the sunset while enjoying a digestive and viewing the sky, mountains and sea is heavenly!

THE SPA
Effegilab is leader in the creation of clean cosmeceutical free from dyes, traditional preservatives, petrolatum, and especially with no SLE. The main goal is the development of formulas with an organic cosmetic matrix with no pollutants and health friendly.

EffegiLab’s laboratories are fitted with high quality equipment and methods the use of active substances obtained through forefront extraction techniques: supercritical fluids, ultrasound, freeze-drying and other methods that avoid the use of heat and additives.

In collaboration with Palazzo A vino and based on three products from the Campania Region, Effegilab created an exclusive line of Cosmetic Food based on:

• Lemon from Sorrento, with balancing properties, with brightening and detoxing formula;
• Special Avino Aroma, enriched in vitamins, with hydrating and soothing formula; Annurca Apple, with antioxidant, hydrating and refining formula.

Our full service SPA is located next to the swimming pool in the gardens of Palazzo Avino and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.

THE FITNESS
The gym is located in the gardens under white gazebos and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. A variety of technogym equipment is available to all our guests.

THE SWIMMING POOL
A 20 meter outdoor heated swimming pool is situated in the gardens of Palazzo Avino with an amazing view of the sea and the mountains.

THE SOLARIUM
On the roof top of Palazzo Avino, with a breathtaking view of the Amalfi Coast, we offer a solarium with an infinity hydropool. This rooftop oasis is a favourite venue to watch sunset and enjoy a glass of Prosecco.

THE CLUBHOUSE BY THE SEA
Palazzo Avino’s Clubhouse by the Sea is located in the small town of Marmorata, just a 15 minute drive from Ravello. There is complimentary access to the beach platforms for all hotel guests (based on availability) along a small swimming pool, the casual Clubhouse Restaurant, changing rooms and relaxing living rooms.

A complimentary shuttle service to and from the hotel is available starting from 9.30 am. The Clubhouse by the Sea opens from May 1st to October.

EVENTS
Palazzo Avino offers a meeting room with natural light. Special parties or events can also be arranged in one of our terraces or in the private restaurant.

CONCIERGE
We are pleased to arrange anything you might require such as limousine and helicopter service, boat trips, excursions, restaurant reservations, cooking classes, concert tickets and any other requirements.

RAVELLO
Situated on the cliff-top of the Amalfi Coast, Ravello is a very important historical and cultural center. Among the various places of outstanding interest are: Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Famous classical music concerts are held on a stage perched over the sea from July through October

AMALFI & POSITANO
Amalfi is a picturesque coastal town with a sunny climate and exceptional natural beauty. In the 12th century, Amalfi was one of the four great Italian maritime republics. Positano is regarded as the jewel of the Amalfi coast.

It’s a very coastal resort, It’s notable for its picturesque, precipitous townscape, built on steep mountain terraces and, in places, almost literally clinging to the rocks. It affords unparalleled views out porto the islands of Li Galli, which were famously inhabited by the legendary Sirens, and beyond to the Isle of Capri.

POMPEII & HERCULANEUM
This is the world famous Campanian town of imperial Roman times that was buried by a sudden, catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius on the 24th of August 79 AD. It has been extensively excavated over the last two centuries so that much of the original town has now been exposed.

The most fascinating aspect of Pompeii is that it offers a walk back into time, back 2000 years, recreating the daily life of ordinary Romans. Visitors can stroll along the lava-paved roads past rows of shops and private houses, public baths, market squares and temples.

Pompeii is indisputably one of the world’s most mesmerizing architectural and cultural treasures. Just at a few kilometres from Pompeii is the town of Ercolanu (Herculaneum), also buried in the volcanic cataclysm of 79 AD.

It’s smaller than Pompeii, but in some ways is better preserved and can be more easily taken in on a day visit. Driving time from Ravello: approximately 1 hour.

PAESTUM
This is an original landing ground and settlement of the ancient Greeks, founded around 600 BC Its name derives from Poseidon – God of the Sea, to whom the town was dedicated.

Paestum is set in a vast and varied landscape and offers an almost mystic or spiritual experience to visitors taking time to sit and meditate in a quiet corner of a temple to the Greek immortals, one of the most historic monuments in Southern Italy.

In the vicinity is the town of Velia and the provincial capital of Salerno, with a medieval cathedral, dating back to 1085, renowned for its great bronze door from Constantinople and a 12th century carved pulpit. Driving time from Ravello: approximately 2 hours.

CASERTA
The city is known as ‘The Versailles of Naples’ and is home to the Royal Palace built by the Bourbon-French Emperor, Charles III. The palace is one of the biggest neo-Classical buildings in Europe and its park setting is both immense and fascinating. Driving time from Ravello: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

NAPLES
Naples is the capital city of the region of Campania. It has been invaded and occupied over the centuries by a succession of alien nations and cultures, including the French, Germans and Turks.

But it was more the Spanish than the rest who have had the most significant influence on the City’s architecture, language, customs and way of life.

Naples has one of the most important archeological collections in the world housed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, a great treasure trove of ancient artefacts from Pompeii, Ercolano and other historical sites.

The modern city itself is full of great churches and other impressive buildings, notably the Gesu’ Nuovo Cathedral, the Royal Palace in Piazza Plebiscito, and the Capodimonte Gallery with its paintings by Renaissance masters such as Titian, Raphael and Van Dyke. Driving time approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

CAPRI
The romantic Isle of Capri was once the unlikely centre of the ‘civilised’ world when Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire from his 12 palaces built on its towering heights looking over the sea towards the old Port of Naples.

The sublime beauty of the seascapes; its fabled ‘Blue Grotto’ and rocky shore of coves & beaches; its tangible atmosphere of 3,000 years of history & cosmopolitan cultures, and the traditional warm hospitality of the islanders have combined to draw an endless stream of visitors.

There is hardly a writer or artist of note over the last 200 years who has not been enchanted by the unique allure of Capri. Today, its ‘capital’ town, hardly more than a village, is somewhat like a stage set for an 18th century operetta – a painted pastiche of small, lively squares; boutique shops & pastel or white-washed houses, and a warren of mysterious Moorish alleyways no wider than a donkey cart loaded with the rough coral building blocks that over the centuries have fashioned a townscape of extraordinary artistry.

BOAT TRIPS
Enjoy a memorable day at sea with a private yacht charter! Qualified crew members will suggest the most enticing points so that you can enjoy an unforgettable swim followed by time spent soaking in the surrounding beauty while sipping your favourite drink.

Navigate the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean and discover hidden grottos (Emerald, White, Green & Blue), picturesque villages (Furore Fijord, Conca dei Marini, Praiano, Positano) and wonderful islands (Li Galli, Capri). Various options for full day excursions with a private speed boat and skipper are available.

CONCERTS
The Music Festival finds its starting point in Wagner’s visit to Ravello in 1880 and in the enthusiasm of the Maestro at the view of the Villa Rufolo gardens, from which he drew the inspiration for the scene paintings of the second act of Parsifal.

In fact he wrote in Villa Rufolo guest book “At last I found Klingsor’s enchanted garden”. The concerts at Villa Rufolo are from March to October. The highlight of the season is generally during the first week of July with the Wagner Festival.

During the festival world famous artists come to perform such as Zubin Metha, Lorin Maasel and Placido Domingo (Placido Domingo was the first guest Palazzo Avino had for the reopening in July 1997).

Although on the link of the official site for the Ravello Concert Society you will find a calendar of events, the famous performers of the Festival are generally announced very close to the concert dates so you may only find minor performances online.

The information for the July Festival should be available during March/April. The most unforgettable concerts are the ones at the crack of dawn with the sun rising behind the orchestra! The picture says it all. Classical orchestras and modern musicians concerts from April through October.

ART IN RAVELLO
Since 1953 this small town host each summer the Ravello Festival which have lured the world’s most talented musicians to the self-described “City of Music” Over the year Ravello hosted musicians and orchestra’s directors from all around the world.

Wagner found in Villa Rufolo both the inspiration for the scenery of Parsifal’s second act and the ideas to improve the whole musical structure of his last masterpiece.

Verdi stayed in Villa Rufolo as well, Grieg, during his staying at Hotel Toro, drew his inspiration from the woods and the caves of Ravello for some descriptions of his Peer Gynt; great musicians and conductors – like Bruno Walter, Arturo Toscanini, Enrico Caruso, Bernstein, Kempff and Rostropovitch – stayed and worked here.

Ravello has also had the opportunity to host artists such as the brilliant Spanish painter Mirò, the Dutch designer Escher, and, at the beginning of the XIX century, the English Turner painter of admirable views, and Ruskin, writer and art critic. For last Gore Vidal, American writer and public intellectual, was captured by the enchantment of Ravello and in 1972 bought a cliffside mansion “La Rondinaia” and spent there 25 years.

Furthermore the Amalfi Coast included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997: “The Amalfi coast is an area of great physical beauty and natural diversity. It has been intensively settled by human communities since the early Middle Ages.

There are a number of towns such as Amalfi and Ravello with architectural and artistic works of great significance. The rural areas show the versatility of the inhabitants in adapting their use of the land to the diverse nature of the terrain, which ranges from terraced vineyards and orchards on the lower slopes to wide upland pastures”.

“The Committee decided to inscribe this site, considering that the Costiera Amalfitana is an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values resulting from its dramatic topography and historical evolution.”

As a family, we are very keen to make the Pink Palace of the Amalfi Coast a special location where art, sound, music and beauty can find their blend and substance in various forms year over year.

Rooms: 43

Price: from 474 EUR per night

Source: www.palazzoavino.com