Welcome to Belmond Hotel Caruso

Retreat to our ravishing haven, set high above the Amalfi Coast where the mountains meet the sky. CHAPTER ONE

Discover the Amalfi Coast

------Bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea, in southern , this ruggedly beautiful stretch of coast has been seducing visitors for centuries

Where can you pluck sweet lemons from the trees and eat them like oranges? Admire pastel-coloured houses cascading down to the bluest crystalline waters? Or steer your moped round hairpin bends, weaving through scenery that has inspired the likes of JMW Turner, Virginia Woolf and DH Lawrence? Welcome to the Amalfi Coast.

This stretch of coastline has exerted an irresistible allure since antiquity. Greek sailors were entranced by its rocky drama, fancying it home to mythical creatures, and wealthy Romans constructed grand villas on the cliffs. In the Middle Ages, Amalfi was a powerful maritime republic and the region was renowned for paper production – you can still explore the ruins of ancient mills in the Valle dei Mulini.

By the 19th century, writers and artists on the Grand Tour were discovering the area’s unspoilt beauty. Among them was Richard Wagner, who was so inspired by the gardens of Villa Rufolo, in , that he was able to complete his opera, Parsifal. It’s in this lofty corner of paradise that you’ll find Belmond Hotel Caruso. The landscapes that captured the composer’s heart are waiting to steal yours.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO “Never in my life have I seen such a vista as this. Can I ever hope to capture it? I can only strive for a poor approximation.” – JMW Turner

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO CHAPTER TWO

A Warm Welcome

------Welcome to your private balcony overlooking the awe-inspiring Amalfi Coast

A stay at Belmond Hotel Caruso is unlike any other. To encounter rooms with original frescoes and vaulted ceilings is gorgeous enough, but look beyond them to views over the majestic mountains and glittering sea and you reach another level. Even our infinity pool has an ethereal quality, bewitching the mind with the way it blends sea into sky. Then there are our sumptuous gardens, rich with melodic birdsong and lovingly tended by Gaetano, who’s waiting to take you on a tour. And the extraordinary cuisine of Chef Mimmo di Raffaele, who creates masterpieces on a plate. We haven’t even reached the spa yet – but before anything else, order a Negroni, breathe in the fragrant air and just sit and soak up the views. There’s plenty of time to explore later.

Discover more about what makes our hotel unique. Take a look inside our walls at belmond.com/ hotelcaruso

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO A Living Legend

From a Roman aristocrat’s palace to a Hollywood hideaway, our hotel boasts a most intriguing and unparalleled past

Our origins date from the 11th century, when a noble Roman family on its way to Constantinople was shipwrecked off Ravello. They cancelled their plans and built Palazzo d’Afflitto (meaning “the afflicted”) high on the cliffs as a symbol of their survival.

By the 16th century, the palace had been completely rebuilt. A splendid colonnade now graced the raised garden, leading to a lookout tower that still affords the best views of Ravello today. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, frescoes were added by local artists, a painted chapel was constructed and grand marble columns were installed at the entrance.

It wasn’t until 1893 that Pantaleone Caruso entered the story. The hotelier began by renting out five rooms in one of the palace wings as a pensione, but in time he transformed the entire building into a hotel. It became a popular haunt for members of Britain’s famed Bloomsbury Group, such as Virginia Woolf. Some decades later, when Caruso’s sons were in charge, it lured stars including Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart and Jackie Kennedy to its cocoon-like privacy.

When Belmond entered the scene in 2000, we set about restoring the medieval palace, uncovering the frescoes and returning the 50 rooms and suites to their Neapolitan glory. You’re still greeted by two stone lions guarding the entrance, along with the breathtaking vista that defined our hotel from the start.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Double Rooms

Soak up the timeless Neapolitan ambience of our Double Rooms, each individually decorated in sumptuous style. Beautifully spacious Deluxe Sea View Double Rooms offer a terrace or balcony from which to admire the sun skating across the serene water. Superior Double Rooms look out on our lush terraced gardens or across the rooftops of Ravello, and many of our Village View Double Rooms benefit from their own private terrace or garden.

Junior Suites

Spread out in our lavish Junior Suites, their light and airy spaces blending beautiful historic features with the plushest of luxuries. Savour spectacular views of the Bay of Salerno from your Superior Junior Suite, unwind in the verdant private garden or sweeping terrace of your Deluxe Junior Suite, or luxuriate in your Executive Junior Suite, where an inviting entrance leads to a lavish space complemented by a furnished terrace or enchanting private garden.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Suites

Step into a world of Italian indulgence, where generous living areas are dotted with majestic design details and expansive windows frame mesmerising views. Choose a Superior Suite for opulent marble bathrooms and enchanting vistas of the village, or Deluxe Suites to enjoy relaxing on your own spacious terrace. Two Deluxe Suites can be adjoined to create a large two-bedroom residence, perfect for families.

Exclusive Suites

Treat yourself to one of our most magnificent suites, enjoying elegant living and dining spaces, a terrace with comfortable sun loungers and sweeping views, and a lush private garden. Connect two Exclusive Suites together to form a two-bedroom suite, an ideal haven for family gatherings or indulgent get-togethers.

Belmond Villa Margherita

Escape to our guesthouse, which blends the complete seclusion of a private villa with full use of all the hotel’s facilities. The Villa comprises two individual suites, each exuding Mediterranean charm and surrounded by fragrant gardens. They can be hired separately or joined Explore our sumptuous together to create one luxurious residence, perfect for accommodation at group celebrations. Guests also enjoy the services of a belmond.com/ private butler and personal chef. hotelcaruso

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO CHAPTER THREE

6 Within Our Walls 4 2

------7 From our magical interiors to our show-stopping infinity 3 pool, every detail is designed to take your breath away 1 5

Explore our palatial hideaway, where marbled hallways lead to stone vaulted rooms brimming with antiques. Gaze at the sublime vistas through enchanting arched windows and stroll through our immaculate gardens, breathing in the scents of roses and lemons. Find your way to our infinity pool, where the serene water invites you to while away the hours.

When it’s time to explore further afield, jump aboard our traditional wooden boat, Ercole, for a sunset cruise around the picturesque coastline or stroll down to Ravello, famous for its annual music festival devoted to Wagner. Return and take a seat on the romantic terrace of our Belvedere Restaurant. Sip a chilled glass of local Prosecco as you savour the views over the Bay of Salerno before indulging in Chef Mimmo di Raffaele’s sumptuous regional cuisine, from tender carpaccio to zesty sorbet.

Peek into our world of fine 1 Belvedere Restaurant 5 Spa and Fitness Centre dining and unforgettable experiences at 2 Pool Snack Bar 6 Swimming Pool belmond.com/ 3 Cocktail and Piano Bar 7 Belmond Villa Margherita hotelcaruso 4 Bubbles Bar Gardens

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Memorable Dining

Lose yourself in the mouth-watering flavours of Italy, sip a nightcap among the ancient frescoes or linger over a glass of fabulous fizz in our alfresco Bubbles Bar

Belvedere Restaurant

------Boasting one of the best views on the Amalfi Coast, our restaurant is equally famed for Chef Mimmo di Raffaele’s imaginative Italian cuisine. Choose a table in the elegant dining room or outdoor terrace and treat your taste buds to black tagliolini pasta with rock lobster sauce or rabbit and pork belly casserole with sautéed artichokes.

Pool Snack Bar

------With the infinity pool as your backdrop, and surrounded by sweet-smelling roses, linger over classic Italian favourites, crisp salads and authentic Neapolitan pizza straight from the wood-fired oven.

Cocktail and Piano Bar

------Join us in our atmospheric bar for early-evening cocktails or a late-night digestif. Feast your eyes on the magnificent 18th-century frescoes and the vistas over the Amalfi coastline as you drink in the magical ambience.

Bubbles Bar

------Take a seat on the ancient colonnade leading to the pool and bask in the warm Mediterranean breeze. Choose from the finest champagnes and Italian wines, accompanied by irresistible canapés and relaxing music.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Memorable Dining

Infinity Dream Dinner

------For a special occasion – or just because you want to – let us arrange an intimate candlelit dinner on a platform suspended above our infinity pool. Beneath the starry sky, enjoy a tailor-made menu, dedicated butler service and live music.

Tempted? Reserve your table now at belmond.com/ hotelcaruso

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Window on Wagner

Every summer, the timeless streets of Ravello fill with Wagner aficionados eagerly anticipating Italy’s oldest music festival

No stage could enjoy a more dramatic backdrop. The main concerts of the annual Ravello Festival take place on a huge platform in the gardens of the 13th-century Villa Rufolo. It was on seeing these ravishing, tropical gardens in 1880 that the German composer, Richard Wagner, wrote: “Finally, the enchanted garden of Klingsor has been found.” (He was referring to the wizard’s garden in Parsifal, his final opera). The panoramic view embraces majestic mountains and cerulean sea – hardly surprising, then, that artists ranging from Herbert von Karajan to Leonard Bernstein and Rudolf Nureyev have clamoured to perform at the heavenly venue.

Today, Maestro Alessio Vlad leads the festival and the highlight remains the dawn concert. Be among the privileged concertgoers to witness this event, hushed and spellbound as the orchestral music swells in harmony with the sunrise. Beforehand, join us in the lobby of Belmond Hotel Caruso for strong coffee and a freshly baked pastry, then head out to the Villa for one of the most unforgettable moments of your life.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSORavello Festival - Pino Izzo Celebrate in Style

Our balcony over the Amalfi Coast makes a breathtaking stage for your event. Let us help you create memories to last a lifetime

Within our intimate yet palatial surroundings, make your dream wedding come true. Plan a romantic reception in our dreamy gardens or an out-of-this-world celebration next to our infinity pool.

Mark a momentous anniversary or a family reunion with a breathtaking banquet in our secluded grounds. We’ll create bespoke menus to your tastes and arrange beautiful decorations and vibrant entertainment.

For team-building outings, choose from our inspiring incentives. Join your colleagues on a tour of a lemon grove, learning about traditional cultivation techniques, or take to the skies on a thrilling helicopter flight to witness the Amalfi Coast in all its wonder.

For the ultimate indulgence, you can hire the whole hotel. Fill our 50 rooms and suites with your chosen friends and leave our dedicated team to do the rest.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSOJoanne Dunn Fun & Relaxation

Zone out with an iPod by the infinity pool, indulge in our Signature Happiness Ritual at the spa or transform your children into pizza chefs

Garden Tour

------Join our charismatic head gardener, Gaetano, for a stroll through our terraced grounds. Learn about the subtropical and temperate flora of our leafy enclave and visit the herb beds to breathe in the true essence of Italy.

Swimming Pool

------An architectural triumph, our heated infinity pool with its clear blue water seems to extend straight into the ocean. Let our concierge bring you an iPod loaded with your favourite music. Lie down, switch off and bliss out.

Spa

------Soothe your mind and rejuvenate your body at our Wellness Centre, where you can enjoy rituals in our indoor treatment rooms or in the sea-view gazebo in the gardens. Boost your endorphins with our Signature Happiness Ritual and the scents of jasmine, apricot, mandarin and bergamot.

Fitness Centre

------Re-energise with a workout in our air-conditioned gym. Take advantage of a full range of cardio equipment and weight machines as you enjoy the pleasing distraction of the panoramic view. We can arrange a personal trainer for more intensive sessions. Or why not step out into the streets of Amalfi, admiring the architecture as your trainer puts you through your paces?

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Fun & Relaxation

Boutique

------Browse beautiful handpicked gifts and items exclusively designed for Belmond Hotel Caruso in our elegant boutique. Our exclusive silky clothing range sports patterns inspired by the hotel’s 18th-century frescoes.

Boat Tours

------Set off on our charming wooden boat, Ercole, for an exciting discovery of the Amalfi Coast. Complimentary to our guests, the trips take place daily and include a round-trip shuttle transfer from the hotel.

Children’s Activities

------Keep your little ones entertained with our engaging activities, including making pizza by the pool with the chef, learning how to be an Amalfi potter and creating a vacation movie trailer with a professional filmmaker.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO CHAPTER FOUR

Out & About

------When it’s time to venture beyond our gates, hop on our courtesy shuttle bus to Amalfi and Positano. Or let us take you on one of our tailor-made excursions to discover the wonders of the Amalfi Coast

Scale the heights of Scala, a quiet medieval town that’s home to the atmospheric ruin of Sant’Eustachio. Picnic on Chef’s tasty specialities overlooking the hypnotic vistas, before hiking down through the lush Ferriere Valley, encountering prehistoric ferns, tumbling waterfalls and ancient paper mills.

Discover what’s so special about Amalfi lemons on a tour with a local farmer. Join Salvatore Aceto in his lemon groves as he reveals his age-old cultivation methods and treats you to a delicious tasting session.

Set off on a tour of the Hidden Stores of the Amalfi Coast. Unearth best-kept-secret boutiques and charming workshops where artisans carve coral jewellery or customise leather sandals.

Plunge beneath the streets on an Underground Naples tour, visiting a subterranean world of Roman aqueducts, Christian burial grounds and Second World War air-raid shelters. Or stay above ground and glide through the city’s historic centre on a vintage Vespa.

Take to the skies for a thrilling new perspective. Embark Belmond holds the key to on a helicopter tour above the Gulf of Salerno and soar the wonders of Italy. above some of Italy’s most glamorous hideaways. Or set Unlock your next sail on your own private cruise – toast the sunset with a adventure at belmond.com/ glass of Prosecco, meander along the glittering coastline hotelcaruso after dark or stop in Capri for a gourmet dinner. The options are endlessly alluring.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO CHAPTER FIVE

Continue Your Adventure

------Now you’ve fallen in love with our Ravello retreat, let us help you create a bespoke itinerary to discover our other European escapes

From Renaissance palaces to art deco trains, our travel adventures in Europe embrace a wealth of exceptional experiences. Why not start in Venice, where our own journey began. The first hotel in the Belmond family was the legendary Belmond Hotel Cipriani, on Giudecca Island, now celebrating 60 years. The finest way to reach La Serenissima? Aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which also takes you to celebrated cities, including Paris, Istanbul and Berlin. If your journey begins or ends in London, stay at Belmond Cadogan Hotel, a landmark gem reopening in the heart of fashionable Chelsea. Fancy escaping to the country? Retreat to Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, in leafy Oxfordshire, and indulge in Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred cuisine.

Crisscross ’s wild landscapes and visit its storied cities aboard Belmond Grand Hibernian, our elegant sleeper train. Or take to the water on a Belmond Afloat in barge and glide through fabled winelands and sun-drenched landscapes in unparalleled luxury. Further With Belmond, your scenic adventures are promised in Mallorca where, in journey will be truly an artists’ village backed by the Tramuntana Mountains, extraordinary. Find out you’ll find magnificent Belmond La Residencia. Like more at belmond.com/ all our beautiful hotels, trains and river cruises, it has ideas perfected the art of indulgence.

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Design your own Grand Tour

Embark on a seven-night journey, Immerse yourself in new Tuscan art staying at two or more of our on thrilling contemporary sculpture Southern European hotels. Enjoy tours from our Florentine retreat. total flexibility with our Grand Tour Or embrace rustic traditions at package. Why not plan your stay our 10th-century castle hotel, to coincide with one of our enticing master authentic Tuscan cuisine new activities? or cycle through the vineyards and olive groves. Venice Sicily ------BELMOND HOTEL CIPRIANI ------Explore the Venetian lagoon aboard BELMOND GRAND HOTEL TIMEO Edipo Re, the historic boat where & BELMOND VILLA SANT’ANDREA Maria Callas and Pier Paolo Pasolini Find out why Sicily is renowned for developed a profound love. its fabulous food. Taste specialities on the slopes of Mount Etna and join Portofino a cookery class in a local home, or sail to the magical island of Filicudi ------to enjoy hospitality from three BELMOND HOTEL SPLENDIDO enterprising locals. Let us stage a private concert for you at secluded San Fruttuoso Mallorca Abbey, an ancient monastery reached by boat from our Italian ------Riviera hideaway. BELMOND LA RESIDENCIA Embark on a tailor-made tour from Ravello Deià to seek out talented artisans in Palma, from ’s most celebrated ------guitar maker to a cutting-edge BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO textile designer. Savour a picnic high above the Amalfi Coast in the ruins of Madeira Sant’Eustachio church, then plunge into the Ferriere Valley to discover a ------landscape lost in time. BELMOND REID’S PALACE Join a jaunt to the island’s Florence and Tuscany vertiginous south coast to discover a hidden paradise where a family ------of vintners has brought luscious BELMOND VILLA SAN MICHELE & malmsey wine back to life. BELMOND CASTELLO DI CASOLE

BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO BELMOND.COM/HOTELCARUSO Our Belmond World

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Having spent decades travelling the globe, Belmond invites you to join us for your next adventure. Transcend the everyday with inspiring retreats set among the world’s most celebrated destinations.

Our legendary hotels, luxury train journeys, safari adventures and pioneering river cruises each have a story to tell. Join us as it unfolds.

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#TheArtOfBelmond BELMOND HOTEL CARUSO The only possible colour for this booklet’s cover was the citrus yellow Piazza San Giovanni del Toro 2 of the celebrated Amalfi lemon, which 84010 Ravello (Salerno) - Italy thrives in Ravello’s terraced clifftop T: +39 089 858 801 groves. This sunny hue enlivens a pattern inspired by the region’s exquisite, rare Reservations: coral – worked by skilled craftsmen since T: +39 0185 2353 90 the 16th century and prized as a bringer [email protected] of good luck. BELMOND.COM