Hotel Rufolo
S. Italy: Campania: Ravello
Situated with a commanding view of the sea, this hotel is ideally positioned near Villa Rufolo, where concerts are held during the summer months, and the historic center of Ravello, a charming, relatively unspoiled town, perched high above the Amalfi Coast. The hotel, opened at the end of the 1800's, has remained in the same family and has offered hospitality to many artists and men of letters. D.H. Lawrence stayed in one of the rooms for two months in 1926 and the same accommodation - while thoroughly modernized(!) - can be requested today. Each winter when the hotel is closed, the owners make improvements, always maintaining the typical architecture and furnishings of the local area. The hotel has a relaxed feel, a comfortable ground floor lounge, a large swimming pool and terrace with the most incredible panorama. The hotel's restaurant is on an elevated floor with another commanding view. Some rooms have sea view and a small terrace, and connecting rooms are available for families. In JDB's opinion, the junior suites are the exceptional accommodations. They are long, rectangular rooms, with a large sitting area and terrace with breathtaking view (remember - you are high up here!) and a whirlpool tub in the bathroom. Guests can drive to the hotel where free parking is available just in front of the hotel.