Its tucked-away location, discretion, and stylish character, especially in the bedrooms, are to thank. Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Clark Gable, and opera diva Maria Callas have all checked in over the years. Opened in 1956 by prolific Italian movie producer and publisher Angelo Rizzoli – a man who became transfixed by the island’s thermal baths and paradisal position overlooking the bay – L'Albergo della Regina Isabella once drew in cult Hollywood royalty for decades. Storied hotels don’t really come much better than this. Oh, and because you’re staying here, you basically have full reign and access to the castle once all the day tourists are kicked out.Īddress: Albergo il Monastero, Ponte Aragonese, 80077 Ischia NA, Italy Think Caprese salad, fresh bread baked straight from the oven and whatever the hot dish of the day is. The views are heartstring-tugging and the food is light and tasty. Its biggest asset comes courtesy of its restaurant, the dazzlingly romantic Cucina del Monastero. Rooms – once the cells of monks – are small and modest, and dare we say it, a little too on the Game of Thrones side, but they are refreshingly simple nonetheless. Former owner Gabriele Mattera’s modern art pieces sprawl the walls and slick contemporary décor numbers help bring things into the 21st century. Atop a craggy outcrop, vaulted ceilings and storied walls give the monastic digs that extra tinge of wow factor. The concept of staying in a hotel inside a castle is pretty cool, right? Ridiculously atmospheric and impeccably stylish, boutique chic gets a medieval schooling courtesy of Albergo il Monastero. Restaurant La Baia, overlooking Mezzatorre’s private bay, guarantees the finest slice of Campania cuisine.Īddress: Mezzatorre Hotel, via Mezzatorre, 23/d, 80075 Forio NA, Italy Perched on a cliff, the 16th-century Moorish-style former watchtower enjoys a quirky Wes Anderson-esque mise-en-scene with stunning panoramas of the Bay of Naples and the most sought-after suites the island has to offer. The celebrities – from J Lo to Angela and Margherita Missoni and influencer Sophia Roe – are all major fans, too. Almost an ode to Slim Aarons, the hotel has everything you’d expect from an Italian escape: glittering waters, a thermal spa, craggy coast, chic restaurants, and beach umbrellas to die for. Like Ischia there are few in Italy,” Schio tells us. It is a magical island, a happy island, a true and fascinating island. “I was blown away by the beauty of Ischia. Like its sister hotels Il Pellicano in coastal Tuscany and La Posta Vecchia in Ladispoli, The Mezzatorre is a throwback to la dolce vita at its finest. From the moment it re-opened under the uber-tasteful eye of Marie-Louise Sciò, it became a magnet to the Italian glitterati. Say ciao to the hotel that put Ischia on the map. Here are the best things to do, from eats to hikes and all the bubbling hot springs in between. With countless wellness spas, natural thermal pools, smart hotels, lush vineyards and surreal gardens, Ischia is near the perfect chill antidote to the glitzy pull of Amalfitana. Ischia folk are notoriously proud of their homeland, so much in fact they’ve set up a conglomerate Ischia Is More to scream and shout about how great their island is and draw travellers in. And now, finally, Ischia is finally having its moment. Unlike all the other islands in these parts, you don’t have to dig deep to find a dose of the real Italy. Here, fancy hotels are juxtaposed with scenes of Italian nonnas hanging out laundry, religious street parades and zooming Vespas. What sets this isolated rock apart from the competition? It’s a question of substance and that ghastly overused word, “authenticity.” Capri will always be the pretty one – the view from the Via Krupp and the Faraglioni as seen from La Fontalina are starlet gold – and the island of Procida took recent fame as Europe’s 2022 culture capital, but when it comes to a rugged, fuss-free throwback, Ischia wins hands down. With anti-trend hotspots firmly on the travel agenda, that’s changing. For years the beauteous little volcanic island of Ischia managed to evade the spotlight thanks to its close, glitzy neighbour Capri. We’re sorry to disappoint, but the secret’s finally out.
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