Il San Pietro di Positano. Dream-like resort in iconic fisherman village of Positano, Amalfi Coast, the mecca of jet-setters’ crowd in many generations.
This luxurious (and pricey) hotel is very hard to book since Il San Pietro di Positano regulars reserve their preferred rooms for the next season year ahead. But it truly worth an effort. Between me and you, I know very few other properties in the world which could compete in aspect of refine beauty, impeccable service and strategical position.
Shhh… I have approach, feel free to contact. We may make it work!
I could write a poem about Il San Pietro di Positano, and the reasons are numerous. First and the most, it is spectacular. The views are tremendous, but more than it, they are iconic. What you see from any garden corner, terrace, window is a postcard-worthy (and oh so much instagram worthy too!) beauty of Positano bay, town of Positano with its colourful houses climbing up the hill, and timeless and endless Mediterranean blue.
I’m lucky one as I’ve seen Positano from all possible angles and perspectives in my long travel advisors life, but this perspective if simply perfectly breathtaking.
The history of Il San Pietro di Positano starts from the pure dream of Carlino Cinque, known as The Dreamer from Positano. Starting from scratch and bare cliffs overlooking poor fisherman village, Carlino created what we now call one of the most refine Amalfi Coast resorts, step by step, little by little, to the heights of what it is now.
It took time and efforts of few generations, but all started from impossible and unimaginable dream and very special vision. “Uncle Carlino did all of this without an architect. He had an artist’s vision, and he really respected the natural environment. When he built something, he’d go out on the boat and look at it from the water. If it offended the landscape, he would tear it down and rebuild.” “It’s the complete opposite approach of what anyone else would do to build a new hotel.” – that is a saying of Carlo Cinque, one of two brothers who run Il San Pietro di Positano today.
I was lucky one not just to stay in this amazing resort few times as warm welcomed guest, but also to get to know the family behind, and many very special people working for the property for decades, everyone dedicated to it through and through. That is one of many unthinkable benefits of my not so easy profession: the acquaintances with extraordinary people which every now and then lead to lifetime friendships.
One of the most cherished gifts I ever received was the book “Il Sognatore di Positano” (“The Dreamer from Positano”) by Virginia Attanasio, the niece of Carlino Cinque, and her co-writer Stefania Berbenni. It is a real story of dreams comes true, wrote in Italian, and signed by Virginia who is present in hotel on daily basis as a patroness of the home.
With the passing of Carlino in 1984, Virginia and her brother Salvatore formed the “second generation” managing Il San Pietro.
These days hotel is ruled by Vito and Carlo Cinque, the sons of Virginia and nephews of Salvatore, and tremendous story of one of the most beautiful hotels in the world continues.
Ones I asked Vito Cinque how it happens that interior design of the rooms of Il San Pietro di Positano looks exactly like my dream house. I mean, I’m being architect by education and quite passionate about interior design, spoilt with numerous most recognized hotel rooms to stay, always feel that if I would have money to decorate my living premises freely as I wish, I would have them Il San Pietro di Positano.
The answer was as simple and straight, as Vito is: “I decorate rooms for myself, not for fashion. It is my home.” I may not remember exact words of this conversation, but the meaning is clear. And it really works.
Il San Pietro doesn’t go with fast changing fashion. It goes with tradition, refine taste, and local crafts of the finest quality. Pretty much every detail is local – fabrics, ceramics, furniture, black and white photos picturing history of the place.
Every winter serious renovation work is done to keep it crisp fresh and up to date for the new season, and to realize new ideas. So my photos from previous years may not be exactly what you will find now since renovation is constant in order to perfect perfection. Yet this photos will give you an idea of Il San Pietro di Positano magic spell.
Important thing to mention: rooms are quite spacious even in entry category, and all of them have sea view terrace or balcony, unique design, and artisan-made details. There is no “standard” room. Each room is a piece of art of some kind, and this is an Il San Pietro standard as it is: artistic, refine, picture-worthy.
Il San Pietro di Positano, with its unreal hanging gardens, endless charming corners, tremendous details, spotless service has one more thing which very few hotels in Amalfi Coast have: the beach. This rocky seaside area, so delightful for the eye, somehow has quite limited access for the swimming, and proper beaches are few. The beach of Il San Pietro is rather tiny, but it exists. You can walk down to the beach through the wonderful gardens, enjoying smashing views and fragrance of Mediterranean herbs. Or you can take elevator and get there in a minute. Your choice.
Finishing this little essay dedicated to one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, I should mention only one issue: it is always sold out. But… well… I have few friends, and sometimes magic happens. It is Italy after all.
If you book Il San Pietro di Positano with me, your benefits are:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Buffet breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
