Rediscover Capri at the Hotel La Palma

If it is to the Ligurian Riviera , further north of La Botte , that Jane Rouch devoted one of her most famous travel stories, we will remember the title because it symbolizes what every lover of luminous escapades experiences when setting foot on the port of Capri : “We still have Italy” (1)... An Italy which combines history, elegance and Art of living . In short, all the charm of La Dolce Vita .

The eleventh establishment in the Oetker Collection portfolio, La Palma Capri joins some of the most beautiful hotels in the world: the Bristol Paris, the Hôtel du Cap-Eden -Roc in Antibes, the Lanesborough in London, the Eden Rock in Saint-Barthélémy , the Palacio Tangara in Sao Paulo ...Like these icons of luxury hotels, La Palma Capri has a long history.

Under the name Locanda Pagano, it opened more than two hundred years ago, at the time of the Grand Tour, this journey across Europe that every young aristocrat had to take. The hotel is right in the heart of the city, close to the famous Piazzetta and the cable car station that takes visitors from the Marina Grande port to the historic center .

The fashion boutiques that have taken over Via Camerelle are just a stone's throw away, and it only takes a few minutes' walk through the picturesque streets to discover Capri 's most iconic sites. We follow the Via Krupp, the path clinging to the mountainside, we offer ourselves some breathtaking panoramas , from the Giardini di Augusto , on the Certosa (the chartreuse with its adorable cloister ) and the Faraglioni, the three imposing rocks around which the Riva flotilla and tourist boats circulate at all hours who want to approach the Blue Grotto and admire from afar the Villa Malaparte where Jean-Luc Godard filmed “Le Mépris” and the other natural wonders of the coast of Capri .

“Capri is an island that I particularly like,” says Francis Sultana . I wanted my design to reflect the very special relationship I have with Capri which was love at first sight from my first visit when I was twenty years old, a romantic and aesthetic island with a beauty that inspires creation under all its forms. » For this creation, he called on local artisans, but also renowned Italian artists. In the rooms, the works of art are by Luisa Lambri, the bathroom accessories personalized by Stella, and the rattan furniture was handmade by Bonacina. When he opened his villa in 1822, the notary Guiseppe Pagano received visiting poets, writers, musicians and painters. Guests who often left a work as a souvenir at this “artists’ hotel”. It was with this tradition in mind that Francis Sultana asked Roberto Ruspoli to design the frescoes that decorate the lobby ceiling and the hotel walls. The latter presents his work as follows: “In these paintings, designed like contemporary frescoes, the classical figures are inspired by the Roman world. The Emperors' Passage floats spectacularly in blue and green tones evoking the sky, the sea and nature and the openwork arches leave room for palm trees. »

It's hard to imagine such an elegant giatura city without a quality table. In La Palma , gourmets will be delighted by the cuisine of Gennaro Esposito who makes a point of playing the card of simplicity and authenticity. A cuisine that he describes as “warm, welcoming, full of flavors, with local specialties enriched and reinterpreted in a creative way”. The double-starred chef for his restaurant Torre del Saracino in Vico Equense in the Naples region, manages the hotel's two tables. Gennaro's, the sunny terrace overlooking Via Vittorio Emanuele and the Bianca restaurant. Located on the rooftop, with a very lively bar, Bianca opens mainly in the evening, for dinners under the stars with spectacular views of the island and the sea.

The La Palma hotel has an additional asset: its beach club. A strong argument on a rocky island where beaches are rare. A few minutes by car on the south coast of Capri , Da Gioia by La Palma offers around forty deckchairs placed on the pebbles facing crystal clear water as well as a private beach which can accommodate up to eight people with exclusive service. If the deckchairs are reserved for guests of La Palma , the restaurant on the terrace is open to external customers. Particularly those of the neighboring yachts and hotels which offer arrivals by sea...A clientele eager to enjoy the sun as much as the delicious cuisine of Chef Esposito: the catch of the day in a salt crust, the essential pastas with lobster or eggplant parmigiana. A day at the beach which will, of course, be followed by some welcome moments of relaxation at Spa La Palma . Massages provided with products from the Tata Harper , Augustinus Bader and Miamo brands are carried out in three treatment rooms including a double suite and a cabin dedicated to beauty. Sauna, hammam, sensory shower and salt cave complete the relaxation offer.