Grand Hotel Cocumella (Sorrento, Italy)

Sorrento is a town of legends and gardens. Not far from the townsquare, the Grand Hotel Cocumella was built in the 16th century asa Jesuit monastery and became a hotel in 1822. It stands in park land that stretches down to the sea with panoramic views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. The hotel has 50 elegant air-conditioned bedrooms and suites charmingly furnished with antiques. Special features range from a seaside solarium and a private chapel for concerts and and weddings, to Cocumella's own tall ship Vera, built in 1880 used for day cruises along the Amalfi Coast and to Capri.The graceful Scintilla Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine in a romantic setting overlooking the park while, in summer, the Agrumeto presents a relaxed barbecue under the shade of orange trees by the pool. As generations of travelers have discovered, this peaceful spot is the perfect seaside escape.