?This historic early 13th-century monastery slung across cliffs above Amalfi?s harbor, first became a hotel in 1885. Reached by lift (or a path that zigzags up the cliff face), it?s a lofty world of its own, including the church, cloister, lemon groves, and pool?.
The hardly noticeable ground floor entrance to the hotel stands on a bend, with temporary parking, of the famous SS163 Amalfitana coast road, on the edge of Amalfi. From there, a lift whisks guests high above to seven floors with access to reception, church, and cloister, Monks? Walk (now the fabulous terrace), gardens, pool, restaurant, and bedrooms.

Alighting from the lift, it feels as if one has been transported to a castle ­? or in this case Capuchin monastery ­? in the sky, with exhilarating sea and harbor views. It takes a while to learn the layout and adjust to the slightly corporate feel of the hotel, but there?s no doubt that the historic setting is extraordinary.
The bare cliff towers above, the terraced gardens drop almost vertically below and the building, exuding a monastic air and fittingly decorated in calm, contemporary, undemanding ? verging on bland ? fashion, stretches between the half-ruined cloisters and Baroque-style church (available for weddings) at one end and gorgeous infinity pool and outdoor restaurant La Locanda at the other.Service is friendly and efficient, though in general perhaps less personal than in another luxury, mostly privately-owned and often family-run Amalfi Coast hot...