COSTANTINOPOLI 104

Elegant Neapolitan mansion run with pizzazz

COSTANTINOPOLI 104 (yes, that's the address) hides its charms behind a gated courtyard in the heart of old Naples. It's a captivating little 19th century villa just minutes from the hurly-burly where calm and seclusion reign.

Leaving behind the city’s chaotic street life, with its motorini (mopeds), lines of washing and fading classical palazzi, we suddenly stepped into a private courtyard shaded by lofty palms, where the sounds of the city seemed a million miles away.

Costantinopoli 104 feels like a rich friend’s stylish Neapolitan mansion. A huge Liberty style stained glass window in bright jewel colours sets off the facade, with its pretty café-style terrace, while inside everything has been beautifully pulled together by owner Clelia Santoro. Cream sofas stuffed with plump cushions, cool tiled floors and oriental kilims are set off by striking artworks, tall vases of fresh flowers and collections of old prints.

Bold modern artworks

Our room came with a wrought iron bed and marble bathroom stocked with designer bubbly stuff. After a hard day’s sightseeing, a twilight dip in the guitar-shaped pool hit the spot before sipping a glass of the Costantinopoli's home-distilled limoncello. You can munch delicious breakfasts al fresco here on the courtyard terrace. Ours was brought to the sunny terrace outside our room, where we could peep over neighbouring rooftops.

You're close to all the Naples action here. Gorge on the art of Caravaggio, Titian and Michelangelo at the Museo di Capodimonte, head off for the Bay of Naples and its islands, or take a look at Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.


Costantinopoli 104 was reviewed for Room for Romance by Mairiona Cotter

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Only breakfast is served.

Dining out
Naples offers a feast of excellent restaurants. Palazzo Petrucci and Taverna dell’Arte are both within a ten-minute walk and well worth trying.  Neopolitans claim the pizza was invented here (especially the Margherita, named after a queen) so do get to one of the scores of city pizzerias.

See & Do
Naples has some wonderful sights. Peer into some of the centuries-old narrow streets leading off Scaccanapoli, which bisects the old centro storico, sit with a cappuccino in one of the cafes around Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, and admire the beautiful interior of the church of San Lorenzo. The city's National Archeological Museum is packed with mosaics and statues from ancient Pompeii, and if that all sounds a bit dry and dusty, the ancient erotica showcased in the museum's one-room Gabinetto Segreto will add some sauce.

Do get a local train out to Pompeii, whose archaeological remains a riveting reminder of everyday life in a city destroyed by a devastating eruption from Mount Vesuvius.

Shop
All the big Italian fashion houses have showpiece stores in Naples. Good smaller, independent boutiques include  La Scarabattola and Intra Moenia.

Spa
You can book an in-room treatment from a visiting masseur at reception.

After dark
Join Naples' young glitterati at one of the late-night bars on Piazza Bellini.

Dates
June
Local and international music stars gather for Neopolis, a  festival held in a 1930’s arena.

September
Naples' ten-day Pizzafest  celebrates the city's most famous dish in every size and flavour.

GETTING THERE

Location
Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 80138 Naples

Parking
No free guest parking, though there is secure parking nearby.

Trains
Dante station –150m

Taxis
EUR 5 from the station

Airport
Naples Capodichino – 5km

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 190 - 250

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
2pm

Check-out
Before midday

Minimum night stay?
No

Breakfast
Buffet breakfast is served until 10:30am

Room service
Available morning and evening

Children
Welcome

Pets
Pets are welcome.

Air conditioning
Yes

Languages
Italian, English, French and Spanish

Wedding license?
No

Your contact
Clelia Santoro – owner