La Locanda delle Donne Monache

Chic little jewel in the mountains above Maratea

La Locanda delle Donne Monache is one of those rare finds you’d like to keep all to yourselves. Suspended between mountains and sea, this little Eden has views to match.

Know It All

Hit the spot
In historic Maratea, 90 minutes south of the Amalfi coast

Come here for...
● Italy for the cognoscenti – charm without the crowds. ● A former convent turned chic boutique hotel. ● The dramatic Tyrrhenian coast and beaches. ● Maratea's churches and historic riches. ● The mountain-top Christ statue – Maratea's answer to Rio.

Amenities
There's a cliff-edge pool surrounded by loungers, and a flagstone terrace perfect for sipping an aperitivo. Il Sacello is one of the best restaurants in town and there's also a sleek little cocktail bar, L'Alambicco. La Locanda provides a shuttle to the beaches at Marina di Maratea, with complimentary towels and parasols. There's also a massage room and fitness suite, free wi-fi and a DVD library.

Good to know
It’s in a scenic hillside location with plenty of steps!

Bedtime...

Bedrooms
27 rooms and suites

Special features
You'll find fine linen, tiled or terracotta floors, aircon, free wi-fi, robes and slippers and gleaming white bathrooms with generous toiletries. Rooms have a bathtub or shower.

Pillow Talk
Pick a Deluxe room or a suite for great views over the town’s medieval streets and lush wooded hills. Spacious suites (all individual) come with a canopied bed, oversize bathroom and stunning views. La Vicaria has a groovy rock-embedded bathroom, La Badessa has a jacuzzi and roomy terrace, Le Converse has a terrace and private garden while La Superiora has a peaceful private garden.

Eat & Drink

Dining in
For a creative take on Mediterranean and Basilicatan classics, La Locanda's Il Sacello restaurant is hard to beat. Go for the Gragnano Paccheri with Parmesan cream, shrimps and scarpariello sauce for an authentic taste of the region. Expect the freshest and best local produce, including freshly caught fish and locally grown veggies.

The hotel's L'Alambicco bar serves light bites and cocktails in the gardens or pool terrace, with its views over the town.

Breakfast
A full buffet breakfast is served until 10:30am.

Room service
Available morning and evening.

Activities

Activities
The city of Maratea is a UNESCO world heritage site that begs exploration – not least for its 44 churches. Savour the stunning views on the 40 minute climb up to the medieval ruins and dazzling white, 21m high statue of Christ – it's well worth the effort!

Further afield, visit the pretty hilltop towns of Rivello, Nemoli and Lagonegro (20-30km), the wonderfully preserved Greek ruins of Paestum (108km), medieval Caracciolo Castle in Brienza (90km), the Roman ruins of Grumentum (70km), the Pollino national park and the famous charterhouses of Certosa di Padula (60km).

Sports easily arranged nearby include horse riding, trekking, mountain biking, sailing, paragliding, rafting or canoeing. There's also great diving and snorkelling. If simply bronzing is more your scene, just take the hotel’s shuttle bus to the beach and zone out.

Spa
You can book a range of massages here, such as back and shoulder, Californian and Malaysian Wave – just the thing to round off a tough day by the pool.

Diary Dates
May
Celebrate Maratea's patron saint at the Festa di San Biagio, with parades, fireworks and good food.

July-August
Maratea's Arts Festival and Film Festival ensure there's a feast of music, painting, poetry and film to enjoy.