Legendary Hotels: Le Sirenuse

Le Sirenuse

By Paula Móvil

Dolce Vita’s new era finds its ultimate expression in this dream hotel perfectly perched on a cliff top in the charming vertical village of Positano on the Italian coast. It renews itself year after year to maintain its essence, that which has been closely linked to the Sersale family since 1951, as well as to contemporary art, gastronomic hedonism, good taste and, of course, Italian craftsmanship.

Peeking out of an Instagram Stories capture on model Emily Ratajkowsi’s profile, the iconic red walls of one of Positano’s most famous and adored hotels appeared. The place in question was the stunning, classic hotel Le Sirenuse - named after the islands of Li Galli between the Isle of Capri and 6km southwest of Positano - a local landmark that has attracted celebrities since the Golden Age of Hollywood when for example, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor stayed there. Since then, actors such as Sienna Miller, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and Reese Witherspoon - who celebrated her honeymoon there - have given Le Sirenuse even more cachet within the star system. Cardinal Antonino Sersale was decorated as the region’s archbishop in the 18th century, but the history of this Amalfi Coast symbol was consolidated for modern times in 1951 when the Sersarle family converted Villa Giulietta, their impressive summer house, into an exquisite five-star hotel: 58 marvellous suites with vaulted ceilings, ceramic tiles, French windows and terracotta tiles, as well as antique pieces from all over Europe, Neapolitan paintings and local craftsmanship, bought by Franco Sersale, one of the owners, while he travelled the world.

Old family friends, VIP clients and guests rub shoulders at Le Sirenuse every summer, greeting and shaking hands with Antonio Sersale, Franco’s son, who now runs the hotel with his wife, Carla. Together, they have kept the family’s history alive and relevant today, with programmes such as Artists at Le Sirenuse, launched in 2015 and curated by Silka Rittson-Thomas, hosting pieces and installations by artists of the calibre of Martin Creed - creator of the neon ‘Don’t Worry’ in the hotel’s eponymous bar, Stanley Whitney - author of The Jitterbug Waltz, a painting of colourful horizontal bands that decorates one of the hotel’s lounges - and Lucy Stein - who brought to life a mermaid painted on tiles that decorate Aldo’s Cocktail Bar & Seafood Grill, one of the hotel’s restaurants.

Antonio and Carla have also created Emporio Sirenuse, a lifestyle and resortwear brand, with pieces that easily fit the dress code of the temples of culinary pleasure that make up Le Sirenuse. Starting with the idyllic “La Sponda” restaurant that overlooks the dome of the Santa Maria Assunta church, lit every night with 400 candles perfectly placed to create an atmosphere of epic romance amidst floor-to-ceiling plant vines that cover the walls. The Don’t Worry Bar, a cocktail bar in what was once the Sersale family living room, is decorated by Roman interior designer Annalisa Bellettati. Aldo’s is a space that demonstrates its versatility as a bar and bistro, with fresh seafood and Neapolitan dishes that parade between glasses of champagne, oysters and tiramisu. But without a doubt, the guests’ favourite space is the Pool Bar, an exclusive and perfect place for enjoying, with an Aperol Spritz in hand, the authentic and hedonistic pleasure offered by the Nuova Dolce Vita.