Hotel Santavenere in Maratea, Italy, to Re-Open for the Summer Season on 24th April

• An under the radar alternative to the Amalfi Coast; Maratea is the destination to visit this summer 

• Hotel Santavenere will re-open with eight newly transformed garden rooms and an overall light touch refurbishment 

• The eight newly transformed garden rooms have been designed by the Egnazia group’s preferred Italian interior designer, Pino Brescia, who is also responsible for the interior design of world-famous Borgo Egnazia 

A serene hideaway cradled by the sea, Hotel Santavenere in Maratea, Italy, will re-open its doors for another spectacular summer season on 24th April 2024. 

Part of the renowned Egnazia group, Hotel Santavenere blends modern luxury and timeless Italian charm, and is only two hours from Naples Airport. The 34-room hotel set atop the cliffside invites guests to experience unparalleled hospitality against the backdrop of the Tyrrhenian Sea. 

For those not familiar, below we take a look at the reasons why Hotel Santavenere should be on everyone’s must-visit list for 2024 and beyond. 

Location 

Hotel Santavenere aspires to show travellers the hidden paradise of Maratea – a small Italian town which holds a panoramic position on one of the most inspiring expanses along the Gulf of Policastro. The Italian town is often left out from popular travel itineraries, such as those involving the Amalfi Coast which is only two and a half hours away by car, or Rome which is just three hours away by train. 

In Maratea, guests can discover a piece of Italy that still feels exclusive. The destination has exceptional features that make it ready to assert itself on both the national and international scene: breathtaking landscapes, wild nature, a clear sea with a thousand shades, a coastline full of inlets and caves to discover, and finally - an authentic “Italian Summer” atmosphere. 

Room & Suites 

Hotel Santavenere stretches over 3,000 square feet and is nestled in an alluring clifftop setting with 34 rooms and suites and plenty of calming living spaces designed with the 19th-century Italian glamour in mind. The bedrooms all vary in size and decor, each offering unique views of either the garden or the gulf and have their own identity while sharing a sense of belonging to the local area. Each room’s charm lies in the intricate details such as the antique furniture and the ceramics of Vietri. 

Renovations 

As of April 2024, guests can expect a new look from Hotel Santavenere thanks to its light touch refurbishment throughout the hotel. The refurbishment will also see the hotel’s eight garden rooms transformed by Egnazia’s preferred Italian designer, Pino Brescia.  

Restaurants 

At Hotel Santavenere, foodies will have a choice of three restaurants: Le Laterne Restaurant which offers traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist, Gli Ulivi Restaurant which directly translates to ‘an oasis of peace surrounded by olive trees’, and Il Carrubo which is located on the Santavenere beach club, an elegant terrace overlooking the sea just a stone’s throw from the pier. 

Gli Ulivi is the hotel’s poolside restaurant which offers light, fresh dishes for those wanting to have a quick bite, brunch or an aperitivo. Thanks to its wood-fired oven, guests can enjoy freshly-made, traditional Italian pizzas during lunch and dinner, too. Being surrounded by the olive and lemon trees of the hotel’s charming garden, the unmistakable scent of warm Mediterranean Sea air, and a gentle ocean breeze promise guests an unforgettable al fresco dining experience. 

Le Laterne, open for breakfast and dinner, offers tasting menus carefully designed by the hotel’s Chefs to take diners on a journey through local flavours and to taste innovation. The menu is packed with historical dishes that have been revived and revisited to truly celebrate the dolce vita of the past and present. During breakfast, guests can start their day with delicious savoury and sweet delights from the Lucanian and Campanian culture.  

Il Carrubo, open daily for lunch and for dinner at weekends, is the hotel’s stunning seafront restaurant where diners can taste the catch of the day, choosing it directly from the counter and specifying their preferred cooking method. Il Carrubo offers the typical flavours of the sea whilst promising a romantic sunset dining spot. Visit Il Carrubo on a Friday to try the restaurant’s ‘Italian Friday’ – a celebration of Maratea – where guests can discover the traditions of the region through local flavours and music.   

Activities  

Hotel Santavenere is the ideal place for those who wish to discover a hidden corner of Italian beauty in elegant surroundings without compromising on the pleasure of having authentic and exclusive experiences. The hotel even has its very own in-house experience provider. 

In Maratea, travellers can discover the area and enjoy the landscape by cycling, hiking, and climbing, or by exploring the many caves by kayak or boat. Guests of Hotel Santavenere can also embrace the local culture with the hotel’s organised fishing experience, food tour, or tapestry excursion. In fact, the Egnazia group's main objective is to enhance territories and traditions: a unique heritage to be promoted and protected, offering unique experiences inside and outside of their hotels. 

New for this year, Hotel Santavenere will offer yoga classes in its lush gardens. Active guests can enjoy the hotel’s gym and tennis court, followed by a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or in the sea at the hotel’s private beach.  

Looking for a bit of romance? Hotel Santavenere is happy to organise picnics in the gardens or private dinners at Il Carrubo at a nearby cliff overlooking the azure Mediterranean sea. 

For guests who would like to immerse themselves in the local gastronomy beyond eating at the hotel’s restaurants, Hotel Santavenere can organise cooking classes with its resident Chef who will reveal the secrets of a local recipe. For guests who want to go one step further, the hotel is also able to host a cocktail class so guests can learn the art of classic Italian cocktails. Hugo Spritz, anyone? 

History  

Hotel Santavenere has a charming soul mixed with a long, beautiful history. Constructed in 1953 following the innovative vision of Count Stefano Rivetti, a member of one of the most important families of Piedmontese wool industrialists. Rivetti recognised the tremendous potential of Maratea for its beauty and started a tourism development project between 1951 and 1952. The unique geographical position and the great beauty of the area made Maratea and Basilicata an emerging tourist destination. In particular, the hamlet of Fiumicello, nestled alongside the Maratea coast, saw the beginning and evolution of tourism in the 1950s and it is in this area that Hotel Santavenere was born and immediately became known as the “jewel” of Lucania. 

The Future of Travel to Maratea 

Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport – which is just a one hour and thirty minute drive from Hotel Santavenere – will re-open as a commercial airport in July 2024 making it easier than ever to access Italy’s most beautiful coastline. Previously, the site has been more of an airfield than an airport, serving military, pilots in training, and private aviation. International services will begin as early as July this year, however, it has not yet been confirmed when flights from / to the UK will begin. 

Authorities say the development will continue until 2024, by which time the airport hopes to process some six million passengers per year. 

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Editors notes

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Prices start from €169 (approx. £145) for a Superior Room with Garden View on a bed and breakfast basis. The nearest international airports are Naples (approx. 2 hours 30 mins by car), and the nearest train station is Maratea (less than 5 minutes by car). For further information please visit https://santavenere.it/en/santa-venere-maratea-eng/. 

About Hotel Santavenere  

Built in the 1950s, Santavenere was conceived as an aristocratic villa, a welcoming home where every detail is elegantly crafted, and hospitality is tailor-made. Covering over three thousand square meters, Santavenere encapsulates its timeless beauty in 34 rooms and several spacious lounges. Each room, all bright and distinct from one another, possesses its own identity that narrates a connection with the local surroundings. The grand, sun-filled lounges are meticulously furnished with historic Vietri tiles, late 18th-century furniture, Minturno ceramics, and rare artisanal objects. Santavenere best expresses the essence of a region to be rediscovered; it is a place from another era, rich in history and contemporary emotions – not just a hotel, but a genuine experience. 

About Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana  

In 2023, Aldo Melpignano introduced Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana, a hotel management group that already includes various properties scattered throughout Italy. Alongside family-owned establishments like Borgo Egnazia and Masseria Le Carrube, there is Santavenere in Maratea, HOTEL de LEN in Cortina d'Ampezzo, and three additional openings scheduled between 2024 and 2025: Castel Badia in Brunico, a property near Rome, and Hotel Ancora in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Egnazia group offers entrepreneurs and hoteliers an operational management model that emphasizes an entirely Italian hospitality culture. This is achieved through contemporary and innovative tools, technologies, and skills necessary to develop efficient, competitive business models that prioritize the true protagonist: the customer. 

UK Press Enquiries:  

Emily Falkner, Kristie Crozier & Julie Heinisch at Lemongrass Travel PR 

E: egnazia@lemongrassmarketing.com   

T: +44 (0)1865 237 990