Looking for a winter reset? You’ve probably thought of a spa or a cruise, or perhaps a bit of hygge luxe in a log cabin somewhere scenic and snowy. But what about going back to basics — by which I mean going right back to Medieval basics? What about a spot of prayer and contemplation in a ruined cloister, high on a cliff on the southern coast of Italy under the guidance of a real-life Franciscan friar? If it sounds intriguing, then a stay at the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel near Naples should hit the spot. It could even turn out to be more than a seasonal pick-me-up: it might change your life.
Anyone who has been to a hotel owned by the Thai-based Anantara group will know that a stay with them is all about luxury. But it’s also about place; Anantara are keen on digging deep into the spirit of the location, and extracting something special and unique to each one. In the case of the Convento, the specialness is right there in the history of the building, a former Capuchin monastery built in the 13th century on the site of a cave which had for centuries been a place of quiet contemplation by Christian ascetics.
