In year 1893, Pantaleone Caruso, and his wife, Emilia Cicalese, rented 5 rooms in one of the wings of the Marquis D’Afflitto’s eleventh century palace and open the "Pensione Belvedere". He chose this name because of the hanging garden facing the mountains and plunging down to the sea. Getting there was not an easy thing, but the efforts of the first daring tourists were paid off by the splendid view: blooming lemon groves and lush vineyards stippled by white roofs against the blue of the sea and of the sky. The guests were simply fascinated: glorious food, glorious home made wine and glorious view.
In 1903 a journalist guest in love with the Hotel, wrote a long article on the New York Times and the Caruso suddenly became very famous across the Atlantic. Wealthy Americans, who wintered on the European rivieras and sought charming places in which to stay, immediately adopted that remote little hideaway.
Located on the highest point of Ravello, the hotel is perched on a cliff top 1150ft (350mt) above the sea level overlooking the spectacular Mediterranean of the Amalfi Coast.
In 1999 the Caruso family sold the Hotel to Orient Express which then spent the next 6 years and US$30 Million to renovate and modernize the classic hotel. Although they maintained the 800 year old elements of the hotel, it's now a modern day masterpiece. The hotel now sports Broadband Internet, satellite TV and many other comforts.
