When heading to Campania on holiday, most people either choose to stay in Sorrento or venture around to the Amalfi coast. Both are so steeped in history and beauty you can see why they are extremely popular tourist destinations.
Sorrento overlooks the bay of Naples and has easy access from both Naples and Pompeii. From the Sorrento coastline you have great views across to Mount Vesuvius, the island of Capri and Ischia.
Sorrento dates back to 600 BC. It is an enchanting hillside town surrounded by lots of nature which makes for a great day holiday destination or a day trip from either of the big cities close by or even the Amalfi coast.
When looking for a hotel, we wanted to find somewhere with the glamour of times gone by whilst maintaining the charm of the region.
This is my review of the famous Bellevue Syrene Hotel in Sorrento. See the full walkthrough video here or at the end of this post.
THE HOTEL
“In the most picturesque corner of Sorrento, the Bellevue Syrene was opened in 1820, having been originally designed in 1750 as a private residence built on the foundations of a Roman villa. The location, decor, comfort and sense of history at this hotel make it an extraordinary place.” – Relais Chateux
Part of the Relais & Châteaux group of hotels and Perched atop a cliff on the Sorrento coastline, Bellevue Syrene feels like something out of an old Hollywood movie. On arrival, we were greeted by impeccable customer service and made to feel instantly at home.
The hotel is filled with charming romanticism reminiscent of a bygone era and immersed in Italian charm.
The statement decor is fine-tuned with ornate pieces and stunning colour combinations.
The most unique part of the hotel is the private sun bathing area underneath the hotel jetting out from the Cliff edge. From here there is the clearest water to swim in and views across the rest of the coast and over to Mount Vesuvius.
The pool area has an equal view with a terrace for eating and drinking.
RESTAURANT AREAS
On arrival we were taken to the lounge near reception and shown the area where there is food and drink offered complimentary between certain times of the day. This includes soft drinks, Prosecco, beers and hot and cold snacks. We opted for a welcome Prosecco.
Breakfast is served in the main restaurant with lots of cold and hot choices and the service is impeccable.
The restaurant for lunch/dinner is the breathtaking La Pergola Restaurant located at the entrance of the hotel with the best views over the bay.
The food is a beautiful example of fine dining and the menu is described by the restaurant as follows:
All our dishes express the culture of our territory, the tastes and scents of the sea and our garden. – La Pergola Restaurant
In this perfectly romantic setting, the food was delicious and the views are breathtaking.
THE ROOM
Our deluxe sea view room was nothing short of beautiful. With a small balcony with sea view.
FINAL THOUGHTS
From the moment we arrived at Bellevue Syrene we knew we had found a real gem on the Sorrento coast. I could not fault the service and highly recommend this hotel, it is truly special, even if you decide not to stay, pop by to soak up the cliffside ambience and have a drink or a meal with the postcard view, you won’t be disappointed.
See my walkthrough of the hotel here:
