Perched high on a cliff on a secluded corner of Ischia, San Montano Resort & Spa offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire Island of Ischia and the Bay of Naples. Up a winding road from the village of Lacco Ameno, this serene resort feels a world away while being at most a ten minute car ride from any of the shops and beachfront restaurants in town. (Note that you do not need a car; the hotel has a shuttle service that will take you into town.)
Behind the hotel’s pristine white exterior is a world of luxury. San Montano’s lobby is exquisitely appointed, with Hermès wallpaper, beautiful furnishings, and stunning ceramics from local artisans. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with a nautical theme yet sophisticated feel.
With seven swimming pools featuring both freshwater and seawater, you won’t want to stay inside for long. The best way to experience San Montano Resort is to lounge in one of its stunning pools, taking in the 360 degree views of the Mediterranean coast. At the end of the day, unwind on the terrace and take in the sunset while enjoying martinis and live piano music while the sun sets.
If you love the beach, the Spiaggia di San Montano is just a quick car ride down the hill, sheltered in the Bay of San Montano. We loved this beach. It slopes very gently into the sea, with relatively shallow water that makes it easy to wade out far from the shore and admire the luxury yachts that surround the opening of the bay. The adjacent Negombo thermal park offers twelve thermal baths and is one of the most popular volcanic spas on the island.
If you want to stay in for lunch or dinner, San Montano Resort offers several dining options. We had an incredible pizza lunch at the pool bar, which featured views of Mt. Epomeo in the center of the island and refreshing Aperol Spritz’s in the sun. Breakfast is served in La Veranda Restaurant, and the hotel also offers a fine dining restaurant, Francos, for a romantic dinner overlooking the sea.
San Montano’s 73 rooms offer a variety of accommodations, from standard rooms with garden views to sea view rooms with panoramic views of the Island of Ischia and the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel was kind enough to host us in an Infinity Pool Suite, a two-story suite with a private terrace and access to an exclusive infinity pool overlooking the San Montano Bay.
San Montano Resort & Spa, Via Nuova Montevico, 26, 80076 Lacco Ameno NA, Italy Note: San Montano Resort & Spa provided support for the reporting of this story.