THE OUTDOOR ISSUE ISSUE NO Italia

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1 THE OUTDOOR ISSUE ISSUE NO Italia I N T E R N A T I O N A L. C O M

2 AMALFI COAST S MONASTERO SANTA ROSA A REAL SANCTUARY EVOKING A LOST TIME. THE SPIRITUAL ENCHANTMENT OF THE TRANSFORMED MONASTERY REMAINS EVER PRESENT IN THE LUXURIOUSLY CONVERTED 20 ROOMS AND SUITES BY: FLAVIA FRESIA 100

3 Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel and Spa is perched between sea and sky on a cliff edge on Italy s Amalfi Coast. Built directly into the side of the cliff, the former monastery has 20 guest rooms and suites, all with sea views, beautiful landscaped gardens spread over five tiers, an infinity pool, a spa, a historic herb garden and a private 12th century chapel. In 1999, American heiress Bianca Sharma caught sight of the abandoned former monastery during a boat trip: she fell in love with the spot and decided to buy and transform it into a luxury hotel and spa. Easier said than done: the planning process was very complex and fraught with difficulties. The initial plan had to be abandoned, but the final project was approved and the hotel finally opened in May

4 All through the renovation process - says Bianca Sharma - my main architect Franco de Martino and I worked closely with the local authorities to make sure the restoration respected the history and integrity of the building. My goal was to create a sanctuary for guests where they can find a chance to escape their hectic lives, giving them a serene calming atmosphere within the solid stone structure as well as throughout the multiple terraced gardens where they can wander and find cozy private spaces or ultimately arrive at the lowest garden to linger by the infinity-edge pool. Inside the former monastery, vaulted ceilings and floors were reinforced whilst keeping the ancient geometry of the interiors untouched. The nuns cells have been transformed into guest rooms, connecting two or three cells to have a bedroom and bathroom or a sitting room, bedroom and bathroom suite. Other larger rooms have been created from the common spaces used by the nuns. Attention to historical details is everywhere. For instance, lanterns and lighting fixtures mounted on the walls and ceilings, made of wrought iron, are inspired by ancient artifacts found in the monastery. The internal and external doors were made of chestnut wood of dark color in imitation of the few still existing in the monastery. Within the large corridors and the thick walls, guests have a sense of the spirituality and calm embrace of the structure, comments Bianca. Equal care has gone into the planning of the outdoor spaces, to make the most of the narrow tiered terraces fronting the sea, but with no direct access to a beach. We were fortunate that our contractor was wellconnected with the family that has maintained the Vatican gardens for several generations - reveals Bianca -. One of their family arrived to our gardens, looked at my wish list, which he respected, and then put his own understanding of the space to work. I respected his professional understanding 102

5 and did not micromanage that, and voila!, he worked his magic. The pathways through the terraces was the inspiration of the local architect, Franco de Martino, who wanted to incorporate the traditional local use of battuto (pebble filled concrete) pavers. Then we worked together to create cozy seating spaces. Stone retaining walls, wooden balustrades and reed shades echo traditional building techniques along the Amalfi Coast. On the lowest level of the garden is the infinity pool, created with materials that have no negative environmental impact. The bed of the pool is treated with special resins to give sand-colored water its natural color. Large boulders decorated with plants, positioned on the edge of the pool, make the area look very natural. The unique blend of trees and herbal plants were planted to stay true to the unique mix of medicinal herbs and aromatic plants used by the nuns. The gardens night lighting WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO MAKE SURE THE RESTORATION RESPECTED THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING 103

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7 GUEST CAN USE THE OUTDOOR GYM LOCATED ON THE FIRST LEVEL OF THE TIERED GARDENS OR ENJOY AL FRESCO SPA TREATMENTS WITHIN THE PRIVATE WALLED OUTDOOR TREATMENT PAVILION 105

8 was also given careful consideration so as not to disturb the night vision. The hotel also has an on-site herb and vegetable garden, providing fresh produce that executive chef Christoph Bob incorporates into seasonal dishes which combine the freshest local, organic ingredients of Conca dei Marini. Much of a stay at Monastero Santa Rosa can be spent outside. Lounge chairs and canopied daybeds dot the gardens. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on the pergola-shaded restaurant terrace and lunch is also served by the pool side or among the terraced gardens. Guests can use the outdoor gym located on the first level of the tiered gardens or enjoy al fresco spa treatments within the private walled outdoor treatment pavilion. At the end of the day they can unwind sipping a drink on the Sunset terrace. A corner of the garden with an outside fireplace allows people to make the most of the outdoor on chilly nights too. Weddings can also be celebrated in a private 106

9 MONASTERO SANTA ROSA HOTEL & SPA Address: Via Roma 2, Conca dei Marini (Sa), Italy Telephone: (+39) Web site: monasterosantarosa.com Mail: No. of rooms: 20 Rates: sea view superior rooms from 400 to 600, sea view premium terrace suite from 1,900 to 2,800 General manager: Flavio Colantuoni Restaurant: Il Refettorio, executive chef Christoph Bob suite with terrace or garden setting on the cliff. The premium suite has a large terrace, with a dining table and chairs as well as loungers. Another suite has a shallow terrace, and two smaller rooms have shallow terraces, each sufficiently large enough for a table with chairs. I often see guests wandering through the terraces, sometimes finding the spots with the Adirondack chairs to linger a while with a book or a drink. Sometimes they find the swing near the spa and stay there a while. However, most make a bee-line to our award winning infinity-edge pool and stay all day. The outdoor spaces have been so appreciated that people often say they are so content that they have decided to forget the action packed itinerary they thought they would accomplish while on the coast, which puts a big smile on my face, concludes Bianca. 107