Italy has always been known for its magical landscape and breathtaking sunsets. An escape route for travellers from all walks of life, Capri in Italy has the ideal island life. Known for its rugged landscape, it is home to iconic restaurants, shopping centres and captures the contemporary spirit of the Mediterranean region in Italy. The list of visitors to the island includes celebrities, royalty as well as dignitaries. Building on the same, the Oetker Collection along with Reuben Brothers is transforming Capri&rsquos first-ever built hotel.
The hotel, formerly known as Locanda Pagano, has been a gracious host to artists, poets, writers, architects, painters and musicians, who all showed their gratitude by painting the walls, writing poems, singing and playing. Due to this the hotel was also dubbed as the Artists&rsquo Hotel.
The property&mdashHotel La Palma&mdashbuilt in 1822, is owned by Reuben Brothers and will soon be added to the Oetker Collection portfolio. This first and oldest hotel on the island is headed for a complete transformation and will debut in April next year. In its all-new avatar, the property will spot 50 rooms and suites which have been reimagined in the island&rsquos iconic Dolce Vita lifestyle.
What&rsquos new in store
The hotel is all set to become even more chic and will spot a decreased room count&mdash50 as opposed to current 80, including 18 suites. Each room will also have its private balcony or terrace. While the rooms and lobby are being done by Rome-based Francesco Delogu of Delogu Architects, the restaurant, pool, spa and the beach club are being done by New York-based Tihany Design, one of the world&rsquos preeminent hospitality design firms, led by Adam Tihany and Alessia Genova.
In terms of culinary space, the property will spot Gennaro&rsquos restaurant, bar and terrace, under the direction of Chef Gennaro Esposito, who runs his own two-Michelin Star restaurant, Torre del Saracino, for the last 23 years. The restaurant will embrace Capri&rsquos timeless romance&mdashsimple yet stylish and will take a step back in time to the Capri of the 1950s, while serving unpretentious, authentic Italian cuisine. A contemporary, vibrant place that shuns formality and celebrates the spirit and cuisine of Capri, Gennaro&rsquos will also benefit from being right next door to the great Taverna Anema e Core.
Adding another feather to its hat will be Bianca, the newly created rooftop restaurant and bar overseeing the sea and the Capri Village. Bianca, also under the culinary direction of Chef Esposito, is all set to become the island&rsquos chicest hangout, transporting guests to another time and place. In addition, Hotel La Palma will also offer a brand-new pool deck, complete with an elegant pool bar that pays homage to the classic Capri of the golden age.
For those looking to unwind, an indulgent spa with three treatment rooms, including one double treatment suite, a sauna, steam bath and ice shower, relaxation space and fitness centre are also available. The hotel will also offer three boutiques.
Capri&rsquos southern coast is also home to the most famous beaches and restaurants at La Palma Beach Club in the Marina Piccola. Also open to non-hotel guests, the place serves as a meeting destination for long, lazy lunches or to simple gaze at the sun setting into the horizon accompanied by sunset cocktails.
What&rsquos more
The island of Capri is also home to many notable sites such as Giardini di Augusto, Via Krupp, La Certosa and the iconic Faraglioni. Another must-visit natural site within the vicinity of the property is the Grotta Azzurra&mdashthe Blue Grotto&mdasha dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, due to sunlight passing through an underwater cave.
How to reach
Capri is easily accessible by air or sea. Naples International Airport is the closest airport, located approximately 10km from the city&rsquos port. Other airports include include Ravello (20 minutes away) and Rome (70 minutes away) along with a heliport in Anacapri. In addition, the island can be reached by ferry or hydrofoil in 25 minutes from Sorrento or Positano, in 50 minutes from Naples, and in one hour from Amalfi.