Hotel Palazzo Murat

The Palazzo dates back to the 17th century, and for a while it was the extravagant summer home of Napoleon’s brother-in-law and King of Naples, Gioacchino Murat. Its historic opulence is evidenced by intricately cut stone doors and window frames, refurbished tile mosaics, and wooden furniture. The lobby and rooms are immaculate, showing no signs of disrepair -- although considering how gorgeous the grounds and communal spaces are, room decor can seem a bit bland. The high ceilings and stark decor maintain the building’s historic and majestic ambiance and although every hotel in town is covered in flowers and vines, the Palazzo takes this a big step further, boasting its own botanical garden and citrus grove that emanates a smell of fresh lemons. This makes for an extremely romantic vibe, and the hotel sees its fair share of honeymooners.

With Positano’s pedestrian zone literally right out the door, the hotel sets itself apart from most in town in that it’s situated on the same level as the main drag of shops, cafes, and the beach. The main square (Piazza dei Mulini) is around the corner and the Spiaggia Granda is no more than five minutes away. As a result, the sea views are not as grand as what you'd find in many other hotels, but the uphill views of the the surrounding green cliffs, the ancient Dome church, and nearby local residences are magical in their own right.

Each room is equipped with a small patio or balcony with a table and chairs. Depending on the room, the view looks out upon the wondrous garden, to sea, or toward local residences and the rocky cliffs. Many pieces of the wooden furniture — wardrobes, dressers and nightstands — are the renovated belongings of King Murat. The historic motif is balanced with flat-screen TVs with pay-per-view, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and completely modernized bathrooms, which are on the small side and have narrow tubs and showers with partial doors.

A 24-hour concierge service is available for arranging restaurant reservations, island excursions, and spa visits at this hotel. Guests receive a free boat tour and rates include a fresh daily buffet breakfast, which is served in the hotel’s stunning courtyard, full of foliage ranging from cacti to jungle palms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and the bar is open all day, serving light snacks for lunch. The on-site Al Palazzo restaurant serves highly touted local Campanian fare nightly, using vegetables grown in the hotel garden. There's a lovely outdoor pool as well.