Villa Rizzo Resort & SPA

After driving through acres of orchards and a large, colorful garden, guests arrive at a large parking area near a group of buildings. The reception is in a small, clearly marked building, with large windows and seating out front. Inside it is spacious and warm, with terra-cotta floors and dark wooden ceilings. The small reception desk sits in the middle of the room, and there is plenty of travel and touring information available, as well as olive oil and wine for sale that are produced on the property. Some seating is available, and guests can walk through the building to find more seating around a small fireplace, a large dining room with a piano, and several shelves of books. An outdoor patio includes tables and chairs, and offers a beautiful view of the garden and surrounding mountains.

The Villa Rizzo Resort & Spa is off the beaten path, located off a private road in the countryside of San Cipriano Picentino. The location is extremely quiet and tranquil, with nothing visible from the property besides mountains and valleys. Although the hotel seems quite remote, and guests will need a car to get around, a number of local restaurants are within a 10-minute drive, and the hotel also has its own small restaurant on-site. The property is located midway between the Amalfi and the Cilento Coasts, and is a 15-minute drive from Salerno.

Although there are only 18 rooms on the property, guests can choose between comfortable standard rooms, larger junior suites, or two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. All rooms are bright and clean, feature warm floor tiles, wooden furnishings, and large and colorful bathrooms. They all include flat-screen TVs, minibars, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, free daily breakfast, and many also have patios or balconies with outstanding views. Room decor overall, however, is pretty sparse; picture blank walls and dated floral bedspreads. While the standard rooms are adequate in size, the junior suites provide larger sitting rooms and the apartments, with their kitchens, should suit families and larger groups, as well as guests who opt for longer stays.

In addition to the beautiful views and peaceful location, the Villa Rizzo Resort & Spa also offers a number of amenities. A large garden includes a wide plaza for walks amid flowers and greenery, and the spacious outdoor pool features a large, sun-drenched patio and deck, along with an outdoor bar. Breakfast is included in the room rate and is served outdoors during the warmer months, and guests can order lunch and dinner at the small on-site Mediterranean restaurant. The full spa is in a separate building, and in addition to massages and treatments, it has a Turkish bath, steam room, chromotherapy, Scottish shower, whirlpool, and fitness center. The resort produces its own wines and oils, which are available for purchase in the lobby, and also hosts occasional cooking classes for guests.