Hotel San Francesco al Monte Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay

Pros

Charming, converted 16th-century monastery
Top-floor seasonal outdoor pool with panoramic views
Rooftop garden with walkways, pergolas, and more views
Original frescoes, friezes, exposed stone, and vaulted ceilings
Located a short walk from Montesanto metro station
Mediterranean restaurant with Bay of Naples views (plus free breakfast buffet)
Seasonal restaurant set in the monastery's ancient vineyard
Seasonal pool bar with cocktails, ice cream, and fruit shakes
Spa with massage and beauty treatments
Wi-Fi free in public spaces

Cons

Fee for Wi-Fi in rooms
Parking for a fee
No fitness center or sauna

Bottom Line

The 45-room Hotel San Francesco al Monte is a charming property converted from a 16th-century monastery. The highlight here is panoramic views over the city rooftops to the Bay of Naples -- from the seasonal outdoor pool, pleasant roof garden, and many of the rooms. The hotel is a little off the beaten path (a short walk from the Montesanto metro station) but there is a spa, seasonal pool bar, and two restaurants, one set in the monastery's ancient vineyard. Rooms have frescoes and gilded headboards, but can be on the dark side and there is a fee for Wi-Fi in the rooms.

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Hotel & Amenities Photos

Restaurants and Bars

Junior Suite

The Hotel

Amenities

Terrace Room

Standard Room

Amenities

Internet
Pets Allowed
Pool
Spa

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Scene

Historic hotel in a former 16th century monastery

The seven-floor Hotel San Francesco al Monte is housed in the former Santa Lucia al Monte convent, founded in 1557 by the Minori Conventuali monks. The property retains many of the monastery's medieval decorative and architectural elements including frescoes, friezes, exposed stone, a refectory, cloisters house, barrel-vaulted corridors, vineyard, and garden. A historic feel pervades the hotel, but the property is modernized, with free Wi-Fi in the public spaces and flat-screen TVs in the rooms. Guests gather at the free breakfast buffet, in the two restaurants, and at the seasonal outdoor pool. The roof garden is a romantic space with pleasant walkways, pergolas, and panoramic views of the surrounding area.

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Location

A little off the beaten path, but quiet and near the metro station

Hotel San Francesco al Monte is in the Spanish Quarter area of Naples, a short walk east of Castel Sant'Elmo fortress and the St. Martin's Charterhouse and its Carthusian monastery. The hotel is a little ways from central Naples, but the metro stop at Montesanto is a short walk (750 meters) north, for access to the rest of the city. Cabs might be necessary late at night. The Piazza del Plebiscito, Royal Palace, and San Francesco di Paola church are about one kilometer (a half-mile) south. If you're coming from Naples International Airport, the hotel is seven kilometers (four miles) southwest.

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Rooms

Renovated monk cells, now with flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi

Rooms at the Hotel San Francesco al Monte were originally the monk cells of the medieval monastery. They are decorated with painted armoires, woven rugs, fresco reproductions, antique reproductions, and floral bedspreads. Rooms range in size from 150 square feet in the smallest standard rooms to over 300 square feet in the highest category. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi (fee in rooms, free in public spaces), laptop-compatible safes, and minibars. Some rooms have views of the historic city center and some have views of the Gulf of Naples. Rooms with terraces are available.

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Features

A free breakfast, seasonal rooftop pool, and serene rooftop garden with panoramic views

There is a free breakfast buffet including a spread of pastries, eggs, bacon, meats, cheeses, fruits, bread, cereal, coffee, juice, and more. A hotel highlight is the seventh-floor seasonal outdoor pool surrounded by rock and greenery and featuring a hidden cave with a whirlpool with hot water and soothing jets. The rooftop garden is a peaceful, romantic space. The hotel abuts the adjacent Vomero Hill, and features the medieval-style pergolas and pathways of the original monastery. Both the pool and garden offer panoramic views of the city, Gulf of Naples, Mount Vesuvius, Capri, nearby Carthusian monastery, and Sant'Elmo castle. Similar views are also on offer at the terrace restaurant, serving Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel also has a seasonal pool bar and a seasonal restaurant set in the monastery's vineyard. There is no fitness center or sauna, but the hotel has a spa with massages. Shuttle service is offered for a fee.

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