Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria Sorrento hotel review
Share:
Annabel Grossman checks in. The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria occupies an enviable position in the town of Sorrento. Set on the edge of the cliff, the view is one of the best on this popular coast of Italy. Mount Vesuvius rises magnificently across the sea, while yachts and fishing boats bob in the harbour below. Like its neighbour the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento can get incredibly busy during the day – particularly in high season when tourists flock to the waterside restaurants and buses fill the narrow streets – but despite being in the heart of town, the Excelsior Vittoria is set back from the main square and surrounded by lush gardens, creating a peaceful oasis away from the crowds. Plus, the beauty of staying in Sorrento rather than visiting for the day means that the town is yours once the crowds go home. Early morning and late evening in Sorrento is exquisite. Sorrento is just under 50km from Naples and can be reached on the famous strada statale 163 Amalfitana (also known as the Amalfi Coast Road), which is a beautiful drive, while Capri is a 25-minute ferry.
![[The family-run hotel exudes charm and elegance]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/30/17/Hall.jpg)
The hotel, which has just celebrated its 190th birthday, has been in the same family for five generations. The owners have been careful to retain its original character, but recent renovations (these were completed in early 2024) have saved the hotel from looking dated. The result is classic Italian luxury. Set over three 19th-century villas among 20,000 square metres of lush Mediterranean garden, the Excelsior Vittoria was once the home of Emperor Augustus and past guests include Wagner, Goethe, Pavarotti, Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe. You get a sense of the hotel’s storied past throughout – with intricate frescos, sweeping staircases, marbled floors and high ceilings. Although opulent, the hotel feels relaxed and welcoming, thanks in large part to the Fiorentino family. Owner Guido Fiorentino notes that many guests return year after year and he knows plenty of them by name.
![[Rooms at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria are all individually decorated]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/30/17/GHEV3213-LowRes.jpg)
.jpg?trim=187,0,188,0&quality=100&auto=webp&width=1920)
