4 Best Hotels in Ravello, The Amalfi Coast

In 1288, this diminutive property overlooking the coastline housed an order of Augustinian friars; today the intact cloister hosts travelers intent on enjoying themselves under the coved ceilings of the former eremitani scalzi (shaved hermit) cells. Ancient, ivy-covered stone arches and a tiled walkway lead to a cozy interior that still feels like a retreat. In the garden, sun loungers, a fishpond, and alfresco dining all share the vista.

The quarters might be snug and simply furnished, but many have balconies with gorgeous sea and sky vistas framed by the palm trees of the Villa Rufolo, just below the hotel. D.H. Lawrence worked on Lady Chatterley's Lover during his 1926 visit (in Room 423), so it might be fun to revisit the novel's groundbreaking love scenes while at this hotel run for generations by the Schiavo family. Author Gore Vidal could often be seen strolling along the path beside the hotel—he owned La Rondinaia, the villa at the end of the path, and lodged here after selling to a private investor in 2006.

Two minutes from the Duomo, this good-value, relaxing, little place with a garden, antiques, and a history that includes stays by some illustrious artistic guests (e.g., the composer Edvard Grieg and the artist M.C. Escher) has been family-run for three generations. Grieg wrote in the guest book that he was "molto contento," and Escher's celebrated prints of spiraling staircases were inspired by those he saw in Ravello and Atrani.

A 10-minute walk from the Piazza Duomo, this secluded hotel with a garden is family-run and shares the same exhilarating view of the Bay of Salerno as Ravello's most expensive hotels. Rooms are generally small (some feature an outside space with a table for two) and have modern furnishing; suites are in a different league.