Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast

Any way you look at it, the Caruso is among the finest hotels in Ravello. For some, that’s recommendation enough; for the benefit of the others, though, we’ll go on.

The Amalfi coast is, and has long been, one of the world’s favorite high-end destinations — in the middle of the last century, particularly, it was the escape of choice for much of the luxury-yacht set. These days it’s got competition all over the world, but the fundamental attractions are still there: the climate, the geography, views, the people, the culture.

And the Caruso has long been one of the Amalfi’s highlights. High on a cliffside in Ravello, the view of the coast from its terrace has been described as the most beautiful in the world by no less an authority than Gore Vidal. Rooms wind and wend through the building, each different, all sumptuously furnished and most with views that range from rather good to jaw-dropping. It’s been renovated, yes, but hardly modernized — it’s still got the classic looks (and old-world service) that made it a favorite in the first place.

So while the novelty-seekers have moved on to somewhere like the Maldives, or Dubai, to hotels as modern as tomorrow’s newspaper, a place like the Caruso proves that the classics really never go out of style — if you’re jaded enough to consider Ravello old hat, then there’s really not much we can do to help you.

Please note: Hotel Caruso is a seasonal property, open April through October.