Do you have a travel dream? Discover hidden paradise in Italy

What are the factors that make Italy a special destination for life’s most memorable moments?

For me, as a travel expert, certified executive chef and former hotel manager, the answer has a great many moving parts: gastronomy and oenology, cars, fashion, art, architecture, culture, history, music, the natural environment -- and all of it marked by the utmost elegance and unmatched hospitality. Italy today is part of the G7 group of the world’s most industrialized nations, and its people enjoy a robust lifestyle that mixes ancient traditions and contemporary mores – the more modern influences largely the result of technology-driven changes across the Italian economy.

In the fall of 1970, I entered the Hotel Management School in Sorrento, at about the same time the Hotel San Pietro opened its doors in nearby Positano. All students visited and reported on the most impressive hotel in the region.  For me, the Hotel San Pietro was that place – truly, a hidden paradise.  Over the years many things have changed, but the San Pietro’s philosophy – a blend of simplicity and exclusivity -- never did.  The hotel has been a favored stop for many world-renowned dignitaries and celebrities, from Gerald Ford to the King of Jordan, Gregory Peck to Barbara Streisand, Tina Turner and many more. 

For these guests, the San Pietro offers privacy accompanied by attentive personal service. Most striking, the San Pietro is the only place I’ve visited that is literally built into a rock; it’s not visible as a hotel unless you know precisely where to look.  And “exclusive” is the word: there is only one road leading to the facility, so visitors who prefer not to be seen can indeed stay out of sight.

Befitting the luxury property that it is, the hotel offers exclusive services and amenities, including a well-equipped wellness center, private beach, private yacht, cruise trips, private boat, tennis courts, and swimming pool. For an extraordinary dining experience, the chef of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Zass prepares dishes in a must-see state-of-the art kitchen, while Carlino offers lighter fare for those guests engaged in the area’s extensive recreational activities. Both restaurants provide a romantic sea view – one of the most stunning I’ve ever seen.  In the end, it is hard to describe the feeling of being there, short of experiencing.  It’s something like being asked, “what do truffles taste like?”  My suggestion: take a bite.  The San Pietro is a Relais and Chateaux five-star luxury hotel with a one Michelin star restaurant.

Contact: Il San Pietro di Positano - via Laurito 2, 84017 Positano (SA) - Italy Tel. (+39) 089 812 080 - Fax (+39) 089 811 449 - https://www.ilsanpietro.it , [email protected]

This year, I’ve had the opportunity to live for seven months in Italy, teaching at the University of Molise and conducting academic research. While meeting and interviewing people from all walks of life, I discovered hotels and restaurants that have left an impression on me.  While these experiences admittedly are fresh, they stand out among the great many places I’ve had the good fortune to visit during my 35 years in the international hospitality industry in 10 countries (along with 37 others I have visited for work or pleasure). 

The first is the distinctly Italian concept of albergo diffuso, or scattered hotel. In the albergo diffuso, an ancient building houses the reception area, and the hotel rooms are scattered within a distance of roughly 300 meters/yards.  The property that most impressed me was the Residenza Sveva, in Termoli, region of Molise. The typical scattered hotel does not have restaurant facilities on-premises, and that applies here as well; there are, however, many cafes to visit and enjoy within easy walking distance.  My favorite restaurant in Termoli, recommend by the owner of the Albergo Diffuso Borgo Delle Fonti, is L’Opera. L’Opera is known as a “zero kilometer” artisan’s family restaurant, offering seafood only from local fishermen and everything else sourced from local producers, including wines -- hence “zero distance.”  This is one restaurant where contemporary cooking methods and stunning presentation meet reverence for home-made/hand-made fare.

While driving to the Abruzzi region – source of some of the highest quality saffron and home of the famed Montepulciano wine -- I discovered Restaurant Reale and the residence Casadonna, an ancient monastery converted into a unique hotel facility. Chef Romito is a rising star among the top Italian and international Michelin-starred chefs.  Michelin Guide Italy awarded 384 stars in 2016; only 8 restaurants received three stars, Restaurant Reale being one of them.  What sets the restaurant and residence apart is that it houses an ultra-modern culinary school.  It’s no surprise that the complex has received so many culinary awards, and the accolades are well-deserved.  It stands as yet another hidden paradise to visit.  With just six rooms, the residence can be a challenge to book.  But even if you stay elsewhere, touring the school and dining at the restaurant qualifies as a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience; it’s what “la dolce vita” in Italy is all about.  The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.  

Contact: Casadonna – Restaurant Reale, Piana Santa Liberata, 67031 Castel di Sangro AQ, Italy, www.ristorantereale.it; press kit.

Aside from my professional and business experience in luxury hotels and restaurants, I have had the pleasure of spending Christmas vacation at the Borgo Egnazia, a member of a dynamic, relatively new hotel company affiliated with the Leading Hotels of the World. Diversification often leads to competitive advantage, and this hotel company is proving that to be the case. In addition to the elegance of its rooms and villas, Borgo Egnazia offers an eclectic, thoughtful complement of recreational activities: not only the traditional golf course and spa, but also classes in mixology, wine education, cooking, fishing and photography. It’s possible to dine in the square; enjoy entertainment with a local artist, relax in the reading room, cigar and game room; and shop the exclusive Haute Couture Boutique “Bottega Egnazia.” Guests can obtain personalized access to the website called “your page,” and more. Borgo Egnazia includes six restaurants and a well-stocked premium bar. The main restaurant, Due Camini, offers an intriguing menu based on local – traditional gastronomy.

 Contact: https://borgoegnazia.com/; [email protected]

Borgo Egnazia - Nowhere else | Savelletri di Fasano - 72015 Fasano Brindisi Puglia Italy | info +39 080 225 5000 | reservation +39 080 225 5850 | GPS:40.87468117188141,17.39812742907816  

 Angelo Camillo, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Strategic Management in the School of Business at Woodbury University in Burbank, California www.woodbury.edu

Editor-in-Chief:International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Digital Age (IJTHMDA)