Amalfi / eastern seafront

Hotel Luna Convento

★★★★★

Hotel Luna Convento is history you can sleep in, at the edge of Amalfi town. According to tradition it was founded as a convent by St Francis of Assisi in 1222, and the building still wraps around its medieval cloister, a quiet courtyard of slender columns and arches that remains one of the most beautiful spaces on the coast. The convent became a hotel long ago and has hosted writers, artists, politicians and royalty over the years. It stands on the rocks just east of the town centre, with the sea on one side and the coastal road on the other, and the views back toward Amalfi's harbour and cathedral are superb. Across the road, perched on the rocks, an old coastal watchtower, built to guard against raids from the sea, now houses one of the hotel's two restaurants, serving regional specialities with the waves crashing below. Beside the tower, a seawater swimming pool with a solarium and sun deck is cut into the rocks, so you can swim in the sea air without the crowds of the town beach, which is about two hundred metres away. There are forty-three rooms and suites, many with sea views and balconies, in a classic style suited to the historic building, plus the cloister, a chapel and lounges with old-world charm. Breakfast and dinner on the terraces make the most of the setting. Amalfi's piazza, Duomo, ferries and buses are a short walk along the seafront, which means easy day trips to Ravello, Positano and Capri in season. Fit: couples who love history, culture-minded travellers, and families who want a pool and a walkable base at the heart of the coast.

Why choose it: the Amalfi Coast has many hotels with views, but very few with a genuine medieval cloister and a watchtower restaurant. Luna Convento combines both with a walkable position in Amalfi, the coast's best-connected town, at prices well below the coast's grandest addresses. On the other side of town, the Anantara Convento di Amalfi occupies another historic convent high on the cliff, at a luxury price.

Room craft: ask for a sea-view room with a balcony; the views toward Amalfi and Atrani are the reward. Rooms in an old building vary in size and style, so check room descriptions before booking. Reserve a dinner in the tower restaurant for at least one evening, and spend a morning by the seawater pool before the day-trippers arrive in town.

Practicals: Via Pantaleone Comite 33, on the eastern edge of Amalfi, a short walk from the centre and ferry pier. The hotel is seasonal, with low-season rates in spring and autumn and typically a winter closure, so check dates. The coastal road passes between the main building and the tower and pool, so expect some traffic noise in rooms facing the road. Parking in Amalfi is scarce; ask the hotel about arrangements, or arrive by bus, ferry or taxi.