Weddings at HOTEL SANTA CATERINA
Old-fashioned la dolce vita permeates the majolica tiled interiors, terraced gardens and glitzy private beach club at this grand dame of the Italian Riviera, mere steps away from the town of Amalfi itself
WEDDINGS AT HOTEL SANTA CATERINA
A recurring cast member in well-vetted roundups for the Amalfi Coast's most luxurious hotels, Santa Caterina prides itself on scrumptious coastline views, top-notch service and enviable real estate that includes the prettiest seaside pool in town. Among the hotel's dramatis personae are garden promenades tumbling from the 6th story of cliffside architecture to the seafoam-capped waves of the Tyrennhean Sea, elegant white tiled interiors decked with blissfully lawless bougainvillea, a beach club style restaurant in a symphony of bamboo and lemon-tinged citrus groves seemingly everywhere you turn. But we're just getting started...
Classic Italianate Glamour
Golden Age of the Mediterranean
Slim Aarons' La Dolce Vita
Style
Panoramic verandas + terraces overlooking the sea
Lush gardens + vibrant citrus groves
The colorful harbor + town of Amalfi
Views
19th c Villa
Family Owned Luxury Hotel
Exclusive Use & Partial Hire
Type
Old-fashioned la dolce vita permeates the majolica tiled interiors, terraced gardens and glitzy private beach club at this grand dame of the Italian Riviera, mere steps away from the town of Amalfi itself
Photos courtesy of Hotel Santa Caterina and by Natalie Obradovich, Lesley Anne Murphy, Marco Coppola, Adovasio Photography and Tara Milk Tea
THE LOOK
Awash in the same lush colors that became so immortalized in Slim Aarons' iconic mid-century coverage of Italian Riviera holidays and glitzy jet-set lifestyles, Hotel Santa Caterina is a vision in lapis lazuli and limoncello. Amidst the arched windows that strategically look out over the sea, you'll find meticulously hand-painted tiles lining the floors, romantic tendrils of blossoming vines pirouetting architectural frames, terraced gardens and canopied stone steps, and white slip-covered furniture that sets a beyond serene mood.
Hand-painted plates personalized to the elegant seaside residence can be found at the restaurants, while cushioned sun loungers + minimalist umbrellas stud the exclusive beach club below. Restaurant Al Mare, the beach club restaurant, is decidedly bamboo, juxtaposed only by the terra cotta tiles, seafoam tinted thonet chairs and glistening sea views. Meanwhile, vanilla-colored cane back seating and crisp white linens freckle the panoramic veranda restaurant, Glicine.
No matter the level of formality you're hoping to achieve for your event, the chameleon-like foundation of Hotel Santa Caterina sets you up for a roaring good time. With its Liberty style architecture, lovingly cultivated lemon grove and hand painted majolica, it's Amalfi Coast elegance through and through.
THE EVENT SPACES
Even with rambling terraced gardens, fragrant lemon + orange groves, a light golden hued beach club restaurant and an open air veranda restaurant climbing with bougainvillea, the piece de resistance to Hotel Santa Caterina's event spaces is the scenery. Unforgettably picturesque views abound from practically every vantage point at this Amalfi-shouldering wedding venue, making couples spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing their event spaces.
The garden terrace makes for a fitting ceremony location for symbolic, Protestant or Jewish nuptials, while Catholic and civil wedding ceremonies can take place in Amalfi's spectacular Duomo nearby. While the hotel can be rented out for partial hires, ceremonies are only permitted if you are hosting your reception on-site.
The fine dining restaurant, Glicine, is an ideal wedding dinner canvas for couples with aesthetic inclinations towards a classically elegant Mediterranean style. Though if you're looking for something even more relaxed, let the glass-fronted Wes Anderson style elevator whisk you and your loved ones down to the beach club restaurant, Al Mare, for pure island beach vibes. Live music is allowed in the latter, making this spot an excellent choice for a lively Welcome Dinner or serenaded wedding feast with roaming musicians to surprise your guests. Pre and post-dinner, you'll most likely get down to boogie and mingle at The Grottino - another spacious perch with, you guessed it, immaculate views.
Please note that guest counts may range anywhere from 30 guests to 100 at Hotel Santa Caterina.
THE ROOMS
The 66 distinctly styled rooms + suites on-site are seemingly cleaved from Italy's Liberty (aka Art Nouveau) past - bucolic and floral themes abundant throughout. Sinuous furniture, 19th c antiques, modern comforts and sophisticated accents embellish the spacious, light-flooded rooms with soft colors, white linens and an overall delicately femme feel, while gobsmackingly gorgeous sea and garden vistas complement the nature-inspired scenes within. The most coveted rooms burst forth with expansive balconies overlooking the sea, though every guest is treated to luxury BVLGARI amenities in the glazed tile bathrooms.
While 36 of the rooms and 13 suites are housed in the sprawling main building, 17 more luxurious dwellings are tucked in private little alcoves across the gardens, orchards, olive groves and other secluded corners of the property. Our advice to couples? Go for either the Chalet Giulietta & Romeo (which spans two levels and boasts a private circular terrace with direct sea views, a heated infinity pool, a private garden, two bedrooms + 2 bathrooms and a whirlpool bath!) or the Follia Amalfitana suite (whose living room opens out onto a large terrace, complementing such other decadent features as the sunken jacuzzi pool overlooking the sea and the shell-shaped king sized bed).
Comfortably sleeping 132 people, a partial or exclusive use hire of Hotel Santa Caterina for your multi-day destination wedding offers you the chance to gift your guests the ultimate storybook Italian-coast experience.
Photos courtesy of Hotel Santa Caterina and by Adovasio Photography, Ari Kissick, Meaghan Cox, Lucy Laucht and Sarah Ellefson
THE FOOD & BEV
If we could catapult ourselves to this supreme Amalfi perch every day of the week, we'd do it in a heartbeat. On the one hand, as we've hopefully illustrated, the Slim Aarons spirit and glitzy riviera views are exquisite. On the other, the gastronomy is addictive. Chef Giuseppe Stanzione's modern interpretation of classic local + Mediterranean dishes is simply all-encompassing... no mortal can resist the dynamic flavors and fresh-as-can-be ingredients with a particular emphasis on the region's stars - seafood + lemons.
At the gloriously romantic terrace restaurant, one might have the pleasure of indulging in their signature Tagliolini Bianchi e Neri al Limone Amalfitano (a staple of the menu for over 40 years!) or perhaps Tagliarini of cuttlefish with avocado, salted lemons, fennel, horseradish and peanut sauce. For dessert? You'll likely be tempted with some form of Sfusato Amalfitano, whether in the form of a mini sponge cake or mint sorbet dolloped with homemade lemon cream. With the central ingredients plucked daily from the hotel's 500 lemon trees and organic vegetable garden, it's impossible to be talked out of a picturesque dinner at this elegant and innovative fine dining fixture of the coast.
The casual beach club ristorante, Al Mare, has all the makings of a White Lotus set. Generous portions of fork-twirlingly good pastas (oft involving roasted tomatoes, bursting with flavor, alongside the creamiest mozzarella di bufala your lips have ever tasted), locally-caught seafood from pesce alla griglia (grilled fish) and calamari to aragosta (lobster) and gamberone (shrimp) and fragrant pizzas cooked in the traditional wood-burning oven seduce the palette, while the glamorous blues of the sapphire sea below charm the pupils.
As for the wine list, it's purposely broad, representing the incredible range of the region's terroir. You'll find a mix of Italian and international labels on offer, with particular attention given to Italian bubbles. A fact that's undeniably fitting of the location. Beyond wine, Hotel Santa Caterina proudly pours homemade lemon liquors at Il Grottino, the beach club bar that's rivaled only by Glicine's libation-enthused neighbor, La Terraza.
While booking this Amalfi Coast venue for your wedding or event does require use of their in-house catering, it's reassuring to know that Hotel Santa Caterina is the real deal. Family-owned for the better part of a century, the quality of cuisine, service and setting is always top-notch.
THE LOCATION
In-the-know travelers have fallen under the (merited) spell of Santa Caterina for the better part of a century. Flawlessly positioned less than a mile from the colorful village of Amalfi, the hotel's quiet setting provides a welcome respite from the bustling center without sacrificing accessibility to the "It Girls" of the coast. You get the views without the crowds, and honestly, what more could you hope for?! While it's an easy walk from the hotel to Amalfi's lively harbor (about 15 minutes in total), guests can take the complimentary shuttle should they prefer. Said transport zips back and forth every 30 minutes from 8am-12pm and 3pm-6:30pm.
From Amalfi's harbor, you can snag a seat on one of the boats ferrying passengers up + down the coast (and, in season, to Capri). Wonderfully situated on the SS 163 (globally known as the Amalfi Coast Drive), you and your guests will be privvy to one of the most gorgeous car journeys in the world - albeit one that's also famous for its hairpin bends, zigzags and narrowness. Southern Italy isn't known for following rules of the road either, so we highly recommend booking private transfers in advance vs. renting cars here if the idea of driving like James Bond elicits unsettling feelings. While pricey, it's well worth it for scenic day trips to Italian Riviera's hot spots like Positano, Ravello, Sorrento, Naples and even Pompeii and Herculaneum, where plenty of shopping, dining and beach lounging opportunities await.
Don't even get us started on immersive experiences available in the area. Consult with the concierge to organize hiking guides for the Path of the Gods, cooking classes with barely English speaking nonnas and vineyard hopping excursions throughout the compellingly dynamic terroirs of the region.
Amalfi itself possesses infinite charms. Graze on delectable Italian fare at Eolo, Marina Grande, Trattoria I Cartari or Lido Azzuro, though if it's pizza beneath lemon trees you're looking for, Donna Stella is hard to beat. Amass a lifetime of hand-painted ceramics at Solimene and take a breather at La Pasticceria Andrea Pansa, where you'll find scorzette di arancia (candied orange zest dipped in chocolate) among other freshly-made dolci. For dancing, try the Africana Night Club in neighboring Praiano, famous for its vivacious party atmosphere inside an actual cave!
From the scent of the citrus fruits and the colors of the flowers, to the coolness of the olive trees and majesty of the pine trees, a walk through the gardens and terraces of the hotel is enchanting and beautiful in every step, as nature intended.
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THE BEST FIT FOR
Couples that resonate with the sun-soaked glamour of Slim Aarons' Italy will thrive at Hotel Santa Caterina. Having been frequented by patrons like Elizabeth Taylor, Brad Pitta and Angelina Jolie, this Liberty-style evokes a sense of old-fashioned la dolce vita we seem to have lost with the rise of modern technology. It's the kind of place that encourages you to keep your phone on Do Not Disturb for the entirety of your stay - a welcome entreatment considering the 360° charisma of its coordinates.
Couples with small to mid-sized guest counts, not exceeding 100, can enjoy all the perks of this luxury venue with a glamorous past. If you adore bright colors, citrus themes and the allure of the sea, then it's easy to understand the appeal of Hotel Santa Caterina. Still, we find that most couples tend to host only one of their events on-site with auxiliary events in neighboring Ravello (perhaps at Villa Cimbrone, Palazzo Avino or Belmond Hotel Caruso) or group excursions departing by boat from Amalfi's buzzy harbor. Hotel Santa Caterina is often used as a Welcome Party location itself - in this case, most couples opting for the partial hire of the beach club restaurant in summer.
Family-friendly (hardly ever to a fault), it's good to know that kids may be roaming the grounds whether they're with your troupe of guests or not. Further, the restaurants are not limited to overnight guests, so without an exclusive use hire, you'll have to relinquish control over whom you're sharing the communal areas of the property with (beyond your specific space rentals, of course). It's rarely a problem, just nice to be aware of!
Couples who want to avoid the mass tourism of Positano and Capri will often look to the still-populated, but far less crowded towns of Amalfi and Ravello to host their wedding events, so Hotel Santa Caterina is a fabulous choice if you're looking for a bit more quietude with the dual benefit of convenience and proximity to all the coastal towns on your bucket list.
How to Reach Hotel Santa Caterina
PLANE
Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport (QSR)
1 hr, 15 min
Naples International airport (NAP)
1 hr, 30 min
TRAIN
Salerno Stazione
55 min
Napoli Stazione
1 hr, 15 min
AUTOMOBILE
Amalfi
2 min
Atrani
4 min
Ravello
15 min
Praiano
25 min
Positano
30 min
