On the edge of a lush Sorrento, Italy cliff is a stunning three-building hotel belonging to the Fiorentino family, who celebrates 180 years of ownership in 2014. The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, situated on the same coast that attracted artists, writers and philosophers during the winter months at the turn of the century, blends historic, antique touches and furnishings with Art Nouveau-style interiors and gardens. With a 92 unique rooms—70 percent of which face the Mediterranean Sea—we wanted to know which ones are most sought after (Pierce Brosnan and Barbra Streisand are among a few of the Excelsior’s A-list guests). Below, owner Guido Fiorentino fills us in.
Exterior of the Grand Hotel Excelsior
Most requested suite in the hotel:
“It is difficult to assert which one is the most requested, but the Caruso (pictured below) and the Vittoria Suite are the most sold and sought after.”
Inside the Caruso suite
What makes it special:
“For the Caruso, it is the history of the suite itself. We still have the [namesake] tenor’s piano (pictured below) in the suite and several other belongings of the tenor Enrico Caruso. Not to forget the very large terrace, from where you can admire the entire bay of Sorrento and Naples. For the Vittoria suite, it is the terrace; this is a corner suite with a swiping around terrace of more than 60 square meters.
Enrico Caruso’s piano inside the suite
Your personal favorite:
“My favorite suite is the Royal.”
Because…
“According to me, its furniture is amazing. It is a spacious room though intimate in atmosphere and, above all, it has a 150 square-meter terrace that offers a 180° view on the bay of Naples. An incredible occasion for guests to relax and enjoy all the beauties of our coast.”
Inside the Royal suite
Terrace outside of the Royal suite
Celebrity guests:
“Pierce Brosnan, Milla Jovovich and Barbra Streisand, to name a few, are among recent guests.”
The rate:
From 990 Euros (about $1,333) and up to 2400 Euros ($3,232) for the Imperial Suite
Fun fact:
“Once my dad was flying to Switzerland and had the chance to meet Sofia Loren on the same flight. While boarding, he looked at her and told her that many years before she used to work for him. You can imagine her surprise hearing this fact, of course. My father explained why: The movie Aurora was filmed at The Grand Hotel Excelsior back in 1984. In that movie, she was playing the role of a chambermaid working at the hotel. They ended up sitting together on the plane and they had lots of fun remembering those moments during filming. Today we still have pictures of Sophia Loren as a chambermaid on the wall of The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria.”
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