Glass enjoys a weekend on the magical island of Capri

CAPRI is a small island located off the Amalfi Coast in the Gulf of Naples. Capri has always been associated with glitz and glamour, having been favoured though the years as a holiday destination by celebrities and royalty for being an exclusive enclave. And it is.

Being so small, the island is only accessible either by hydrofoil from Naples Port or by helicopter. And as the taxi negotiates the sharp hairpin bends climbing up to the village of Anacapri, 1,000 feet above sea level, you enjoy the most dramatic scenery with the pastel coloured homes scattered along the rugged hills set against the backdrop of the sparkling Mediterranean below.

Arriving at the imposing entrance of the Capri Palace and Spa, which is set within a resplendent compound, you immediately notice the adjacent swimming pool through the aquarium-style vertical windows cut out of the white stone walls. Immaculately manicured gardens, accompanied by the gentle and sweet aroma of fresh jasmine, greet you along a winding path towards the hotel lobby, where the white furnishings compliment the colour of the exterior. Large paintings and objects d’art by both Italian and international artists dominate the walls of the hotel, which is reminiscent of a Roman villa with its columns, arches and vaulted ceilings creating an airy Mediterranean atmosphere.

Stars of screen and stage return regularly to this palatial establishment, with some of the hotel’s 72 suites and bedrooms named after their most famous guests. Each room is furnished in neutral colour palettes in impeccable style, complete with ultra-modern facilities such as electric curtains and blinds. Over-sized ornate mirrors reflect the lashings of light entering the room from the huge sliding doors that lead onto a generous sized patio. The superior rooms and suites have their own private pool and garden, with a vista either of the azure sea or the surrounding green hills. Bathrooms are swathed in marble, stuffed to the brim with plenty of fluffy towels and an array of luxurious toiletries.

A deluxe room at the Capri Palace

Adjacent to the main dining room is the library, filled with comfy sofas upholstered in the softest cashmere specially created by the Italian textile house, Loro Piana.  Books and ornaments line the shelf space, with the walls filled with varying sizes of black and white portrait photographs of the rich and famous.

The Capri Palace offers three dining options. L’Olivo, the grand and stylish two Michelin starred restaurant with beautiful views across the hotel’s grounds offers outstanding Mediterranean fare. Ragu, the casual family style al fresco restaurant with stunning views across the Gulf of Naples, serves some of the best pasta on the island. The hotel also has a beach club, which is a ten-minute drive away and houses the one Michelin starred Il Riccio fish and seafood restaurant, which has a dramatic open plan kitchen.

The Library

Breathtakingly perched high on a cliff adjacent to the famous Blue Grotto and offering views across the Mediterranean, the restaurant is decorated in the most vibrant and tasteful tones of blue and white. The renowned desert area at Il Riccio, the Temptation Room, has a long central table piled high with every conceivable dessert, in addition to platters filled with the plumpest, freshest fruit imaginable. It’s simply like entering a confection heaven.

The Capri Palace has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fully equipped fitness centre where guest have the opportunity to partake in the Bodyism programme by James Duigan, and an award winning medical spa. The hotel caters for guests on the Bodyism lean-and-clean diet plan, with foods included in the regime conveniently being labelled and separately displayed. The Capri Beauty Farm medical spa, with its labyrinth of treatment rooms, has been voted as one of the leading luxury spas of the world. It incorporates the world famous Leg School, led by the formidable medical director, Prof. Francesco Canonaco.

The Temptation Room

The spa’s Leg School signature treatment claims to activate circulation and to magically reduce cellulite. This entire procedure commences with the application of a mixture which includes thick mud extracted from the neighbouring island if Ischia, and culminates with alternating plunges into icy cold and extremely hot water and a vigorous massage with an intensely rich cream. Legs immediately feel light and any sign of visible cellulite certainly appear less apparent after only one session – you can only imagine how perfect your legs would look after the recommended one-week’s full course of treatment.

When you finally depart the island, you realise what makes the Capri Palace so special. It offers its guests not only an exceptional experience to enjoy one of the most famous and finest coastlines in the world, but also a unique atmosphere that ensures lasting magical memories.

By Amanda Bernstein

The Capri Palace is a member of Leading Hotels of the World  and Hip Hotels