Il Cannito

Il Cannito has just four rooms, but each are substantially large, and occupy a pretty piece of Cannito’s greenery. Like the rest of the house, restoration continued throughout the rooms that make the most of high wooden ceilings, limestone walls and polished artisan terracotta floors. Bathrooms resemble mini wellness areas with hydro-massage and hydro-sonic bathtubs.

For Sole and Terra suites, you follow a wooden stepped pathway that takes you via a huge oak tree which forms part of the private stone terraces, set up with tables and chairs under its shady leaves. At night, lit up by fairy lights, the surrounds take on an almost dream like quality. Above the main house are Mare and Luna suites.

Food is the soul of Il Cannito - nothing too fancy or formal - this is, after all, Italy in the slow-lane, prepared all-in house and sourced mainly from their own gardens and nearby farms, Anna Maria is a talented home cook who makes delicious casa style fresh pasta, bakes her own breads, cakes and picks the fresh catch of the day.

A small menu of tastes, this is truly like being at the home of a fabulous cook. There is a full dining programme at the little hotel with snacks served down on their private beach.

Lush hillside location backing on to the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with views across to the isle of Capri, Il Cannito is close to the village of Capaccio, 100km south of Naples and 40km south of Salerno. It's a few kilometres from the Greco-Roman historic temples of Paestum (7km) with the stunning Cilento coastline and the towns of Castellabate, Pioppi, Acciaroli and Palinuro just a short drive away.   

Il Cannito also has a private sandy beach in nearby Tela, not forgetting the historic city of Salerno and the infamous Amalfi Coast, easily reachable.