The 13th century Hotel Luna Convento, with its noteworthy past, is one of Amalfi's oldest, most famous and unique hotels. Sitting above the main coastal road, the Hotel Luna Convento is only a 5 minute walk from the centre of Amalfi. Previously known as the Hotel Lune, which is still written above the old entrance, the convent's cloisters enclose a pretty courtyard garden filled with lemon and orange trees, and a wishing well, now home to some goldfish and a even terrapin. Plaques outside the hotel remind us of the hotel's illustrious guests that have stayed there, including Wagner, Ibsen, Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman. Whitewashed walls, vaulted ceilings, long corridors, relics and old-fashioned guestrooms pay tribute to the historicism of this hotel, once residence to Franciscan Monks. The Medieval convent, originally founded by San Francesco of Assisi Monks in 1222, houses a most wonderful chapel of Francesco d'Assisi. The giant, rusting key will open the heavy wooden doors to this private chapel, where a weekly mass is held as well as weddings. In addition, the original wooden choir stalls still stand behind the altar. Across the road, on a promontory, there are 80 steps leading down to the seawater swimming pool with a sun deck that has private access to the sea, and the ancient Saracen tower, which houses a bar and restaurant open in high season. The Hotel Luna Convento's beautiful cloisters and consecrated church, combined with its welcoming staff results in an extraordinary accommodation that sits in a class of its own.
