Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is a hotel of tantalizing contradictions. The picturesque property enjoys a prime position on Sorrento’s bustling central square — Piazza Tasso — with its enviable people watching and pleasant after-dark buzz. Though the retreat also stands in splendid isolation on five acres of lush parkland, boasting some of the best sunset views in Sorrento from its clifftop perch.
This grande dame of the Sorrento shore celebrates its 190th birthday in 2024, but legend has it that the hotel stands on an ancient site where Roman emperor Augustus built his summer villa.
The toga-clad autocrat isn’t the only notable name to stay on these grounds. Silver screen talents like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Jack Lemmon all visited the Excelsior Vittoria in their day, and monarchs, politicians and artists favored the establishment while exploring Italy as part of the 19th-century aristocracy’s customary Grand Tour of Europe.
Terrazza Vittoria delivers a timeless atmosphere and spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples from its terrace. The menu favors local products and regional flavors, with Neapolitan and international specialties at the forefront.