Introducing Hotel Le Sirenuse

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Le Sirenuse opened in 1951, when the Sersale family turned their Amalfi Coast summer house in Positano into a stylish small hotel. Today, the 58-room resort is considered one of Italy’s leading seaside luxury hotels, though it still retains the intimate, cultured atmosphere of a private home. The rooms are contemporary but reminiscent of a glamorous bygone era. It may have renowned La Sponda restaurant, a spa designed by architect Gae Aulenti, and a growing site-specific contemporary art collection, but Le Sirenuse is still very much a family affair. Second- generation co-owner Antonio Sersale looks after the day-to-day running of the hotel, while his wife Carla is the creator and manager of the hotel’s lifestyle brand Emporio Sirenuse. Le Sirenuse has won numerous awards and is internationally renowned for the quality of its services.

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The History of Le Sirenuse

At the close of the Second World War, four Neapolitan siblings, Aldo, Paolo, Franco and Anna Sersale, reunited at their family’s summer home in Positano.

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The decision they made during those fateful days would change the destiny of what was then a poor, remote fishing and farming community and set a direction for future generations of the Sersale family. It was to throw open their historic holiday to guests from around the world, creating a small luxury resort that would before long rank among the world’s most celebrated seaside hotels, one that inspires fierce loyalty among its many return guests.

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Le Sirenuse opened in 1951 with just eight rooms. Among its most remarkable features was – and still is – a large terrace with a view over the town’s famous pyramid of houses and its namesake islands, the Siren Isles, also known as Li Galli. The hotel, and Positano itself, achieved lasting fame two years later when American writer and future Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck visited, writing up his experiences in an archly entertaining and widely-read feature in the magazine Harpers Bazaar. He namechecked the hotel in the following excerpt: “We went to the Sirenuse, an old family house converted into a first class hotel, spotless and cool, with grape arbors over its outside dining rooms. Every room has its little balcony and looks out over the blue sea to the islands of the sirens from which those ladies sang so sweetly”.

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Fifty years on, the 58-suite hotel offers all the comforts of a five-star luxury hotel while still retaining the intimate, cultured atmosphere of a private home. Much of the credit for its current appearance and tasteful mix of European antiques, Neapolitan paintings and quality artisanship should go to the late Franco Sersale, an avid globetrotter and keen amateur photographer who returned to his family’s Positano base in 1990 to commence a major refurbishment project. He redesigned the pool terrace and the hotel’s panoramic La Sponda restaurant before moving onto a room-by-room upgrade of the guest suites, creating the Le Sirenuse one sees today.

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Franco’s aesthetic vision for the hotel has been extended by his son Antonio Sersale and daughter-in-law Carla into the field of contemporary art via the Artists at Le Sirenuse programme, launched in 2015 with British curator Silka Rittson-Thomas. To date, seven major installations by artists of the calibre of Martin Creed, Stanley Whitney and Caragh Thuring have found a place in the hotel’s design palimpsest, in fertile dialogue with each other and the art and décor of centuries past.

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The resort has won innumerable awards and is internationally renowned for the quality of its services. The year 2000 saw the introduction of the Le Sirenuse Spa, designed by celebrated Italian architect Gae Aulenti. In 2001, the hotel’s romantic La Sponda restaurant, dedicated to exalting the region’s deep-rooted culinary traditions, was joined by the more informal Champagne & Oyster Bar. In 2019, this relaxed summer spot became Aldo’s, a cocktail bar and seafood grill that showcases the abundant fresh produce and classic sharing dishes of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Housed in what was once part of the living room of the Sersale family villa, the hotel’s historic third-floor bar was refurbished by Rome-based architect and designer Annalisa Bellettati in time for the start of the 2021 season and rechristened the Don’t Worry Bar in homage to Martin Creed’s neon installation that hangs nearby. It’s a discreet, old-school, drinks-only hotel bar for true lovers of the genre.

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The hotel’s close connection with the area’s martime traditions are mirrored in its two boats. A traditional gozzo or wooden fishing vessel used today for regular guest excursions, the Sant’Antonio was beloved of uncle Aldo, who would spend long hours on board exploring the coast, diving for sea urchins and entertaining his many ladyfriends. In 2003, Le Sirenuse’s nautical portfolio was strengthened by the acquisition of a vintage 1972 Riva Acquarama, a runabout whose classic lines reflect the Sersale family’s dedication to a new dolce vita lifestyle that tips its hat to the classic elegance of yesteryear.

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Franco’s brother Paolo, twice Mayor of Positano and the man responsible (along with Franco himself) for collecting many of the antiques seen in the rooms, living areas and halls, passed away in 1991. He was followed by the hotel’s founder, Aldo in 1997, and in 2003 by their sister Anna, who graced many magical evenings as hostess to the friends and clients who have visited Le Sirenuse.

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Franco himself bid his final ciao to Positano in January 2015. Today he is commemorated in Franco’s Bar, a street-level evening cocktail bar that channels the generous, expansive spirit and joie de vivre of this Dolce Vita gentleman. Though closely connected to Le Sirenuse, Franco’s has forged an identity of its own as the place in town for an aperitivo or nightcap with a view.

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In 2019 Le Sirenuse launched a twice-yearly fitness and detox retreat called Dolce Vitality, held in the March week just before the hotel opens and again in November immediately after it closes. Dedicating the whole resort to no more than twenty participants, the retreat takes advantage of the ancient network of footpaths above Positano and combines these natural workouts with yoga classes, fitness sessions, massages, cultural experiences and a low-calorie Vegan menu prepared with gourmet flair by the hotel’s executive chef, Gennaro Russo.

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Today, Le Sirenuse is directed by Antonio Sersale, who has been at the helm of the iconic Amalfi Coast hotel since 1992. Antonio’s wife Carla looks after Emporio Sirenuse, the resortwear and lifestyle brand sold via the two Emporio Sirenuse boutiques in Positano, her emporiosirenuse.com website and in leading stores worldwide. The couple’s two children, Aldo and Francesco, joined the family business in 2021, the hotel’s 70th anniversary year. Paolo Sersale’s two daughters are also closely involved with Le Sirenuse: Giulia is responsible for the plants and flowers that embellish the terraces and restaurants, while Marina and her husband Sebastian develop and manage the Eau D’Italie fragrance and skincare range, launched in 2004.

Le Sirenuse has been a member of the Leading Hotels of the World since 1970.

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Facts & Figures

LE SIRENUSE

A historic 5-star luxury hotel in Positano, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, opened in 1951.

SEASONAL OPENING

Late March until the end of October.

LAST RENOVATION

Ongoing renovations are carried out each winter when the hotel is closed.

ACCESS

Positano is located on the Amalfi Coast, 55 km (34 miles) south of Naples.
Naples Capodichino International Airport – 1 hour 30 minutes.
Rome Fiumicino International Airport – 3 hours.
Rome Central Train Station – 1 hour 10 min. to Naples Central Station.

ACCOMODATIONS

58 rooms and suites
Check in: 2 pm
Check out: 12 noon
Breakfast included
Cancellation policy: 30 days
The hotel traditional structure and high balconies make it unsuitable for children under the age of 6.
Pets are not permitted.

FEATURES
Balcony or terrace in most rooms
Whirpool Bath / Hairdryer /Eau d’Italie exclusive amenities in the bathrooms
Telephone / Flat screen plasma TV with Satellite / Cable channels
DVD player and complimentary DVD Library
iPod Docking Station and iPods available already loaded with music
Safe / Minibar / Air Conditioning
Complimentary WI FI
Electricity 220 V

RESTAURANTS & BAR

Overlooking the village of Positano and the Mediterranean Sea.
We offer a choice of 3 different menus and settings for your meals:
- La Sponda restaurant for lunch and dinner (al fresco or inside).
- Aldo’s for champagne, cocktails light evening fare with ambient music (al fresco or inside).
- Don’t Worry Bar, an intimate, old-school evening bar (inside).
- The Pool Bar for lunch and beverages all day (al fresco).
- In addition, only, a few steps from the hotel, Franco’s Bar is a chic evening cocktail bar opened by Le Sirenuse in 2015, serving drinks only.