Il Cannito

YOU'LL FIND IL CANNITO where a lush Mediterranean hillside carpeted in oak, elm and myrtle tumbles steeply down towards the Gulf of Salerno. Two stone-built houses almost immersed in nature peep out of the greenery. From the wide, flat terrace you can gaze up at the soaring hillside above or across to the bay, where sunset stripes the evening sky in purples and pinks.

Sun, rock, trees and sea tell the story of family-run Il Cannito. Set half way between the dramatic Amalfi coast and the Cilento nature reserve, its verdant location on 37 acres of wooded hillside is just a stone’s throw from Paestum, with its rich history and ancient temples. Archaeological traces of the monks who lived here as far back as the seventh century, abound.

Two ancient stone buildings comprise Il Cannito. Outside, inhale the heady scent of oak, myrtle and juniper. Inside, take in the utter simplicity of uncluttered, contemporary spaces created from local eco-materials chosen with care to blend with their untouched hillside setting.

Contemporary comforts

The result is a beguiling blend of rusticity with a nice slice of contemporary comforts. Four hundred year old beams span the ceilings while tall, wide windows bring the outdoors in. Exposed stonework, polished terracotta tiled floors, monochrome shades and a pared-down style add an almost monastic charm.

All is light and simplicity in Il Cannito’s four modern-minimalist bedrooms, pleasingly furnished with designer pieces and bold modern artworks by local painters. Bathrooms are mini wellness centres inviting you to unwind in soothing hydro-massage bathtubs, while under-floor heating, wireless internet and LCD flatscreen TVs ramp up the techno factor. Terraces and sun decks offer wide-open views of the unspoilt surrounds. 

White linen and lime green chairs add plenty of visual zing to the dining area – and the terrace comes into its own on summer evenings, when it’s fetchingly lit and guests dine outside with grandstand views of the bay and the Isle of Capri.

© Room for Romance