Costantinopoli 104 ★★★★

Once you reach the Via Costantinopoli, pick your way through the antiques that flow out into the street until you find number 104. Push through the first set of wrought iron gates, cross a crumbling palazzo courtyard until you reach a second smaller gate. Cross the threshold and you’ll find yourself in a secret garden where leafy palm trees and an ancient magnolia provide welcome shade from the beating Mediterranean sun. Exotic flowers, orange aloes, bougainvillea, and cyclamen lead you to the hotel entrance, flanked on one side by a beautiful Art Nouveau stained glass window. The building, which is a very handsome example of a late 19th-century Neapolitan villa, will be your hidden retreat for the length of your stay.

Drop your bags off in the lobby, a friendly porter will take those up to your room for you. Would you like a glass of Limoncello before you discover your sleeping arrangements? A complimentary carafe is always available at reception. You can enjoy it wherever you please – in the garden, by the pool, in one of the three cosy lounges (by the fire, if you so desire). Perhaps you would like to take it up to the rooftop terrace or to your room?

The 19 rooms and suites have all been individually designed by Cecotti Design, a well-known name in the design industry. The result is an intriguing blend of tradition and modernity. Soothing pastel colour schemes calm the senses, while interesting pieces of modern art catch the eye. Floor-length silk curtains kiss the tiled or hardwood floors and soft, cotton sheets and fluffy pillows crowd the firm, wide beds. Both air-conditioning and heating are at your disposal, depending on the season, as well as modern conveniences, such as the flat-screen TV and minibar, hidden out of sight in the desks. Make yourself at home, unpack your bags (there’s plenty of cupboard space), then head back down to reception for some sight-seeing advice.

Naples, like Venice, is a great place to discover on foot (or by scooter). You won’t want to waste your time stuck in traffic behind the wheel of a car that cannot even fit down the maze of narrow streets you’ll be wanting to explore. Unlike Venice, however, you won’t want to get lost, so a map is essential! You could easily spend your entire visit strolling aimlessly around the densely populated, historical city centre that surrounds the hotel. Narrow alleyways and secret passages overflowing with antique shops and tiny ateliers lead to Baroque palaces and Gothic churches. As you may know, Naples has been around for a very, very long time and its historical centre bears witness to styles and periods dating as far back as the 8th century B.C. when the Greeks temporarily settled here before being overthrown by the Romans. Discover what remains of these ancient civilisations at the Archeological Museum, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the hotel.

After a rewarding, if exhausting, day of exploration, you’ll be more than happy to come back to your hidden haven of tranquillity at the hotel. Take a break beside the pool before you head back out for dinner. Afterwards, as you turn out the lights and lay your head on your pillow for your first night in Naples, you can rest assured that you can now die happily having experienced the contagious energy of this thriving metropolis. But not too soon! It would be a shame to miss out on all the other secret treasures that VeryChic has hidden up its sleeve for you!