Hotel Gatto Bianco ★★★★

I had never been to Capri and did not know what to expect, except that it must be very special to have attracted such distinguished visitors over the years. I must admit I had the tune of ‘island of dreams’ running through my mind. I was not disappointed; in fact it was even lovelier than I´d hoped. The past millennia have eroded away the limestone rock, creating a spectacular coastline of cliffs and caves with incredible rock formations like the Natural Arch, Faraglioni, and the famous Blue Grotto, all sparkling in the intense turquoise and blues of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

An equally delightful surprise awaited us when we arrived at the Hotel Gatto Bianco, when we discovered that the establishment is just as pretty as its surroundings. We were greeted with the sight of an arched, white-walled and flower-decked building, with even a ‘gatto bianco’, the white cat that inspired the hotel’s name, (or perhaps his descendant) snoozing in the sunshine.

We had a quick look around the living room areas before checking in at reception. White walls, delicate wrought-iron chairs, full of flowers and dramatic coastal pictures…it just invited you to relax in the Mediterranean-blue chairs and admire the exquisite decorated floor tiling. When we had checked in, we found a fresh, light, spacious room with the same colour themes: shades of blue on a white background and the lovely hand-painted majolica floor tiles extending onto a large balcony facing the hotel’s gardens, which are filled with orange and lemon trees and offer views over the colourful town. The bathroom also had the trademark lovely tiling and luxurious fittings. The bedroom felt very peaceful, despite the hotel being literally in the town centre, as it is well set back from the road and so you only look out on to the gardens.

While my husband strolled out to explore the town right on our doorstep, I paid a visit to the spa and indulged in the sauna and Turkish bath with chromotherapy, followed by a ‘PMP Dinamic’ foot treatment, intended to soothe tired feet. I certainly felt soothed and relaxed. Next, I wandered into the town to meet my husband, who had been exploring, slightly bemused, the boutiques, bars, and high-fashion designer shops on the Via Camerelle just down from the main Piazzetta.

We found a nice little trattoria for an al fresco lunch. In the afternoon, we took a boat trip along the coast – they say you haven’t seen Capri until you’ve seen it from the sea. It certainly was spectacular, and included a stop at the famous Blue Grotto, which more than lives up to its name! We saw the amazing rock formations of the Faraglioni and looked down through the crystal-clear waters to shoals of small fish winding through rocky labyrinths and glittering in the sun.

In the morning, we had breakfast in the hotel before setting out for the town again, this time to take a trip to the Villa Jovis, the Roman palace built by Emperor Tiberius in AD 27. The dining room has inviting arches and grotto-style architecture, yet is still bright and fresh with the traditional white and blue decorated tile design. After a satisfying and generous Italian breakfast, we were ready for our excursion.

Days sightseeing and evenings relaxing went by all too quickly. By the end of our holiday, a new image had become central to my picture of my beautiful island of dreams: the image of the fresh blue-and-white beauty of the Hotel Gatto Bianco.