The post at Cote de Texas yesterday about the Florence Four Seasons hotel reminded me of a charming hostel I stayed at in Naples (Italy, not Florida) 2 years ago, LaControra. I quickly dug up my photos to compare. I wish I took more pictures (don't you always find yourself saying that?). While nowhere near as luxurious as any 4 season hotel, it has a certain Italian charm to it.
Located in the old monastery attached to an old cathedral (that was abandoned after being bombed in WWII) it was recently restored. Very simply done, the frescos were painted over with white -but the forms of the vaulted stone rooms stood out. I was lucky enough to have a great room facing the crumbling facade of the cathedral with immensely tall barrel vaulted ceiling and a little tower/turrett closet!
The courtyard was beautifully kept and filled with orange trees (like most of the city) -great for a mid-day snack! I highly recommend this hostel / hotel (make sure to get a private room with private bath, it is a hostel after all!) It was very inexpensive at 28-30 Euro a night! You can find information about it online at http://www.lacontrora.com/
The courtyard was beautifully kept and filled with orange trees (like most of the city) -great for a mid-day snack! I highly recommend this hostel / hotel (make sure to get a private room with private bath, it is a hostel after all!) It was very inexpensive at 28-30 Euro a night! You can find information about it online at http://www.lacontrora.com/While Naples was FAR from one of my favorite places I've ever traveled to, it has a LOT of charm and GREAT old buildings with a lot of old-world character. It's not terribly touristy which is a godsend and Capri is a short boat ride away while Pompeii is simply a 15 minute cab ride! Besides, where better to travel than the birthplace of Pizza! Traveler beware -they take their pizza VERY seriously in Naples!
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12 comments:
This looks so charming! I can't believe they painted over the frescos???? wow. I'm going to go read about it right now! Thanks for the mention - so sweet!!!!!
Joni
The washed out fresco paint colours put a smile on my face. Must have even been better in person.
I would love to travel anywhere in Italy. The Cinque Terre is high on my list of "must sees".
Oh how lovely. Wishing I was there now, dining on pizza and having a little glass of some Italian Chianti.
The view alone makes the hostile/hotel worth a visit, and 30 euros is less than I paid for my last meal for two at Heathrow.
Michelle, it was so charming in person. So much of Naples is that beautiful colorful crumbling stucco.
PVE, the pizza WAS really good -i just love Italian food!
Athenaeus, it was about double that when I stayed there and still a deal! It's such a charming and SAFE (which is important in Naples) little hotel / hostel!
have you been to 2Amys yet? You know it's certified Napels Pizza, right? So if you want the pizza, it's in the very same city you live in, if you want it...
oh please !!!!!
just give me an airline ticket !
xxxx
These photos are beautiful. I love the colors. I wish I were there right now.
Hostel or Four Seasons I'll take that view!!! There's nothing like that beautiful faded and crumbling old plaster! What an insteresting history this place has as well!
I would love to do a light-filled drawing room in all the colours found in that first photo.
Absolutely beautiful
Love Italy
There is so much beauty there.
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