"Sailing along the Amalfi Coast a decade ago, the Hareiter family happened upon an old fisherman’s ruin built of stone in the antique Amalfitana style between Positano and Amalfi. The family has since transformed this vision into their dream house, Ca’ P’a, or Casa Privata, a refreshing inn of four rooms and two suites saturated with Mediterranean charm and contemporary good taste. Each spacious bedroom has a 14-foot domed ceiling, originally designed for efficient ventilation, and a glorious view of the sea. Rooms are comfortable but simple, retaining the character of the original with natural colors and sandstone floors softened by graceful drapes and lots of pillows. The lack of air-conditioning was a conscious decision to preserve the sea breeze solution of outdoor living. As in any private home, both the bar and the kitchen are freely available to guests for self-service snacks and drinks. To be sure, the climb to restaurants on the Amalfi Coast road and the less daunting steps up from the sea are not everyone’s idea of convenience, but the location and the size of Ca’ P’a ensure relaxing serenity and impunity from the chaos of summer crowds and traffic on this gorgeous and very popular coastline." - Jamie Spain