A Review of Villa Treville | Hotels Above Par

"Perched on a cliff above the Tyrrhenian Sea in Positano on the Amalfi Coast, this stubbornly unique villa exudes a cinematic, theatrical air shaped in part by its former owner, Franco Zeffirelli. Built into the cliffside with privacy as a hallmark, the property blends Moorish northern African design cues—dim brass lanterns, winding hallways, Neapolitan furniture, Vietri tiles and Murano glass—with a trove of local artwork, 18th-century Catagirone pottery and painstakingly tended vegetable gardens. The intimate, 16-room hotel guarantees sea views, giant beds and well-lit, polished bathrooms; the two-bedroom Romeo e Giulietta Suite is a standout, with immaculate white interiors, a vast terrace offering 180-degree ocean panoramas and a bathroom and bedroom that frame cinematic moments as curtains flutter. Dining is anchored by Maestro, a signature restaurant focused on Campanian seasonal cooking (fresh fish, pizza, pasta) that uses produce from the on-site garden, while Bianca Bar—complete with a Missoni-pillow-strewn couch—is ideal for spectacular, romantic sunsets. Practical touches include a continental-style breakfast that is deliberately restrained, a fleet of boats for coastal transfers and concierge-arranged hikes and guides to explore quieter parts of the coast; overall the place feels more like a storied, private monument than a conventional hotel, and rooms are highly sought after."