After speaking with Borgo Santandrea co-owner and General Manager Maurizio Orlacchio, we recalled an important quote from none other than Aristotle that has striking applicability for any aspiring visionary, hotelier or traveler looking to immerse themselves in true authenticity: “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”
This isn’t to say that Orlacchio is mad; that’s not what Aristotle meant. Instead, given the terrain of the gloriously jagged cliffs of the Amalfi Coast where Borgo Santandrea resides – and when combined with the need for historical building preservation while also seeking to invent the local design aesthetic with a style unto its own – an owner or developer would indeed have to be totally possessed and fixated with their vision in order to make such a breathtaking and timeless property a reality!
In other words, the Aristotelian view of luxury development would content that a normal human would quit before they got started. Only a great mind would see such a daunting hotel project through to opening.
As it stands today, Borgo Santandrea is an ultraluxury resort some 10 minutes’ drive from the town of Amalfi in southern Italy, comprising 29 masterfully constructed rooms and 16 suites. Opened in July 2021, it soon found its way onto last year’s World’s 50 Best Hotels list, amongst other accolades. That’s an incredible feat, especially when you take into context that the Amalfi Coast is already a hotbed for some of the most charmingly romantic luxury hotels on the planet.
Where this property shines as bright as the azure coastline it straddles is in its amenities and facilities, therein giving its guests all the features one would expect from luxury accommodations in Southern Italy, but innumerable opportunities for unique experiences.
For restaurant presentation, up top is Alici for fine dining, a private wine cellar and the rooftop Plumbago Bar. Yet while the main building sits 90 meters above the ocean surface, Borgo Santandrea nevertheless has trellised garden walkways extended all the way down to the private beach where guests can find the resort’s Beach Club with the adjoining Ristorante Marinella. From the Beach Club, guests can be squired out on a jetty to one of the resort’s two luxury yachts – a Pardo 50 and a Saxdor 320 – for bucket-list boating excursions along the coast and around Capri.
As a final note before diving into the interview, what’s important for everyone is to never conflate innovation with technology. If you look closely, you’ll see that independent hotels and small groups are bastions of innovation through their patronage of intrepid chefs, artists and local craftsmen who together cocreate a sense of place and transport guests into a magical storytelling environment.
For Borgo Santandrea, this is ‘midcentury meets Mediterranean’ tone that pervades every aspect of operations and helping to give the hotel what can best be described as a ‘soul’. With this in mind, let’s hear from Orlacchio to learn how he and his partners crafted this Amalfi gem.
What distinguishes the best of the best hotels in the world is often described as ‘soul’. To this end, what would you say is Borgo Santandrea’s soul?
At the center of what we do is the belief in treating people well so that everyone involved – both guests and staff – may have an unforgettable experience. At Borgo Santandrea, we simply aim to host guests as we would host visiting family or friends, paying close attention to the details that cultivate a sense of home. I believe that our ‘soul’ is the care we take to build a luxury home on the Amalfi Coast.
Even though it only opened some four years ago, Borgo Santandrea nevertheless has an incredible story that goes back to the 1960s at the very least. If you could highlight one single moment from the hotel’s history that’s emblematic of Amalfi hospitality, what would it be?
Just imagine: the bay where we are located was, back in the 1960s and 70s, a true haven for the international jet set. Its natural shape made it, and still makes it, the perfect hideaway for the stars of the time, offering privacy beauty, and effortless elegance far from the reach of the very first paparazzi.
Legendary figures such as Sofia Loren, Jackie Kennedy, Gianni Agnelli and Aristotle Onassis were frequent visitors to this stretch of coast, each leaving behind a trace of glamour that still lingers in the atmosphere.
Villa Ponti, the private residences of Mario D’Urso, Villa Chandon and Villa Agnelli served as the backdrop for enchanting summer gatherings, where charm and sophistication came together in unforgettable evenings that shaped the social history of the Amalfi Coast.
And then there is the famous Pasta alla Jacqueline, created at 4am at La Tonnarella after a sparkling night at Villa Ponti. A spontaneous and joyful dish, it perfectly captures the spirit of the golden age of Mediterranean glamour, lighthearted, refined and full of character.
A prominent trend of late is the international acclaim and embrace of independent, family-owned and family-operated luxury hotels. As a co-owner and general manager, how do you work with other members of both families to decide on the best path forward while staying true to Borgo Santandrea’s soul?
When a genuine friendship lies at the foundation of a business relationship, everything becomes simpler and more natural.
My brother and I are fortunate to have partners like the De Siano family – people we have known for over 30 years – with whom we share not only trust but also a remarkably similar background. Both of our families began with two of Ischia’s historic properties (one of three idyllic islands in the Bay of Naples), Villa Svizzera and Villa Teresa, and the spirit of dedication and sacrifice has always been in our DNA. Even today, with Borgo Santandrea standing among the finest expressions of luxury hospitality, we never lose sight of where we came from.
Every decision is made together, openly discussed with full transparency, and ultimately resolved through mutual understanding. Because, as I said, when the foundation of a partnership is built on something deeper than business, even the most complex choices become far easier to navigate.
Building a ‘vertical heaven’ on the Amalfi Coast undoubtedly came with numerous headaches during the four year construction period – a challenge only exacerbated by the pandemic. And despite its steep elevation, Borgo Santandrea is accessible! What setbacks did you face in this process?
To truly understand what we have accomplished, we must start from the beginning. We arrived on the Amalfi Coast as complete outsiders, yet with a very clear vision of what we wanted to create. We were fortunate to find extraordinary local craftsmen and professionals who not only embraced the project but became genuinely passionate about it.
Of course, the journey was far from easy. There were moments when construction came to a halt, generating inevitable tensions and uncertainty. Then came the pandemic, which not only turned everyone’s lives upside down but in our case severely slowed down the supply chain and overall progress.
Yet even in those most trying moments, we never deviated even a centimeter from our vision. I like to call it a form of ‘lucid madness’, the kind that comes from the desire to write a meaningful chapter in one of the world’s most celebrated destinations. A place where, for over 50 years, an extraordinary concentration of iconic hotels has defined and represented the very essence of Italian excellence.
The hotel follows a thematic mantra of ‘Midcentury meets Mediterranean’ but, as you’ve remarked, like so many aspects of luxury hospitality this comes down to obsessing over all the littlest details.
I’ve always found the intersection of midcentury and Mediterranean design visually captivating, and at Borgo Santandrea, that dialogue is brought to life with exceptional attention to detail. We worked with local artisans to create 31 unique types of handmade, hand-painted tiles – each one inspired by Pompeii and midcentury Italian architecture. As well, the interiors are a thoughtful balance of vintage finds and custom-designed pieces, blending the refined lines of midcentury design with the warmth and soul of the Amalfi Coast.
Speaking of design, the Amalfi Coast has a world-renowned aesthetic, known for its blend of laidback coastal furnishings with vibrant pops of color.
We embrace the Amalfi Coast’s aesthetic and heritage by integrating local materials and colors into our design. Our interiors feature white Italian marble from Puglia, Veneto and Tuscany, hand-blown glass lamps from Venice, and all throughout, hues that remind guests of the sea.
Borgo Santandrea has set out to attract a younger demographic of affluent guests than its neighboring hotels. What property features, positioning efforts or commercial strategies have helped you to carve out this niche and grow brand equity in such a short amount of time since opening?
At Borgo Santandrea, we tend to attract one of the youngest, most design-savvy crowds on the Amalfi Coast, and that’s no coincidence. Our version of luxury is a little different: it’s less about formality, and more about authenticity, beautiful design and meaningful, personal experiences. People don’t want the same five-star hotel stay they’ve had before; they want something that feels special. And that’s what we’re all about.
We’re lucky to have one of the only private beaches on the coast, plus three restaurants led by Michelin-starred Chef Crescenzo Scotti. Guests can have a laid-back seafood lunch down by the water or a multi-course dinner overlooking the sea. There’s also private boat trips, wellness experiences and little adventures to nearby towns like Ravello and Amalfi.
And our suites are thoughtfully designed with a blend of midcentury style and local touches feel more like a dream apartment than a hotel room. Our partnerships with Relais & Châteaux and Virtuoso have helped us reach a new wave of travelers, too. Guests who care about design, discovery and having a real connection to where they are.
Onsite horticulture is a particular passion of ours because it’s a triple win: it boosts sustainability, the quality ingredients enhance guest wellness and, perhaps above all, such gardens can help to tell the story of the local people in a meaningful way. What advice would you give for other hoteliers and properties looking to build a garden or full-scale agricultural operation?
My advice would be to partner with local gardeners, farmers and artisans from the start. At Borgo Santandrea, our terraced gardens aren’t just beautiful; they reflect the rich horticultural heritage of the Amalfi Coast. We’ve worked closely with local experts to plant native species like citrus trees, rosemary, lavender and bougainvillea, which not only thrive in the landscape but also carry deep regional significance.
These elements go beyond aesthetics. Our lemons and herbs make their way into signature cocktails and seasonal dishes at the restaurants. Local botanicals are used in our spa treatments and infused into the guest experience at every touchpoint. When you embrace what grows naturally and build relationships with those who know the land best, you create something that feels truly rooted in place and that’s where the magic is.
Anything else you want to add?
I believe it’s essential to work hand-in-hand with the local community across every aspect of hotel operations. Whether it’s making design decisions or selecting the vegetation for our gardens, local partners have offered invaluable insight and expertise. Our goal is always the same: to create an exceptional experience for our guests while also making a meaningful contribution to the community around us.
