The Bite Magazine - Summer 2019 - Issue 25

Holidays are about getting away from it all, whether it is at home or abroad. Jada Brookes looks at some of the hotel properties in the UK and overseas. bite travel TRAVEL AT HOME OR AWAY Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria I f you prefer to travel overseas for your holiday and are a fan of opera, why not go to the hotel that Luciano Pavarotti stayed at on many occasions? With the new documentary film Pavarotti about the legendary tenor directed by Ron Howard coming out, now is the time to explore the places that invigorated him and his precursor, tenor Enrico Caruso. The singer once aspired to be a goalkeeper but was inspired to start vocal training by Enrico Caru- so, one of the most popular tenors of the 20th century. Both singers are known to have loved the town of Sorrento, located on the Bay of Naples and would always stay at the iconic Grand Ho- tel Excelsior Vittoria, where Caruso lived in the last years of his life. One of the suites is dedicated to Pavarotti, with spectacular views looking over the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Vesuvius. Out of his many popular songs, ‘Torna a Surriento (Return to Sorrento) and ‘O Sole Mio’ (O My Sun) are globally known songs of Neapol- itan tradition. Perched on a cliff and surrounded by manicured citrus gardens, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is a favourite among artists, includ- ing Richard Wagner and Oscar Wilde. The art deco lift transports guests from the port to the hotel where the Michelin-starred restau- rant Terrazza Bosquet offers an elegant combination of regional and Mediterranean cuisine with fresh local produce including a variety of citrus fruits from the hotel’s own orange grove. A selection of the chef ’s exquisite Neapolitan specialties is also available from the Terrazza Vittoria restaurant and L’Orangerie poolside bar and restaurant throughout the day. The hotel encour- ages their guests to come and watch the sunset and take in the spectacular views on the most iconic terrace in Sorrento facing the sea and the Mount Vesuvius while tantalising their taste buds with some delights from their award-winning chef and his team. At the L'Orangerie poolside bar & restaurant, you can enjoy deli- cious favourites in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Located in the orange grove by the pool area, L'Orangerie is open every day for lunch and dinner during the summer season. Here you can indulge in mouth-watering dishes made from local produce and regional ingredients. At night, the restaurant's bar transforms into a glamor- ous lounge area serving late-night delicious tapas-style, small plates and local and international wines and exotic specialty cocktails while listening to funky music and having fun times. The hotel has several rooms and suites including One-of-a-Kind suites which are ultimate in luxury and comfort with each one with their own history, often made by the passing of many celebrities who have stayed there in the romantic backdrop of the Sorrento Peninsula. All of them have sweeping terraces overlooking the sea including the Caruso Suite which hosted the famous tenor in 1921 and now perseveres his original piano as well as other objects. The elaborately furnished and lavish Junior Suite Sea View and Su- perior Side Sea View both feature bedroom, lounge area or separate sitting room, with marble bathroom and wood, or Vietri tiled floor and overlook the Gulf of Naples. The Junior Suite Garden View is slightly different with a bedroom, sitting room, one or two marble bathrooms, spacious terrace which overlooks the hotel’s splendid citrus and olive orchards. It is tastefully furnished, with the fabrics and decor reflecting the colours of the garden. Other rooms include the Sea View Deluxe, paved in Vietri ceramics with a sofa bed, marble bathroom and veranda; Sea View Superior furnished with fin de siècle pieces and elaborately decorated with geometric and floral stencils along with a marble bathroom, wood or tiled floor and veranda; Garden View Double which overlooks the garden and is elaborately furnished and decorated with Renais- sance-style trompe l’ceils as well as having a marble bathroom and veranda. The two-bedroom apartments are elegant and sophisticated, fur- nished in a modern, comfortable style and offer a refined expansive living space in which guests can relax or entertain. The Excelsior Vittoria Villas offer a perfect way to experience the Neapolitan chic lifestyle while staying in Sorrento. This apartment accommodates up to six using the sofa bed in the sitting room and a foldaway bed in the studio. Please note that foldaway beds are additional and must be requested in advance https://m.exvitt.it/en