Nestled on a cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel breathes new life into a 13th-century Capuchin monastery with Gino Sorbillo's pizzas.
The Location
This place is for true enjoyment. Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel has just been launched and welcomes guests to its terraces with panoramic views of the Mediterranean. It is the second Anantara establishment in Italy, joining the recently opened Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, and the eighth of the brand in Europe. A magnificent location that further enhances the already majestic and unique Amalfi Coast.
The renovation of the building, dating back 800 years, has carefully preserved its historical features, including the cloisters and the Baroque church, complete with a marble altar and maiolica flooring. But gourmet travelers "not only" seek beauty and history, they also crave a gastronomic experience that matches the magnificence. And indeed, they have two excellent choices available.
The kitchen
On one hand, there's the restaurant "Dei Cappucini," led by executive chef Claudio Lanuto, who introduces a unique culinary concept focused on using fresh seasonal ingredients cultivated in the convent's garden, with preparations sometimes designed in collaboration with local monks. The culinary offerings are diverse and rich, in line with the celebration of the Campania region, yet never redundant, rather, they strike a perfect balance in flavor and quantity, a testament to Chef Lanuto's skilled and pleasant touch.
On the other hand, the much-anticipated appearance of Gino Sorbillo and his pizza creations: the "Locanda della Canonica Pizzeria di Gino Sorbillo," reachable through the charming "monks' walkway," offers artisanal pizzas crafted by a world-renowned pizza master, creating a gastronomic journey through Campania.
Gino Sorbillo's pizzas
Gino Sorbillo's Pizzas: As a media-savvy and sensitive master of pizza with international fame, Gino invites diners to taste the flavors of the region, from the anchovies of Cetara and the locally produced Provolone del Monaco to the mozzarella and ricotta from Agerola. At the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel, Sorbillo showcases his authentic passion for pizza, prepared with meticulous artistry and a preference for fresh, local ingredients. The menu pays true homage to the typical flavors of Amalfi and its surrounding areas. Alongside a selection of appetizers and desserts, the menu includes eight signature pizzas, each highlighting the genuine products of the region, such as Cetara anchovies, Agerola mozzarella and ricotta, Provolone del Monaco, and the aromatic herbs from the convent's garden.
For a complete experience, guests can opt for the "A Journey through Campania" tasting menu, which starts in the Monti Lattari in Agerola, the home of the flavorful Provolone featured in the Margherita del Monaco. The journey continues with the Pizza del Casaro, featuring caprino, pecorino Bagnolese, and fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), all produced with Agerolese cow's milk, before reaching the sea, where Licosa red mullets infuse their flavors into the Favorita del Priore or the Montanara Amalfitana with Cetara anchovies.
"Recently, there was the discovery of a Pompeian fresco depicting a pizza, and as always, I seized the moment to reproduce this 'Pizza Pompei' in both my pizzerias and here at Anantara. It's a pizza with anchovies, walnuts, vegetables, and pomegranate. I arrived here with great attention to cooking (using a high-end Neapolis 6 oven, produced in Italy by Moretti Forni) and with a reduced number of servings, as expected in a five-star setting where excellence is paramount. It's a new challenge for me, sort of Gino challenging Gino, placing a pizza on a much higher level than usual. I want to convey that despite our origins as humble pizzaioli, we can reach these high levels while remaining free, authentic, and true in our dough and spirit. And I believe we have achieved that goal," says a confident Sorbillo. One more reason to savor the ever-fulfilling Amalfi Coast experience.
Address
Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel
SS163, 8, 84011 Amalfi SA
Tel: 089 873 6711
