Review of La Locanda delle Donne Monache, by The TI Review Team

Far down the west coast of Italy, where the borders of Campania and Basilicata meet, the hill town of Maratea sits high above black sand beaches and waters the colour of opal and jade. And above the town of Maratea is La Locanda delle Donne Monache, an 18th-century convent-turned-boutique hotel. With a walled garden and pool, lovely lounges furnished with heavy antiques and glass sculptures under soaring barrel-vault ceilings, and freshly-renovated rooms, La Locanda offers a chic escape in a lesser-known corner of Southern Italy.

The facilities

La Locanda's pool is surrounded by chaises, and there's a large flagstone terrace dotted with potted lemons and cafe tables for taking an aperitivo in the sun. There's a lovely restaurant, Il Sacello, the nicest in Maratea, as well as a sleek new bar, L'Alambicco. Shuttle service to the beaches at Marina di Maratea, a 10-minute ride, are available. No fitness center, but exploring Maratea's steep lanes and alleyways on foot should keep most feeling fit.

The rooms

Just 27 doubles and junior suites are scattered over the convent's multiple levels. Floors are of brilliant blue glass tile or deep terracotta; romantic cast-iron beds are draped in white linen (and occasionally canopied in white as well). Furnishings are basic but of good quality-simple white sofas and chairs, glass-topped dressers, a smattering of good antiques. The baths are servicable, white-on-white affairs, with a few wildly fun ones 'built' into the walls of stone in the junior suites. About half have staggering views over the cliffs towards the sea; the others enjoy an almost equally inspiring panorama of the summit above town.