Hotel Palace by Matthew Barker

Majestic villa overlooking the Gulf of Naples, with gilt-edged Louis XVI furnishings, grand columns and stone tiled floors. The Meragon Suite comes with its own private gardens and swimming pool. You don’t have to be a movie mogul, well-heeled, Gucci-shod Eurocrat or Master of the Universe to stay here, but… well, actually you do. 58 rooms (22 suites).

Hotel Attractions: Something rotten. The neigbouring Beauty Farm’s celebrated spa facilities include a range of thermal, electro-stimulation and antalgic treatments. There’s also a Leg School. Delightfully swish L’Olivo, La Terrazza and La Piscina restaurants serves up local favourites. Transfers by private helicopter and coastal jaunts by motorboat available on request.

Local Attractions: Anacapri: often deemed the less chic half of the island (certainly the piazza Vittoria is fairly missable, although do take a trip up to Monte Salaro). Few Roman remains left after the Bourbons plundered them a couple of centuries ago; the Gradola villa and the Damecuta Archaeological park the most impressive sites and include recently discovered marble and mosaic statues. Look out too for the churches of San Sofia and San Antonio; the Grotta Azzurra (just follow those crowds), Barbarossa Castle and Villa San Michele, a Swedish cultural institution crammed with island relics and antique furniture, which holds regular recitals. Pizza at La Giara; ravioli alla caprese at La Rondinella.