Monastero Santa Rosa: A personal review

Getting there is a bit of an adventure in itself. The roads narrow, the turns tighten, and just as you wonder when you’ll finally reach it, a set of gates opens into another world.
Check-in isn’t your typical clipboard-and-signature affair. The moment you arrive, a bell rings — a tradition that dates back to the nuns who once lived here. A welcome cocktail appears, served on the terrace overlooking the sea, and suddenly, you realize: this is not just a hotel. This is a transition. You’ve left the busy coast behind and stepped into calm.

Everything here is done with purpose — from the scent of lemon blossoms in the air to the soft rustle of linen curtains. You can tell every detail was thought through, not because someone told them to, but because someone cared enough to.

The story begins in the late 17th century, when Sister Rosa Pandolfi—descendant of the noble Pontone di Scala family—received the nearby church of Santa Maria di Grado as a gift and set about building a consecrated convent for “sacred virgins” on the cliff above Conca dei Marini. By 1681 it was dedicated to St. Rose of Lima, the nuns were baking and tending gardens, supporting the village with their apothecary and even funding a local aqueduct. Over time the convent’s serene silhouette became a fixture of the Amalfi coast, its terraces and gardens quietly shaping the landscape beneath.

The centuries rolled on; in 1924 the old convent was transformed into a hotel by a Roman hotelier, and the building passed through generations until it sat silently, perched and waiting.

Over dinner at their Michelin-starred restaurant, I had the pleasure of meeting Bianca Sharma, the woman behind what Monastero Santa Rosa has become today. As she shared the story of how she found the property, I remember sitting there in awe — fork paused midair — thinking, this might be one of the best dinner conversations I’ve ever had.

Years ago, while boating along the Amalfi Coast, Bianca looked up and saw a forgotten convent clinging to the cliffs above Conca dei Marini.  

Bianca couldn’t get it out of her mind. Curiosity turned into obsession — the kind that changes your life. She bought the ruin, moved to Italy, and began a ten-year restoration that was equal parts preservation and passion project. Local artisans, historians, and architects helped her bring it back stone by stone, carefully maintaining its structure while weaving in quiet luxuries: radiant-heated bathroom floors, a spa that feels monastic in all the right ways, and terraces that make you forget what day it is.

The ritual of ringing the bell, the convent arches, the way the light falls through the cloisters — all kept intentionally. Listening to Bianca speak about her vision, you understand why Monastero Santa Rosa feels so different: it’s a hotel with a heartbeat.

There are places you stay, and places that stay with you.
This is firmly in the latter category.

• The breakfast view: one of the best I’ve ever had. Fresh fruit, pastries, and cappuccino, all with the Tyrrhenian Sea shimmering below.

• The infinity pool: truly one of the most dramatic on the coast. When you swim to the edge, it feels as if you’re floating above the Amalfi cliffs.

• The terraces: tiered gardens filled with lemon trees, herbs, and flowers, each with its own nook for reading, meditating, or doing absolutely nothing. Despite only 20 rooms, it never feels crowded — just balanced.

• The spa: carved into the stone, complete with a thermal circuit and hydrotherapy pool. I spent an entire rainy October afternoon there and still think about it.

• High tea: daily from 4 to 5 p.m. — you can show up in your bathrobe if you’re coming straight from the spa. Nobody minds.

• The hike: a short trail leads from the hotel up to an old church. It’s the perfect way to earn your next Aperol Spritz.

Some people might say it’s “too far” from Amalfi or Positano. For me, that was its best feature. Up here, you trade chaos for calm. You hear the wind, not traffic. You see the sea, not crowds. After a week of exploring the coast, this felt like a deep exhale — the kind of place that resets you before heading home.

• Couples or solo travelers who crave peace, space, and purpose in their stay

• Design lovers who appreciate history that hasn’t been whitewashed

• Anyone looking to end their trip on a high note — emotionally and geographically

• Travelers who understand that true luxury often means fewer people, more soul

• And yes, those who want the best infinity-pool photo of their life (guilty)

Monastero Santa Rosa is the kind of place that doesn’t just give you memories — it changes your pace. You wake up slower, breathe deeper, and notice things you’d normally rush past.

It’s adults-only (16 +), intimate, and feels more like a retreat than a resort. Whether it’s your honeymoon, an anniversary, or just a moment you promised yourself, this is the place to keep that promise.

When I left, I didn’t just check out. As the hotel GM rang the bell for one last time — the same one that’s been calling people to pause for centuries —  I understood why this little monastery in the sky keeps calling people back.

If you’re ready to see this side of the Amalfi Coast — the quiet one, where the views linger and the days stretch long — I’d love to help you experience it the same way I did.
Because when you travel with us, you don’t just stay somewhere beautiful… you stay somewhere unforgettable.