Let's make something clear right from the outset. Palazzo Santacroce isn't simply a villa or a house. Palazza Santacroce is an historical monument and offers the rare occasion to be able to live in one of the most beautiful residences still open to elite tourism. Constructed-at the end of 1600-by a rich and powerful Positano merchant, the property represents the last result of a crossing of cultures. On one side, in fact, one can admire one of the best examples of Italian Baroque, in particular that declining of Baroque when villas and summer residences of indescribable beauty were scattered around the area of Vesuvio and the entire Campania region. The splendid noble storey and, in a very special way, the first floor of the property are intact as they were at the time of construction in the 1600's. Ceilings and fixtures are sumptuously adorned, plasterwork and gold leafing are of the highest quality and the splendid windows overlook the beauty of the panorama and the entire bay of Positano from on high. On the other hand, Palazzo Santacroce evokes the signs of the rich and flourishing mercantile era of the Amalfi Coast and the golden age of the Republic of Amalfi. The structure of the property, it's internal courtyards, its patio with a well, its spectacular hanging gardens and above all the quality, the richness and the abundance of materials and architectural detailing imported directly from the East make Palazzo Santacroce one of the shining examples of an architecture that is typical of the Mediterranean civilization. It is a magnificently conserved jewel made even more magical and suggestive by the harmonious alternating of Oriental ambience and refined European sumptuousness : wrought iron from the ancient forges of Constantinople and plasterwork, marbles, ceramics and clay commissioned from the most famous Neopolitan artisans of the time. An inestimable artistic treasure, that with the decline of the Republic of Amalfi and subsequent Saracen invasions that occurred during the second half of the 18th century, risked being lost forever. It was the foreign travelers of ‘900 and in particular the intellectuals, artists and aristocrats fleeing from Nazi-controlled Germany who gave a renovated, new splendor to the magnificent residence. Beginning in the 1920s and up until a few years ago, the Palazzo was the home and refuge of Edoard Gillaushen and Edvidge Reidel, refined German intellectuals, who lived there until their deaths. They protected the property with love and great care and they contributed to spreading the word of the beauty and myth of Positano and the entire Amalfi Coast in the artistic and aristocratic circles around the world.
The present owner have given new splendor to the Palazzo, making it a welcoming refuge for the foreign traveler seeking the unique experience of vacationing on the Amalfi Coast in the same manner in which the aristocrats of the past did; in the unforgettable era when Italy, and in particular, southern Italy were ‘must see' stops on the famous ‘Grand Tours'. Thanks to a careful renovation of the most minute details, Palazzo Santacroce offers its guests a magnificent 3 storey palace beginning with the suggestive portico on the ground floor with its classic Amalfitana garden, and unwinding in an itinerary of pure fascination. The first floor of the structure is devoted to living and entertaining. The second floor hosts the secret and intimate sleeping area that is worthy of a king and queen. An excellent internal private spa area with tub, fountains and a wonderful swimming pool completes the residence and can hold its own with the best hotel spas in a town where luxury is de rigeur.