At a Glance
This sliver of a cliffside property has several stories stacked one upon another like colorful matchboxes and an authentic, lived-in feel that’s utterly Italian.
Review
Tucked away toward the end of Via Tragara, a good fifteen-minute walk from town, this sliver of a cliffside property has several stories stacked one upon another like colorful matchboxes. Run by the Ruggiero family, who opened the hotel in 1972, Brunella has an authentic, lived-in feel that’s utterly Italian, from the countless terra-cotta pots overflowing with flowers and lemon trees to the narrow, steep staircases that connect rooms with a small pool area and a large sun terrace. Design buffs who enjoy sleek interiors will recoil from furnishings such as upholstered pastel headboards and floral wrought-iron lamps, but Brunella is decidedly more of a private family home than a worldly hotel. The rooms on the lowest level come with a private garden. (Adjacent rooms 52 and 53 are perfect for families or friends traveling together.) The plunging sea views are hard to beat. This hotel is a good alternative for travelers who have been to Capri before and don’t feel the need to be based in the center of town. Popular hikes, like the one to Villa Jovis or the Arco Naturale, are also easily taken from here.
Written by Simone Girner