Agriturismo Antico Casale Colli di San Pietro

Antico Casale is set on the San Pietro hill above Sorrento center and is one of our most favorite places to visit as a family. It is a family owed agriturismo run and cared for by Nonna Luisa and her three sons, Salvatore, Mario and Angelo. The accommodations are exceptional, the grounds are inviting, the view of the bay is breathtaking and easy access to both Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. Ideally you should have a car or a Vespa to get around. Beyond the included breakfast, there is a full service restaurant - Nonna Luisa Agristoria, serving lunch and dinner, is fantastic with chef Annamarie making amazing traditional Sorrentina dishes using all the products produced by their farm. When we leave we always look forward to our next visit which will be in August for our daughter’s wedding at Antico Casale.

Whenever we travel in Italy, we have a book at our side: Osterie d'Italia by slow food. This book is a compilation of restaurants that adhere to three simple rules: local recipes, local ingredients and only seasonal produce. This ensures that in general you will find authentic high quality local food. And again we were not disappointed. The food was fresh, the vegetables were fantastic, the pasta was delicious, home made wine and olive oil, and the staff was going out in the garden to get fresh herbs. Our host was very kind and went at lengths at explaining the dishes, the surrounding and culture. He is also trying to revive the production of local nuts and oranges that have a really distinct flavour. The orange sorbet was delicious. This is a must for anybody at the Amalfi coast.

Staying at Antico Casale was a very special experience, from the moment we arrived!!! We arrived very late, after the kitchen closed, but nonetheless Mario arranged an incredible platter of local cheeses and prosciutto and salamis (made by the family on the property) and a bottle of wine (again made by the family!)… It was all absolutely delicious and an amazing start to our stay!!! The wine deserves a special mention! Particularly the red!! If only there was a mail order option…. We are a family of 4 (our daughters being 9 and 6) and stayed in a suite with a sea view. The view is spectacular. The room was spacious, fresh and immaculate. Air conditioning was perfect. All windows were fitted with black out blinds. Very nice toiletries were provided. Cleaning service was daily and perfect. Most importantly, the main bed was big and comfy. We slept very well. All boxes firmly ticked as far we we were concerned! Breakfast is served on an absolutely stunning terrace, with a view of Sorrento, the Bay of Naples and Naples itself in the foreground. It is an incredible start to a day! There was a delightful selection of pastries, fresh fruit, cereals, meats and cheeses and freshly squeezed orange juice. Delicious eggs and coffee were also made to order. My favourite element was the selection of home made marmalades - I think lemon, orange, grapefruit and cherry!? We left with jars for gifts. I have not yet delivered them to intended recipients…. The ristorante is available for lunch and dinner. We stayed 6 nights and had dinner 4 times and lunch once. We had a hired car and ate elsewhere (including at Ravello and Sorrento) the rest of the time. The best we ate was at Antico Casale! The menu is interesting and a real experience of local (very very local!) produce and cuisine - including fantastic pasta and meat dishes, that we did not see on menus elsewhere in the main tourist areas nearby. I am not a big desert person, but even I was always tempted! The walnut gellato was a particular stand out! The family made walnut liqueur was also a very nice end to a meal…. It was obvious that a lot of locals ate in the ristorante, which speaks for itself. We used the nearby pool a number of times. It really is nearby! Literally, a few minutes walk across the road. The pool also happened to be a real pleasure. It is a beautiful pool, with a splash area for toddlers and a proper slide for bigger kids. The deep end is exceptionally deep, but the pool is very large and there is an ample shallower end for any kids still learning to swim. Apart from on the Sunday, we had no problem getting sun beds and an umbrella. There is a cafe on site, with a covered seating area, which serves very nice lunches, with a broad selection. In terms of location, it is great hub to visit Sorrento, the Amalfi coast and Naples. Last but not least, the hospitality of Salvatore, Mario, Angelo, their mother and the rest of their team was wonderful! Salvatore gave us key recommendatio