There are places that belong not only to time but to the soul. The Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento is one of them: suspended between sky and sea, overlooking the Gulf of Naples, it is where beauty has lived for over two millennia and carved into every stone.
Here, where the young Agrippa Postumus, grandson of Emperor Augustus, built his villa around 6 AD, stand the nymphaea that still echo the whispers of a legendary past. Since then, this cliffside has welcomed poets, aristocrats, and distinguished travellers from Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, who wrote An Evening in Sorrento here in 1882, to Marguerite Yourcenar, who found in this place the serenity she needed to write; and to the icons of our time, who continue to choose it for its discretion and timeless charm.
Transformed into a hotel in 1820, the residence quickly became a landmark of Italian and international hospitality. Today, it celebrates 205 years of welcoming guests as a true Grande Dame — a symbol of Mediterranean elegance and a custodian of a story woven from myth, art, and culture. Since 1993, it has been owned by the Russo family, hoteliers for five generations who have gracefully redefined the concept of “luxury” as a deeply human and cultural experience before an aesthetic one. Under the leadership of Elsa Russo, together with her daughters Amelia and Adda Attanasio, the hotel has become a laboratory of beauty and contemporary hospitality, where every detail reflects the soul of a lived-in, much-loved home. The “Welcome home” greeting that awaits each guest is more than a phrase, it is the essence of a philosophy passed down through generations.
In 2025, on its 205th anniversary, Bellevue Syrene renews its dialogue with culture through a prestigious partnership with the Museo Correale of Sorrento. It is a project that marks the beginning of a shared journey dedicated to celebrating Sorrento’s artistic and historical heritage. The initiative will take tangible form in the restoration of Hunting Scene, a painting by the Flemish artist David de Koninck, part of the museum’s collection. The restoration will take place inside Bellevue Syrene itself, in a space specifically designed to ensure optimal conditions for the work. This rare initiative within the Italian hospitality world merges the realms of art and hospitality, offering guests the opportunity to witness the restoration process up close and to experience culture in an entirely new way — where art quite literally becomes part of the hotel’s living fabric. It is a gesture of love for Sorrento and its history, reaffirming Bellevue Syrene’s vocation as a meeting place between beauty and knowledge, memory and modernity.
“Bellevue Syrene is not merely a place of hospitality, it is a living organism of culture and memory,” says Elsa Russo. “For thirty-two years, our family has seen itself as the guardian of this place, with all the respect and responsibility that entails. Every day we try to honour its history through thoughtful gestures, attention to detail, and a deep love for art and for Sorrento. We want our guests not just to admire beauty, but to live it, to become part of it. Here, you don’t just leave with the memory of a stay, you leave with the feeling of having entered a living story. In this hotel, ancient and modern tales intertwine — art and nature, past and future. That is our idea of luxury: making everyone who arrives feel part of a story that continues.”
Under the light of this anniversary, Bellevue Syrene celebrates not only its longevity but also the continuity of a family legacy that has evolved without losing authenticity: three women — Elsa, Amelia, and Adda — who today embody the new generation of Sorrento hospitality, carrying forward tradition with passion, sensitivity, and a contemporary spirit.
In its “suspended time,” amid the scent of the sea and the song of the Sirens, Bellevue Syrene remains what it has always been: a place of the soul, where history meets emotion, and where every guest upon crossing the threshold truly feels at home.