Hotels › Italy › Positano
A hotel carved into the cliff just outside Positano, open since 1970
- Family-owned since 1970
- MICHELIN-starred Zass
- Relais & Châteaux
- Children aged 10+
The story
In the 1950s, Carlo “Carlino” Cinque already ran a small hotel in Positano. In the late afternoons he rowed his fishing boat along the coast to a rocky headland in Laurito to drop his lobster pots. On top stood a tiny white chapel dedicated to San Pietro. In 1962 he bought the land and set out to build a hotel that would hide inside the landscape rather than sit on top of it.
He acted as his own architect, engineer and interior designer. The hardest job was cutting a lift shaft down through the cliff to the sea, which took years of blasting. The hotel opened on 29 June 1970, the feast day of Saint Peter, with 33 rooms. Carlino even drilled through walls so that climbing plants could grow from the outside in.
After Carlino died in 1984, his niece Virginia Attanasio took over with her brother Salvatore, and since 1996 she has run it with her sons Vito and Carlo Cinque. The hotel joined Relais & Châteaux in 1989, grew room by room down the rock, and celebrated its 55th season in 2025.
At a glance
- Where
- Via Laurito 2, on a headland about 2 km east of Positano’s centre
- Open since
- 1970, still run by the Cinque family
- Rooms
- About 57 rooms and suites, each with a sea-view terrace
- Dining
- Zass (one MICHELIN star) and Il Carlino by the sea
- Wellness
- Spa with sauna and steam bath, fitness centre
- Pool
- Outdoor pool above the sea
- Children
- Aged 10 and over
- Check-in / out
- 14:30 / 11:30
- Nearest airport
- Naples, about an hour by car
Why book it
A lift to the sea
A lift runs down through the rock to the hotel’s private beach platform, with sun loungers, a bar and Il Carlino restaurant at the water’s edge.
A starred dinner
Zass, led by chef Alois Vanlangenaeker, holds one MICHELIN star and offers a wine list of around 600 labels.
Every room faces the sea
All rooms and suites have a private terrace with sea views, and each one is furnished differently.
Calm, away from the crowds
It sits outside the busy village, with free private parking and a shuttle into Positano on request.
Amenities
Food and drink
- Zass (one MICHELIN star)
- Il Carlino, seaside restaurant
- Hotel bar
Wellness
- Spa
- Sauna and steam bath
- Massages and beauty treatments
- Fitness centre
Pool and outdoors
- Outdoor pool
- Private beach platform reached by lift
- Tennis court on the cliff
- Terraced gardens
Experiences
- Boat trips along the coast
- Canoeing
- Arrival by sea at the private dock
- Symbolic ceremonies on request
Service
- Free private parking
- Shuttle to Positano on request
- Small pets accepted
Did you know?
Named after a chapel
The hotel takes its name from the small chapel of San Pietro that already stood on the headland, and it opened on 29 June, the saint’s feast day.
The lift came first
Before any building went up, years were spent blasting a shaft through the cliff so guests could reach the sea without the long climb.
Tennis above the sea
The hotel has its own tennis court, set on the rock high above the water.
Good to know
Best for
- Couples and honeymooners who want quiet
- Food lovers (MICHELIN-starred Zass)
- Travellers who want a private beach
- Anyone who prefers looking at Positano to staying in its crowds
Think twice if
- You travel with children under 10
- You want to walk to shops and the main beach
- You plan a trip between November and March
- Many steps and level changes are hard for you
The hotel is usually open from April to October. Check opening dates, the children’s policy and shuttle times when you book.
Location
Ready to choose?
See it side by side
Wondering how Il San Pietro compares with Le Sirenuse, right in the centre of Positano?
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: Il San Pietro: FAQ, Il San Pietro: 50 years, Il San Pietro: 55 years, Relais & Châteaux: Zass, Wikipedia, The World’s 50 Best Discovery. Facts change: please confirm details with the hotel when booking. We may earn a commission.