Hotels › Italy › Positano
A family villa on the Amalfi Coast, open to guests since 1951
- Family-run since 1951
- MICHELIN Key
- Positano village centre
- No children under 6
The story
In 1951, three Sersale siblings, Anna, Aldo and Paolo, with the blessing of their younger brother Franco, opened their family’s 18th-century summer villa in Positano to paying guests. It had just 12 rooms. They named it after the three tiny islands on the horizon, where ancient writers placed the sirens whose song tempted Ulysses.
Two years later, John Steinbeck drove down from Rome and wrote in Harper’s Bazaar that “Positano bites deep.” He called the Sirenuse an old family house turned first-class hotel.
Seventy-five years on, the Sersale family still runs the house. The mermaid is still its emblem, and every evening the staff light around 400 candles in La Sponda, the restaurant that has made dinner here a ritual.
At a glance
- Where
- Centre of Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Open since
- 1951, run by the Sersale family
- Rooms
- About 58 rooms and suites
- Dining
- La Sponda, plus several bars
- Wellness
- Spa designed by Gae Aulenti
- Pool
- Heated outdoor pool (seasonal)
- Children
- Aged 6 and over
- Check-in / out
- 15:00 / 12:00
- Nearest airport
- Naples, about 90 minutes by car
Why book it
A home, not a chain
The same family has welcomed guests since 1951. Antiques, vaulted ceilings and hand-made Vietri tiles make it feel like a private villa.
Dinner by candlelight
La Sponda serves Mediterranean cooking with a focus on seafood, lit at dinner by around 400 candles.
The classic Positano view
Rooms sit high above the sea, many with balconies over the bay and Positano’s amphitheatre of houses.
Everything on foot
The beach, the shops and restaurants of Positano and the fast ferry to Capri are all within walking distance.
Amenities
Food and drink
- La Sponda restaurant
- Champagne and Oyster Bar
- Aldo’s Cocktail Bar
- Franco’s Bar, by the entrance (opened 2015)
Wellness
- Spa by architect Gae Aulenti
- Sauna and steam bath
- Ice room
- Massages, mostly with aromatic oils
Pool and outdoors
- Heated outdoor pool with mosaic tiles
- Lemon trees and bougainvillea around the pool
- Sea-view terraces
Experiences
- Coastal trips on the hotel’s boat, the Sant’Antonio
- Wine tastings and cooking classes
- Art and culture excursions
Shopping
- Emporio Sirenuse fashion and homeware
- Eau d’Italie, the hotel’s own fragrance line
Service
- 24-hour reception
- Run by the owning family
Did you know?
The islands behind the name
Le Sirenuse was the old name of Li Galli, three islets off Positano. The Greek geographer Strabo placed the mythical sirens there. In 1924 the dancer Léonide Massine bought them, and Rudolf Nureyev acquired them in 1989.
It used to be Villa Giulietta
Before 1951 the house was known as Villa Giulietta. The family renamed it after the islands they could see from the terrace, and the siren has been its symbol ever since.
A writers’ spring
Each spring the hotel hosts Sirenland, a writers’ retreat. Since 2015, Sirenuse Art Projects has invited a contemporary artist to stay and create a work for the house.
Good to know
Best for
- Couples, honeymoons and anniversaries
- Food lovers who want a memorable dinner
- Art and design lovers
- Staying right in Positano, not above it
Think twice if
- You travel with children under 6
- You want a secluded hideaway away from town
- Steps are hard for you: Positano is built on a cliff
- You need the pool outside the warm season
The hotel opens seasonally from spring. Confirm dates, room types and policies with the hotel before you book.
Location
Ready to choose?
See it side by side
Wondering how Le Sirenuse compares with its neighbour Il San Pietro, hidden in the cliff just outside town?
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: Le Sirenuse: the story of a name, MICHELIN Guide, Artemest, Atelier Le Monde, Scott Dunn, Air Mail. Facts change: please confirm details with the hotel when booking. We may earn a commission.