Giardini del Fuente has abandoned its reputation as a "eco-monster" in the past and is now working toward a more sustainable future.
The Amalfi Coast in Italy does not require much of an introduction. Since time immemorial, the thirty-mile-long strip of land that runs along the Sorrentino Peninsula's southwestern coast has been a popular tourist destination. Visitors have a hard time tearing themselves away from the breathtaking scenery, which consists of rocky shorelines, steep mountains, pebbled coves, and pastel-colored settlements that are perilously situated atop cliffs.
Positano and Amalfi are the most popular tourist destinations in the area. But if you keep driving south along the coast, you'll come across a number of less well-known villages and sun-kissed places that are just as charming, if not more so, because of the natural beauty they have retained. One of these sites is the posh beach hangout known as Giardini del Fuente, which is located just off the meandering road that connects Viterbi sulk Mare and Ectara.
The property is located on a rocky outcrop that looks out over the Gulf of Salerno, and it now includes a series of gentle, verdant terraces that slope down toward the sea. Each of these terraces has been beautifully landscaped with pergolas, crisscrossing paths, and beds of aromatic herbs and blooming agapanthus. On one side there is a lemon garden, while on the other there is a vineyard. The scene is finished off with a tranquil private beach that is bordered with streamlined blue umbrellas and a handful of white cabanas. This beach provides direct access to waters that are an impossible shade of turquoise.
Despite the fact that its history makes no reference to the Mediterranean, it is everything that the region has ever been imagined to be.
In the 1970s, the craggy promontory where Giardini stands today was occupied by what came to be known in the boot-shaped country as the "Eco-Monster": the Hotel Amalfitano, a giant, seven-story complex that was built by carving into the mountain, effectively stripping away a large section of the highly romanticized coast. Today, Giardini stands on the same spot where the Hotel Amalfitano once stood.
The building consisted of 34,000 cubic meters of concrete and had a façade that was 150 meters long. It also featured interior elevators that led to the beach, underground parking, a stairway that led to the ocean and a swimming pool, and underground parking. To put it more clearly, it was an eyesore, and there was no concern for the fragile environment of its surrounds or architecture that was ecologically balanced.
Although the hotel's owner, Orfeo Mazzitelli, had obtained a regular building permit for the structure, it didn't take long for environmentalists to label the Amalfitano as a glaring example of Italian abusivismo, which refers to the widespread phenomenon of illegal zoning and construction that flourished in the years following World War II. (It is possible to make the case that the Amalfitano was used as a scapegoat in the struggle against the rum ours that persisted throughout those years.)
You’ve been to Rome, Florence, maybe Amalfi Coast. Have you been to #Puglia? Put this on your radar for your next trip to #Italy! One family checked into Masseria Torre Coccaro couple days ago. Spending a few days enjoying Coccaro Beach Club & exploring ancient towns nearby. pic.twitter.com/BYwck4oQZd
— Neufville Travel (@tishaneufville) June 11, 2022
The Amalfitano ceased operations in the year 1985. It wasn't until 1999 that it was finally demolished, following a spate of legal challenges and drawn-out court fights.
Although Orfeo Mazzitelli had passed away before to the hotel's destruction, the family continued to own the piece of property on which the ultramodern hotel had been built. His daughter, the architect Maria Teresa Mazzitelli, began daydreaming about a new beginning for it over the course of a few years' time. And now, that vision has become reality in the form of Giardini del Fuente.
Alessandra de Flaminius, Maria Teresa's daughter and co-manager of Giardini along with her brother, Pier Luigi, said, "Our mother was always determined to turn the destiny of this place around and prove that it could be made into something beautiful." "Our mother was always determined to turn the destiny of this place around and prove that it could be made into something beautiful." "She had the idea to start a regeneration project that would respect the land and restore what the past had taken away from it, and she set out to do both of those things. And I believe that she, together with our family as a whole, has accomplished this.
In 2006, requalification plans were given the go light, but it wasn't until 2011 that actual construction work began. Giardini del Fuente opened in June 2019; however, because to the pandemic, this will be the only complete season for the gardens until this summer.
Alessandra described the experience as "a rollercoaster." "However, it is also a very rewarding trip once you have a look around."
Forth point of fact, the Mazzitelli family has put in a lot of effort to restore this piece of paradise to its original state of look. It was decided to bring in a geologist to evaluate the valley of the mountain, as well as conduct assessments on seismic data and the structural safety of the grounds. An expert in agronomy and landscape design was consulted regarding the most environmentally friendly way to construct the large terraces that are the defining feature of the property today. This expert also selected native plants for the gardens in order to produce the most organic environment that was physically possible. In addition, intricate engineering projects were carried out to guarantee that Giardini will be able to regain its former environmental standing.
Pier Luigi explained, "We've learnt from our history, and now we're looking to the future with a great feeling of appreciation for what nature has provided to our area." "Fuente has reached the next chapter with this."
It seems fitting that the two brothers and sisters, who are both in their mid-30s, will be the ones to welcome in the new era. "My mother has always had a very close connection with this stretch of coast, and this has been very much her endeavor," he explained. "This has been her legacy." "However, when we were eventually given permission to start the requalification process, she urged us to take over." She believed that because we were the third generation in the family, we would have the forward-looking perspective that this establishment required.
It is safe to assume that they have demonstrated that she was correct in her assessment, given what they have done with Giardini del Fuente.
The property includes spaces that are ideal for hosting weddings, intimate dinners, or cultural events (Alessandra and Pier Luigi held a small music festival here in 2019), along with barrier-free access to all of the facilities and parking, both of which are rare on the Amalfi Coast. In addition, the property includes greenery that has been expertly manicured, and the beach club has stylish toes-in-the-sand vibes.
In addition, there is an outdoor lounge bar for sunset cocktails as well as two restaurants: the laid-back but top-shelf Riva del Fuente, which is right by the beach, and the fine-dining concept Volta del Fuenti, which opened in May 2022 and has been getting rave reviews since (it is indeed outstanding). Both restaurants are located on the same property.
Both establishments are run by Michele de Blasio, a young chef with a wealth of expertise who has worked in the kitchens of prestigious establishments such as The Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong and Alain Ducastel in France, amongst other places. His cooking is characterized by a focus on innovation and the use of regional ingredients, such as the vegetables that are grown in the garden of Giardini. Additionally, he pays attention to seasonality and the culinary customs of his home region of Campania.
Pier Luigi remarked, "It was crucial for us to invest in a great food offering, and Michele is the person for that." Michele is the one responsible for that. "We want the Volta to become a culinary destination in its own right—somewhere you can have an experience that is genuinely unforgettable and are eager to travel for," "We want the Volta to become a gastronomic destination in its own right," In keeping with the remainder of Giardini."
The siblings have big plans for the future of Giardini del Fuente, and one of them involves expanding the business into the hospitality industry. However, their plans will be very different from those of the previous owners of the property. Alessandra revealed that "We are putting the finishing touches on an accommodation project." "A handful of boutique rooms along the mountain, a portion of which is still on our property, surrounded by thick flora and with easy access to hiking trails, so that visitors can completely immerse themselves in the natural environment of the costlier. It will serve as the finishing touch on the revitalization of this location.
Pier Luigi agreed. He stated that one of their goals is for Fuenti to emerge as a central location along the entire coast. "We're excited to demonstrate that fresh starts are always a possibility. And, you are aware of what? I believe that our grandfather would be pleased with how we've turned out."