August 10, 2026 | VOL 19
LE SIRENUSE MARE
a NEW CHAPTER
in a QUIET BAY
words Onur Basturk
photos Le Sirenuse Mare — Steffan Giftthaler
Family Portrait — Lorenzo Bringheli
Aldo & Francesco Sersale Portrait — Steffan Giftthaler
I step out of my room at Le Sirenuse and make my way down to the beach below—moving through the crowds—to catch the boat that will take me to the hotel’s new beach club, Le Sirenuse Mare. I’m not alone. Four other guests join me, and for a moment it feels like stepping into a new season of The White Lotus. Everyone has their own presence. One woman, in particular, stands out—wearing high-heeled leather boots in the midday heat.
After a 50-minute journey, we arrive at Marina di Cantone, one of the quieter corners of the Amalfi Coast. A fishing village known mostly to insiders, it feels calm and unhurried—more frequented by locals and those who know where to go. Most simply call it Nerano, after the hilltop town above. Its best-known dish, Spaghetti alla Nerano, is built on the deceptively simple pairing of zucchini and cheese.
Why Nerano? Antonio Sersale, representing the second generation of the family behind Le Sirenuse, answers directly: “We’ve been looking for a place where our guests could enjoy the sea. Nerano was a natural choice—we’ve been coming here for lunch as a family for years. My father Franco even had his wedding here. For me, it captures the warm, authentic side of Italy that Le Sirenuse has always embraced.”
AUTHENTICITY, RESPECT FOR PLACE, AND A SEARCH FOR BALANCE BEYOND FLEETING TRENDS
At Le Sirenuse Mare, the spatial sequence reveals itself in layers. A stepped entrance leads in. Then comes Rose’s Bar—recalling the understated beach bars of Italy’s dolce vita years—alongside the Emporio Sirenuse boutique. Beyond, the layout opens into two focal points: a restaurant set within a generous garden, and finally the beach club itself, reached by a series of steps—lined with green-and-white umbrellas and five elegant cabanas dressed in hand-embroidered fabrics from India.
Five years in the making, the project is designed by Studio Architetti Artigiani Anonimi, led by Annarita Aversa:
“As a part-time resident of the Amalfi Coast, I have always seen Le Sirenuse as an exemplary entrepreneurial model—one that has built, across generations, an authentic narrative rooted in family values, and a virtuous relationship between hospitality and its territory.
To me, its elegance lies in the balance behind every decision: slow, thoughtful, and intentional, reflecting the Sersale family’s deep awareness of their identity. The project began with a careful reading of this identity, with the aim of translating it into a contemporary, non-rhetorical temporary architectural intervention, set within a remote coastal landscape very different from Positano. It is grounded in the brand’s enduring values: authenticity, respect for place, and a constant search for balance and harmony, beyond fleeting trends. Adding a new layer to this long-standing story, in tune with the present, was made possible by a strong alignment of vision between designers and client.”
From the outset, Aversa approached the project as a landscape intervention: “A stretch of coastline that had been compromised by interventions in the 1970s needed to be carefully restored through the use of materials consistent with the context. The large asphalt tennis court was therefore reimagined as a garden articulated into human-scale terraces. We reflected at length on this, seeking to create a sequence of simple spaces—almost outdoor living rooms—in which the garden would remain the protagonist. The intervention can be considered fully successful also thanks to the masterful guidance of architect Paolo Pejrone, with whom I had already collaborated in the past.
The project unfolds in two key moments: the seafront façade and the discovery of the garden. The façade defines the coastline west of the Nerano tower—animated by Alba Clemente’s drawings by day and softened by lantern light at night. The second moment is the garden: a sequence of intimate, well-proportioned ‘green rooms’ set within Mediterranean planting. On the final terrace, the temporary nature of the intervention becomes more explicit—stage-like structures house the bars, while a work by Giuseppe Ducrot forms a visual focal point. A small piazzetta, conceived as a setting for social life.”
EVERY ELEMENT DRAWS FROM AMALFI CULTURE
The level of craftsmanship is immediately apparent. Hand-painted ceramic surfaces, bespoke wrought iron furniture, ceramic and plaster lighting, glass lanterns, rammed lapillus flooring, carefully crafted timber structures.
“Every element draws from Amalfi culture, but is reinterpreted through the lens of Le Sirenuse. The colour palette evolves from the tones of the historic house into lighter, more marine shades—copper greens and coral tones typical of 19th-century Vietri ceramics. The green ceramic patterns reinterpret traditional motifs, establishing a direct dialogue with local craftsmanship. The furnishings reflect the dolce vita lifestyle of the Amalfi Coast. With contributions from local artists such as Lucio Liguori, the space gains further depth—alongside Alba Clemente’s works, which unfold along the staircase, bringing stories of the region into the space.”
A BRIEF LOOK BACK AT LE SIRENUSE
When four Neapolitan siblings—Anna, Aldo, Paolo and Franco Sersale—set out in 1951, they recognised that visitors were falling in love with Positano. They converted their family villa into a small hotel with just eight rooms: Le Sirenuse.
The following year, John Steinbeck stayed and wrote: “We went to the Sirenuse, an old family house converted into a first-class hotel… Every room has its little balcony and looks out over the blue sea to the island of the Sirens.”
Today, the hotel has grown to 58 rooms and marks its 75th anniversary. Antonio and his wife Carla live in Positano throughout the season. Antonio oversees the hotel’s management and strategy, while Carla curates Emporio Sirenuse. Their son Aldo runs La Sponda, Franco’s Bar and Aldo’s bar-bistrot. His Don’t Worry Bar, shaped by his fascination with Tokyo’s listening bar culture, translates that influence into Le Sirenuse—a discreet, speakeasy-style space where classic cocktails are paired with vinyl-played jazz and pop.
ANTONIO SERSALE
‘IN ORDER NOT TO CHANGE, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE’
Le Sirenuse has evolved within the same family for over 75 years. What does it mean to you, personally, to carry this legacy forward?
It is the greatest pride in my life. I dedicate all my love and energy to it and seeing it bloom fills me with joy!
What are, for you, the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of running a family-owned hotel?
The most challenging is for sure dealing with the staff to ensure they are happy and can communicate the joy of working here to the guests. The most rewarding is seeing our guests happy and enjoying our establishments.
Looking back, how do you reflect on the evolution of Le Sirenuse—and how do you balance preserving its identity while allowing it to evolve?
Yes I always do so. I live by the saying of: in order not to change you have to change. That is why I am constantly thinking how I can make the Sirenuse better for our guests and for the people working there.
Positano has seen a significant rise in tourism in recent years. How has this intensity shaped your experience—both positively and negatively?
It has encouraged to render our hotel an oasis of peace and tranquility during the daytime juxtaposing itself to the world outside. A place where our guests can enjoy the views of Positano and the Hotel without having to leave the premises.
I imagine you have many personal memories connected to the hotel. Is there one that has stayed with you more than others?
My uncle sitting in the lobby and talking to guests as they came in… he was always charming amusing but most of all welcoming.
You spend the season living at Le Sirenuse. What does a typical day at the hotel look like for you?
I like to walk the property in the morning—checking everything is in order, speaking to staff, understanding how they feel. Afternoons are for emails, then walks in the mountains, followed by cocktails with guests and dinner with visiting friends.
BEFORE LEAVING
One of the clearest expressions of the collaboration between the first and second generations of the Sersale family is Franco’s, the streetside bar a short walk from the hotel. Once a staff car park, it was transformed into a panoramic, art-filled setting—initiated by Franco and completed by Antonio after his passing in 2015.
Order a Negroni. Or a Margarita. Don’t overthink it.
- The full story is featured in Vol.19 -
