“Nonna Maxxing” may be a contemporary trend, but at Casa Angelina, it represents something deeply rooted in the culture of the Amalfi Coast: living more slowly, eating with the seasons, sharing the table, and finding pleasure in the simplicity of everyday life.

To bring this philosophy to life, Casa Angelina has invited a real nonna from Praiano to spend time with guests and share not only the traditional art of making tomato preserves, but also the habits and values that have shaped her way of life.

She is not there simply to teach a recipe. Through her stories, gestures, and natural rhythm, she introduces guests to a more instinctive—and perhaps wiser—approach to living well.

Slow down

A nonna is never in a rush. She understands that good things take time: tomatoes ripen when they are ready, sauces simmer slowly, and conversations do not need to be hurried.

At Casa Angelina, guests are invited to step away from the pressure to be somewhere or do something all the time and instead settle into the gentler rhythm of the Amalfi Coast.

Cook with what is fresh

The experience celebrates uncomplicated cooking with ingredients at their seasonal best: ripe tomatoes, fresh garden herbs, olive oil, and Amalfi Coast citrus.

It is food guided by flavor and instinct rather than elaborate techniques. Through Nonna’s Secret, guests gather produce from Casa Angelina’s cliffside garden and learn the traditional process of turning sun-ripened tomatoes into passata, preserving the taste of summer for long after the season has passed.

Rest without guilt

An afternoon in the sun. A quiet evening overlooking the sea. Nowhere else to be.

Rest, in the nonna philosophy, does not need to be earned. It is part of the natural rhythm of the day— a moment to pause, restore, and enjoy one’s surroundings without feeling that every hour must be productive.

Eat together

No special occasion is required — only good food and people with whom to share it.

Eating together is one of the simplest expressions of care. The table is where stories are told, traditions are passed on, and ordinary moments become memories. Nonna’s Secret, therefore, goes beyond preparing tomato passata: it celebrates the sense of connection that comes from gathering, cooking, and eating together.

Live in the present

Perhaps the real “grandma-style” secret to longevity is not one particular ingredient, but a collection of small, consistent rituals: seasonal food, daily movement, proper rest, strong human connections and the ability to take pleasure in the present moment.

At Casa Angelina, this becomes an invitation to rediscover the lost art of living well—with fewer distractions, a slower pace and greater appreciation for what is immediately around us.

A living garden

This philosophy now extends to the newest addition to Casa Angelina’s cliffside garden: the Chicken Casa, created with our Garden Curator, Giusy, and Basile.

More than a picturesque addition, the Chicken Casa makes the garden feel even more alive. It represents daily care, respect for natural rhythms, and a closer connection between the land and the table. Alongside the seasonal vegetables, herbs, and tomatoes grown in the garden, it adds another layer to Casa Angelina’s evolving story of slow living.

Together, the Praiano nonna, Nonna’s Secret, and the Chicken Casa offer Casa Angelina’s interpretation of “Nonna Maxxing”: not as a passing aesthetic, but as a way of life founded on simplicity, seasonality, community, and presence.

I’ve included photos below to give you a taste of “Nonna Maxxing” at our hotel.

A presto,

Angelina from Casa Angelina

I drive up to Ravello countless times each summer, and miraculously, its beauty always remains anew. The road up offers a smattering of curves, and with each ascent, the coast unfolds a little wider below. Once you reach the summit, the vantage point takes your breath away. While the views are postcard-pretty, a sweeping amount of unique spots also contribute to its allure. In today’s letter, I intend to whisk you away to my favorites across the town, from resplendent villas with verdant gardens to Italian restaurants and stylish shops.

Where to Explore

Villa Cimbrone Gardens

Dating back to the 11th century, this villa’s gardens sit on a picturesque plateau facing the sea. Over the years, I have mustered the interest to explore its entirety — and every promenade, I assure you, delivers you to the Terrazza dell’Infinito, where marble busts keep watch over a drop that is nothing but sea and sky.

Ravello Historic Center (Piazza Vescovado)

Positano breaths in and Ravello exhales. Upon entrance, I take my usual table in Piazza Vescovado and let the town reintroduce itself: the grand church on one side, the cafes sitting on the other, and a pace of life preserved from a much smaller, much archaic Italy.

Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium

Unassuming at its core, this concert hall by Oscar Niemeyer — yes, the legendary Brazilian architect — challenges what one might expect of a medieval hill town. The curved roof is bold without bullying the landscape, and the acoustics pay homage to Ravello’s title as the City of Music each time a performance takes place. I try to attend a medley of concerts every year — I invite you to ask our concierge about showtimes if this is of interest during your time at Casa Angelina.

Villa Rufolo

Each Ravello villa proves its grandeur within every inch of its blueprint. This one, Villa Rufolo, dates back to the 13th century. It was raised by a moneyed family with every intention of standing out — an intention that has aged rather gracefully. Its colorful flowers stage sea-tinged views. Not to name-drop, but Boccaccio thought this place was strung with sensational beauty, too. He wrote an anecdote covering the villa and its owner in his Decameron of 1353. We haven’t been able to stop conversing about this place for centuries.

Where to Shop

Via dei Rufolo

Do not be deceived by its size — this fashion boutique carries some of the finest contemporary clothing on the coast, and I say that as someone who has surveyed its counterparts thoroughly. Nearly all of it is made in Italy. Its high-quality accouterments dress men and women alike. Those with an eye for tailoring should proceed directly to the blazers.

Ceramiche d’Arte Pascal

The ceramics stop, full stop. Hand-painted pottery — tables crowned with lemons, vases wrapped head to toe in flowers, plates with genuine personality — fills every surface, and the clientele speaks for itself: Jessica Biel and Bruce Springsteen have both carried pieces home. What sits on display barely suggests what those hands can do. In this region, we take our ceramics seriously; Pascal takes them somewhere finer still.

The Pink Closet

A glossy, sorbet-pink jewel box unlike anything else in town, and the inventory more than honors the packaging — singular fashion and footwear from Italian designers the wider world has not yet discovered. I visit each time I am up, ostensibly to browse. We both know better.

Coral and Cameo

A sun-warmed, third-generation treasure chest tucked into the heart of the coast, where history meets hand-carved artistry — exquisite, heirloom-quality coral and cameos that carry the soul of these waters.

Where to Dine

Cumpa’ Cosimo

Ask anyone in Ravello where to eat, and this is the name you will hear first — though I stopped needing to ask years ago. A restaurant and pizzeria of the old school, where both the room and the menu take their cues from Campania, the region we all call home. One orders generously and regrets nothing.

Salvatore Ravello

Perched at altitude and priced accordingly, Salvatore is where I go when I wish the view to carry half the conversation. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace place the sea — and the little villages stitched along it, mine among them — on full display. The other half of the conversation: refined Italian cooking and a staff that misses nothing. They remember how I take my coffee. Naturally, I return.

Take the road slowly. Ravello rewards those who arrive unhurried — she has taught me that a dozen times over, and I suspect she is not finished.

I’ve added an assemblage of Ravello photos below to spark wanderlust.

A presto,

Angelina from Casa Angelina

It’s me, Angelina, delighted to welcome you back for another little journey through my beloved corner of the Amalfi Coast.

Today, I’d love to introduce you to Praiano — a village that has quietly preserved the authentic soul of this extraordinary coastline.

Its name is believed to derive from the Greek word pelagos, meaning “open sea,” and you’ll understand why the moment you arrive. Perched between the celebrated towns of Positano and Amalfi, Praiano enjoys one of the most privileged positions along the coast, with sweeping views that seem to stretch endlessly towards Capri and the horizon beyond. Unlike many of its neighboring villages, it’s blessed with both spectacular sunrises and unforgettable sunsets, as the light gracefully follows the village from dawn until dusk.

Long before travelers from around the world discovered the Amalfi Coast, Praiano was chosen by the Doges of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi as their summer retreat — a place of tranquillity, beauty, and gentle sea breezes. Centuries later, its essence remains wonderfully unchanged. Whitewashed houses tumble down the cliffs, fragrant lemon groves perfume ancient pathways, fishermen still head out at dawn, and every winding staircase seems to reveal yet another breathtaking view.

While Positano and Amalfi have deservedly earned international acclaim, Praiano offers something increasingly rare: authenticity. Life moves at a slower rhythm here. Locals greet one another by name in the piazza, afternoons stretch lazily under bougainvillea-covered terraces, and there is a quiet elegance that cannot be manufactured. It is the Amalfi Coast as it has always been — unhurried, genuine and effortlessly beautiful.

Together with our wonderful Concierge Team, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite places to help you experience Praiano beyond the walls of Casa Angelina. These are the addresses we love to share with guests looking to discover the village through local eyes and create memories that linger long after the journey home.

To Eat

Voce ‘e Notte Grill & Sunset
A relaxed hillside terrace where golden-hour aperitivi effortlessly turn into memorable dinners beneath the stars.

Il Pirata
An iconic seaside restaurant nestled within a natural cave, where the sound of the waves accompanies every course.

Ristorante Km0
Fresh, seasonal cuisine celebrating the finest ingredients sourced from the Amalfi Coast and its surrounding hillsides.

Un Piano nel Cielo
Our Michelin-starred restaurant, where Chef Leopoldo Elefante interprets the flavors of Campania with creativity, elegance, and spectacular panoramic views.

La Moressa
A contemporary Mediterranean bistro with one of Praiano’s loveliest terraces overlooking the sea.

La Strada
A local favorite for beautifully prepared pizzas and comforting Italian classics.

To Shop

Due Coste
Beautiful handcrafted ceramics inspired by the colors of the Amalfi Coast, accompanied by one of Praiano’s most enchanting viewpoints.

La Bacheca
A charming boutique celebrating local craftsmanship, artisan home décor, and thoughtful keepsakes.

To Experience

Marina di Praia
A picturesque fishing cove tucked between dramatic cliffs, perfect for a leisurely swim or simply soaking in the timeless atmosphere.

One Fire Beach Club
A lively beach club where long summer afternoons naturally blend into sunset celebrations by the sea.

Piazza San Gennaro
The heart of village life. Pause beneath the iconic majolica church, admire one of Praiano’s most beautiful panoramic terraces and watch everyday life unfold.

Path of the Gods
One of Italy’s most celebrated hiking trails begins just above Praiano, rewarding every step with breathtaking views over the coastline.

Il Gusto della Costa
Discover the artistry behind authentic Amalfi Coast limoncello through a tasting that celebrates generations of local tradition.

Grotta dello Smeraldo
A magical sea cave where sunlight filters through the water, illuminating the grotto in mesmerizing shades of emerald.

Whether you spend an afternoon wandering Praiano’s quiet lanes, linger over a leisurely lunch overlooking the sea, or simply pause to watch another unforgettable sunset, I hope you’ll discover what makes this little village so deeply special.

Some places dazzle at first glance. Praiano reveals itself more gently, inviting you to slow down, look a little closer, and embrace the joy of simply being exactly where you are.

After all, isn’t that what La Dolce Vita is all about? For some Praiano inspiration, I’ve added images from my good friend Enrico Constantini below.

Con affetto,

Angelina from Casa Angelina

Welcome back to another issue of Angelina’s Letters.

I want to introduce you to my friend, a very special person who is dear to my heart—Michele.

Having not seen him since last season, he embraces me the minute we reunite, both hands gripping my shoulders the way old friends do when time apart has been too long. He’s a man from a nearby town in his early sixties, with hands that tell the whole story—rough-palmed and sun-darkened, with the kind of strength that comes not from a gym but from decades of climbing ladders and coaxing life from soil.

Michele is the official lemonkeeper, the guardian of the trees that serve as a beacon of Casa Angelina. He might not know it, but his impact can be felt worldwide—from future guests who discover the stay through a photograph on Instagram, to the mindful, in-real-life memories people carry home long after they’ve left. A sprig of lemon blossom pressed into a journal. The scent that lingers on a linen napkin. These things begin with Michele.

On a crisp June morning, I ask him to show me his techniques. We walk out toward the pool and the iconic lemon pergola, where pockets of sunshine pierce through the openings between interweaving branches. He brings his ladder. I carry my camera.

He tells me about his nonna, who worshipped the lemon trees in front of their house in a nearby village as though they were living members of the family. “Why would you leave this place?” she would say, whenever someone expressed interest in moving to Rome or Milan. Not as a question—more as an answer to something they hadn’t quite asked yet. That saying took root in Michele the way seeds do in good soil.

He tells me the lemons here are more than fruit. On the Amalfi Coast, they are a language, spoken in doorways draped with painted ceramics, in limoncello poured generously at the end of a meal, in branches that arch over terraces like something from a dream. They represent fertility and abundance, prosperity and gift-giving. A lemon offered freely, he explains, is a gesture that says: I wish good things upon you.

He shows me how to know when one is ready. Color is a beginning but not the whole story—a lemon can turn yellow and still be underripe, or hold a blush of green and be perfectly sweet. What you’re looking for, he says, is a kind of glow. When the rind catches the light and seems to radiate from within, that is the sign.

Then there is the feel of it. A ripe lemon gives just slightly under the pressure of the thumb—not soft, never soft, but with the faintest whisper of yield. And finally, the stem. “When it comes away easily,” he says, giving one a gentle twist until it releases cleanly into his palm, “it is ready. It is asking to be picked.”

He places it in my hand. It is heavier than I expect, warm from the sun, and smells—even through its skin—like every summer afternoon you’ve ever loved.

We make our way to the terraced garden on the side of the hotel, carved into the mountainside in layers—the same kind of landscape you pass on the curvaceous drive from Naples to Praiano, where the cliffs leave no room for anything but ingenuity.

Michele gestures at the tiers around us. “Italians are brave,” he says, “so they build on cliffs because they can’t change the landscape. Gardens are made like terraces.” There is no complaint in this—only a quiet pride, the kind that comes from generations of people who looked at an impossible hillside and decided to plant something beautiful on it anyway.

We descend a narrow path into the sloped garden. On one side, daisies, mint, and roses spill across the edges—pelargonium among them, its leaves releasing an evocative scent when you brush past. On the other side, there is only the sea. At the bottom, a second cluster of lemon trees waits, and Michele tells me these are different from the ones by the pool. A different angle under the sun, a different character.

Even here, on the same hillside, the lemons have their own story.

He plucks one from the branch and peels back a small curl of skin with his thumbnail. The smell is immediate—sharp and floral at once. “This,” he says, “is how Limoncello is made.” If there were an official drink of the Amalfi Coast, it would be this: that glowing yellow spirit that tastes like La Dolce Vita distilled into a glass, redolent of the groves, sea air, and the long golden afternoons all poured into one.

We pass an olive tree on the way back up, and Michele pauses beside it the way you pause beside an old friend. “Lemons and olives are on the same level here,” he tells me. Equal in stature, equal in importance—two anchors of this land and everything it produces. Having partnered with an illustrious agronomist, it strikes me then how deeply Casa Angelina is rooted in this philosophy: garden-to-table not as a concept but as a way of life, every ingredient grown within sight of the kitchen that uses it.

Our last stop is at the top, where the hotel’s zigzagging driveway meets the main coastal road. A pergola stretches overhead, heavy with oranges and lemons both, their weight pulling the branches low. Michele tells me they use them all, every piece of fruit on the premises—in the dishes, in the drinks, in the small details that make a meal here feel like more than a meal.

Michele doesn’t just keep lemons. He keeps something harder to name—a continuity, a sense of place, a connection between this particular hillside and everyone who has ever stood beneath these branches and felt, for a moment, that the world was very beautiful and very good.

That is what I want to tell you about when I tell you about Michele.

A Presto,

Angelina of Casa Angelina

Did you see my last post about our Proposal Concierge? If not, you can read it here.

Everyone knows Italy is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. It’s one of the many reasons I could never imagine living anywhere else. But the Amalfi Coast — and Casa Angelina, in particular — exists in a category of its own.

I have always believed that romance lives in the details. And romance here is never treated as an afterthought. It’s built into the very way we Italians live our day-to-day lives — falling in love with the food, the scenery, and, above all, the company around us.

Over the years, I have watched countless love stories unfold at Casa Angelina. Some begin here. Some return here year after year. Some arrive quietly, carrying decades of shared memories. And somehow, each one feels entirely unique.

Perhaps that is because romance at Casa Angelina has never been something staged. It is something deeply personal.

Our Personal Romance Concierge understands this instinctively. Their sole purpose is to create magic. Sometimes these moments are planned before arrival, and others are suggestions during a stay, from subtle clues left behind — a passing mention of an anniversary, a dream of sailing along the coast at sunset aboard the Gozzo 35 by Apreamare, or a desire for nothing more than an uninterrupted moment together.

I can recall one couple in particular, who arrived for a stay in May, when the coastline begins to glow with that early-summer light. They wanted to recreate their first date from twenty years earlier — complete with a custom menu and playlist from their wedding. They ate, drank, and danced into the evening, just the two to them, under the stars. Another planned a proposal, but couldn’t decide how or where to do it. Our Personal Romance Concierge helped with every detail along the way, and they set sail into the sunset and returned home as fiancés.

Our Personal Romance Concierge does more than arrange experiences; they create memories that linger long after guests depart our cliffside home by the sea. It doesn’t always have to be grand. Sometimes it’s simply a surprise breakfast waiting for you before an early departure. A favorite flower left in the room for you to find after dinner. Noticing what table you prefer at lunch or the type of wine you order in the afternoon. It’s having someone listen, notice, and quietly take care of you every step of the way. Here, we truly believe that to feel loved is to feel seen — the ultimate height of luxury.

At Casa Angelina, romance has a way of unfolding effortlessly. Not because it happens by chance, but because there is always someone quietly ensuring every detail is exactly as it should be. This is why so many are eager to come for the first time and return to us year after year. Not just for the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, but for the feeling they experienced while they were here.

A Presto,

Angelina of Casa Angelina

One of the questions I’m most often asked—just after when can I return?—is what to pack.

It’s an important question, and one that I love answering. Because while the Amalfi Coast invites a certain style, Casa Angelina calls for something a little more considered.

While there is no official dress code here, an unofficial style naturally emerges upon arrival. You’ll feel it as soon as you set foot onto the property—crisp white interiors, soft lines, pops of yellow and orange, from the Amalfi lemons and aperol spritz you’ll inevitably drink. Everything feels intentional, with ease—never excessive or loud.

Naturally, you begin to follow suit.

Packing for Casa Angelina is less about occasion and more about attitude. Pieces should feel refined but effortless: breathable fabrics, clean silhouettes, a palette that sits comfortably within its surroundings. Pieces that can seamlessly transition from day to night, because that’s how your days will tend to go.

With that in mind, this is what I would pack for a stay at Casa Angelina:

For lounging at the pool under the lemons:

• A Wide-Brimmed Straw Hat

• Protective Sunscreen

• Elegant One Piece

• Stylish Sunglasses

For enjoying room service on the terrace:

• Light Pajamas (men’s)

• Cozy Pajamas (women)

For exploring the town of Praiano:

• Comfortable Shoes

• A Breezy Linen Dress

• Handmade Necklace

For dinner on the rooftop, watching the sunset:

• A Wavy Swing Dress

• Positano Made Sandals

• A Chic Shawl

• Small Raffia Bag

• Statement Earrings

For A Little Italian Book Inspiration:

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Searle

• The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

• Love & Gelato - Jenna Welch

• How to Be Italian - Maria Pasquale

A presto,

Angelina of Casa Angelina

Though I travel the world in pursuit of culture and wonder, I find myself drawn back, always, to this singular place

Casa Angelina is more than a hotel, more than my seasonal home. It is a sanctuary, one that those who’ve been fortunate enough to visit describe as their closest approximation of heaven. A crisp-white, contemporary edifice perched upon the cliffs, overlooking a Tyrrhenian Sea that shifts, with the light and the hour, through every imaginable shade of blue.

I am a creature of connection. I delight in meeting people and hearing the stories they carry from distant corners of the world, and yet it is Casa Angelina’s quietly privileged position in Praiano that I hold most dear. This small fishing village sits a gentle ten minutes from the molto popular Positano—close enough to spend an afternoon at, far enough to remain beautifully removed. From my favorite Casa Angelina lounge chair, shaded beneath a lemon pergola that has become something of an unofficial emblem of this place, I can watch Positano’s sun-gilded buildings cascade, in their unhurried way, down the mountainside and into the sea.

If you, too, feel the pull of this sanctuary—from the surrealist Murano glass sculptures that punctuate the sea-gazing lobby, to the caliber of service that asks nothing of you but your presence—then this Substack was written with you in mind. Angelina’s Letters is not simply reading material. It is a collection of love letters: a living capsule of Casa Angelina, and of what we Italians have long called La Dolce Vita—The Sweet Life.

Twice a month, I will share local recommendations, our chef’s garden-to-table recipe book, where I savor mindful moments and create memories within these idyllic grounds, plus introduce you to the people who make this place what it is: Michele, the passionate keeper of lemons, born in Naples; our proposal concierge, whose quietly extraordinary arrangements for guests’ engagements deserve a story all their own; and Paola Lenti, my dear friend whose design sensibility is woven through every corner of the premises.

Consider this your invitation. Perhaps we shall sip Aperol Spritzes by the pool, leave our phones where they belong, and simply chat about the resonant beauty encapsulating moments here.

I’ll await your arrival. In the meantime, I hope Angelina’s Letters transports you to Praiano.

A presto,

Angelina of Casa Angelina