For those who like to seek local colour on their travels, the resort town of Ravello on Italy’s Amalfi Coast offers a welcome shot of pink. Set grandly on a hilltop is the distinctive, dusty peach-toned façade of Palazzo Avino, a luxury hotel that opened in 1997 and is synonymous with sumptuous dining, exquisite Italianate interiors, and Tyrrhenian Sea-induced serenity. It is housed in a former 12th-century private villa and boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, Rossellini’s, and a la dolce vita-encouraging Lobster & Martini Bar, cocooned by citrus, pomegranate and olive trees.
Palazzo Avino and The Pink Closet: everything’s rosy
Stroll out onto the cobbled streets surrounding Palazzo Avino and guests will also notice a dusty pink portal into finely curated fashion. It's here that The Pink Closet – the luxury boutique opened in 2019 by the hotel's managing director Mariella Avino – entices shoppers with unique and limited-edition pieces, in a space created by interior designer and architect Cristina Celestino. ‘It's inspired by the idea of a dream closet,' Avino says.
Celestino has translated this vision into an intimate interior swathed in sorbet-pink hues, tactile tiled walls accented with aquamarine shades, intricate inlaid marble, and curving golden fixtures. The space not only reflects the signature colour palette of Palazzo Avino – affectionately nicknamed ‘The Pink Palace' – but also Celestino's fondness for sweet shop colours. Her penchant for pink is something we singled out for praise in the 2018 iteration of the Wallpaper* Design Awards, and is also reflected in her collaborations with Fendi and Sergio Rossi.
Avino has populated the space with one-off or limited-edition pieces from fashion, accessory and shoe brands she has discovered on her travels, including Milan-based The Attico, Blazé Milano, and Sara Battaglia, and silk-scarf specialist Mantero, located in Lake Como. ‘We're focused on niche brands and one-of-a-kind pieces,' Avino explains.
For Palazzo Avino guests or those passing by, The Pink Closet offers exquisite sartorial delights to treasure once they leave Ravello. For those many miles from the Amalfi Coast, the boutique's newly launched e-commerce site allows shoppers to be tickled pink wherever they are.
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