5 shining stars + 1 Michelin star confirmed for 2026 at the hotel overlooking the Gulf of Naples. And a packed program for the 2025 holidays.

There are places where Christmas isn&#39;t just a seasonal decoration, but an exercise in memory, beauty, and continuity. The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento is one of them. Perched on the cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples, between the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius and the gentle breath of the winter sea, the historic hotel—founded in 1834 and still run by the Fiorentino family—experiences the holidays with the ease of those who understand the weight of time and the value of rituals. Here, where Richard Wagner, Oscar Wilde, Lucio Dalla , Queen Victoria of Sweden , and Enrico Caruso have all stayed, the past is not a nostalgic exercise, but a living presence: in the frescoed ceilings, the 19th-century columns, the period furnishings, and the one-of-a-kind suites dedicated to the great personalities who have inhabited these rooms. At Christmas, this layering takes on a new light. The theme chosen for the holidays, Let the Wonder Begin , is an explicit invitation to rediscover wonder as a daily gesture, not as excess.

Starting December 12th, the hotel&#39;s Mediterranean gardens will transform into a sensory journey of soft lighting, captivating melodies, and citrus scents. Illuminated paths lead to the lobby, dominated by the large Christmas tree, while the season opens with the Crossover Opera Concert, inaugurating the Caruso – De Curtis Sorrento International Festival, a dialogue between opera and contemporary art that perfectly captures the soul of the place. Christmas at Vittoria is also a community affair. The traditional Charity Zeppolata, on December 21st, brings together guests and residents in Piazza Tasso, amid freshly fried sweets and Christmas carols, while letters to Santa Claus become a collective gesture of anticipation and longing. It&#39;s a luxury measured not only in stars, but in relationships. Flavor remains at the heart of the experience. In the frescoed halls of Bar Vittoria and the more contemporary atmosphere of La Pergola Champagne Bar, Christmas takes the form of artisanal panettone created by Executive Chef Antonino Montefusco. Naturally leavened for over 48 hours, select ingredients, variations that reflect the region—orange and chocolate, Vesuvius pellecchiella apricot—and a surprise limited-edition creation. More than just sweet treats, these objects of desire are available only in the hotel boutique or online, designed as gifts to be treasured.

The celebration culminates at the table. Christmas Eve dinner pays homage to Neapolitan tradition in the Sala Vittoria, while Christmas lunch finds its home at Terrazza Bosquet, the hotel&#39;s gourmet restaurant, which has held its Michelin star for the thirteenth consecutive year. Here, Montefusco blends tradition and contemporary technique in a cuisine that engages with the history of the place, complemented by one of the region&#39;s most important wine cellars, carved out of Roman tuff.

<blockquote>We are very proud of this new confirmation. It is an achievement that celebrates our family&#39;s commitment, for six generations, to carrying on a tradition of hospitality and quality that finds one of its finest expressions in Terrazza Bosquet.&quot; Guido Fiorentino, President and CEO of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria</blockquote>

December 31st marks the definitive passage into another dimension. Wonderland , the New Year&#39;s Eve gala, is an immersive, multi-sensory experience featuring an elegant dinner, music, fireworks over the sea, and that suspended moment at midnight when time seems to slow down. It&#39;s not just a party, but a declaration of intent, ushering in the new year with the beauty of the Neapolitan spirit. The following day, the New Year&#39;s Brunch in the Sala Vittoria brings the event to a graceful close, with refined dishes and the music of Maestro Francesco Nastro . At the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Christmas is never a one-off event. It&#39;s a coherent narrative, a balance between past and present, a concept of hospitality that continues to evolve without losing its soul. And perhaps this is precisely the true wonder.

A five-star Christmas at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento

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