Thank you for being our guest

Tower Capitolare was founded in 1161. For nearly 900 years, these walls have protected the village.

Just imagine: when this tower was erected, Christopher Columbus would not have been born for another 300 years. There were no clocks, glasses or printed paper. There was still a Roman emperor, and the average life expectancy was only 35 years. We are talking about an incredibly distant era.

Yet, this tower has waited centuries to be here today, ready to welcome you. We are honored.

The Capitolare Tower was restored in 2020 by a 27-year-old young entrepreneur, Andrea Borlenghi.

His dream was to bring this tower back to life and turn it into a symbol of hope: a future in which structures born to defend against invaders could become places of welcome for people from all over the world.

We are happy to have you here with us and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing us.

Useful contacts

For every possible need we are always here for you. 

Andrea +39 3939196290

Check in and Check out

After arrival, we kindly ask you to send a photo of your ID to Capitolare staff. Driver's license, passport or ID card are accepted.

The check-out can be made by 11 a.m.. Before leaving the room, be sure to close all windows and leave the keys inside the Tower, locking the door behind you.

Parking

If you have parked your car in the covered parking lot on the -1 floor, reserved for the Grand Hotel, you can freely enter and exit using the remote control that was given to you upon arrival. Feel free to leave the remote control at the cashier's desk before leaving.

If, on the other hand, your car is on the -2 floor, you have entered by collecting a ticket. Upon exiting, hand the ticket to the parking attendants with the blue T-shirt, who will open the bar for you.

How to connect to the internet

To access the Internet, you can connect to the “Capitolare Vodafone” using the password: enjoyyourstay.

Alternatively, you can simply scan the QR code on the back With your smartphone.

If you connect to a network downstairs and then move upstairs, the Wi-Fi may freeze. In this case, you only need to turn off and on the Wi-Fi connection on your device to restore the signal.

Portovenere

Portovenere is simply outstanding. In our opinion, it is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, a place with thousands of years of history that combines poetic views with an incredibly relaxed atmosphere. We are in love with this place and hope you will fall in love with it too.

Don't miss the sunset from the terrace above St. Peter's Church, a unique and evocative experience. The upper part of the village, rich in charm and history, is also worth exploring. Strolling through the caruggi, the narrow Ligurian streets, allows you to discover hidden corners and savor local specialties.

If you would like to learn more about the history of this place, we recommend taking advantage of our audio guide, available free of charge from the main menu

Palmaria Island

Just 120 meters as the crow flies from Portovenere lies a fascinating and mysterious island: Palmaria Island. With just 20 inhabitants and an almost completely unspoiled territory, it is a destination we highly recommend you visit.

There is a private beach on the island, where you can reserve an umbrella by contacting Davide, the owner, at +39 339 7900844.

Palmaria Island is perfect for those who enjoy walking: you can walk the entire perimeter in about 3 hours, or opt for a shorter walk along the left coast, just after arrival.

To reach it, simply take the ferry that leaves from the pier in front of the Tower. Tickets can be purchased directly at the departure, and the times, which vary depending on sea conditions, are indicated on a sign at the ticket office. 

Visiting the Cinque Terre

Needless to say, this area is most famous for the Cinque Terre.

These five villages overlooking the sea achieved notoriety around 2000, thanks to an article in the New York Times.

In our opinion, the Cinque Terre are less appealing than Portovenere, both in terms of aesthetics and the excessive influx of tourists, but if the crowds don't scare you, they are still a must-visit destination.

These are five seaside villages that are very similar to each other: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. We recommend that you visit at least two of them:

Riomaggiore, for its extraordinary scenic beauty.

Monterosso, for its wide beach right in front of the village.

How to reach them

You have three options for getting to Cinque Terre:

1️⃣ By train

• Reach La Spezia and park at the underground parking lot under the Central Station.

• From there, take the regional train: in a few minutes you will be at your destination.

• During the middle hours of the day, there is a train every 15 minutes.

• The last train back leaves at 11 p.m.

• From one village to another, the train ride takes about 5 minutes.

2️⃣ By ferry

You can take the ferry from Portovenere to Cinque Terre by sea.

The cost is about €45 per person for a one-day ticket.

Tickets are purchased at the ticket office here:

3️⃣ By private boat

• If you prefer a more exclusive experience, you can book a private boat through your contact at Capitolare Tower.

• Please note: Due to Cinque Terre Park rules, private boats can only make stops in Monterosso and Vernazza.

Best restaurants for us

• Portivene Restaurant - +39 0187 792722 - Excellent cuisine with a creative twist and high-quality ingredients. Ask for a table in the carrugio for a more distinctive experience.

• Grand Hotel Restaurant - +39 0187 777751 - Good quality and wide availability of seats. Say you are a guest of Capitolare Tower to access a dedicated discount.

• Locanda Lorena - +39 0187 792370 - Located on Palmaria Island, reached by the restaurant's private cab boat (included in the price). The view is breathtaking. Recommended for lunch.

• Private Tower Restaurant Capitolare - Your private dinner right on the terrace of the Tower Capitolare - 215. For adults - 115. For children - 80. If you chose our King&Queen package.

Hot water and air conditioning

Transforming the Capitolare Tower was a real challenge, requiring some technical compromises. One of these concerns hot water: you have 100 liters available, more than enough for every need, but not enough to indulge in a hot whirlpool and immediately afterwards a shower.

In addition, when the hot water recharges, the air conditioning system (heating and air conditioning) goes on pause for about 20 minutes.

We apologize in advance for this minor inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

You can raise and lower and raise the temperature of the tower by simply pressing plus and minus from the appropriate controls.

Wines

Help yourself freely to whatever you find in the refrigerator: liquor, cigars, coffee, herbal teas, chocolates, and treats are at your complete disposal.

Wines, on the other hand, are chargeable. We have selected for you a wine that is sure to make you happy. We apologize that we do not have a cellar with hundreds of labels; after years of experience, we have chosen the best this land has to offer.

Liguria is the home of Vermentino, a wine that is born on hills overlooking the sea, bathed in sunshine and sea iodine. It is an artisanal product, made by courageous farmers who have decided not to abandon the land.

Coffee machine

In such a special tower, we could have offered you any Nespresso coffee machine, but that is not our style. We chose to research the best professional coffee machine in Naples to give you true Neapolitan espresso.

This is the iconic Faber: it brings the water to 98°C and applies pressure equal to that of coffee bar machines, guaranteeing you perfect espresso.

How to use it:

1. Turn the machine on by lowering the switch to the bottom.

2. Raise the lever.

3. Insert the wafer.

4. Push the lever firmly until you feel it fully down.

5. Wait for the red light at the top to go out.

6. Activate top switch by lowering it, to brew desired amount of coffee. Turn off coffee flow by raising switch.

7. Lift the lever and throw away the used wafer. 

Or watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OvKgTxT3_8

Ice machine

At your disposal is an ice machine, which is simple and intuitive to use.

To start it, press the power button: ice production will begin immediately.

If an orange tap icon appears on the display, it means that the water is finished. In this case, take a bottle of water from the refrigerator and pour it into the door located on the right side of the machine.

Approximately 15 minutes after being turned on, the ice will be ready. To take it out, place a glass under the dispenser and press the black button with the glass.

Dark

To ensure you have a divine rest, the bed is equipped with a top-quality Italian handcrafted mattress designed to provide you with maximum comfort. We are sure you will love it.

To prevent morning light from disturbing you, all windows are equipped with blackout shutters. You can conveniently open and close them using the button located under the black lamp by the bed:

• Pressing the button down will close the shutters completely.

• Pressing the button upward will open them.

The window in front of your bed is directly facing the sunrise. It is stunning to see.

If the power went out, the shutters would freeze. To reactivate them open slightly and close the window near the bed. This will reset the system.

How to turn off all the lights

To turn off all the lights in the tower at once, you can use the button located on the left as you enter.

With one touch, this control will turn all the lights in the tower on or off, providing you with maximum comfort and convenience.

Activities to do 

The Capitolare Tower has activated numerous partnerships to offer you the best services in the area, bookable directly through us. 

Also included in the price of your stay are our audio guides of Portovenere and Palmaria. 

Daily housekeeping

Housekeeping when it includes passes around 11:00 a.m., your room will be tidied up and sheets changed.

Towels left on the floor will be replaced, while hung towels will be considered still in use.

If you prefer to have the rearrangement service done every other day, just let us know and we will arrange to postpone them.

Your comfort is our priority.

Use of kitchen and private chef

You can use the kitchen at any time. It is hidden under the walkway leading to the second floor.

If you prefer to relax and treat yourself to an exclusive dining experience, let our chefs cook for you. You can book the service for 215€ per person (excluding wine).

If you have run out of water in the refrigerator and wish to refill it, the cold water delivered from the kitchen is purified at the source by a professional microfiltering system.

Alexa

There is a music piped system throughout the Tower that can be controlled through Alexa.

Here are some useful commands for managing music and other features:

• Alexa, put pop music” to listen to a specific genre.

• Alexa, play Robbie Williams music” to select an artist.

• Alexa, set an alarm for 8:00 a.m.” to schedule an alarm.

• Alexa, turn off the music” to stop playback.

• Alexa, turn down the volume.

Works of art

All artwork and furnishings on display are for sale. Ask the  your concierge or to Andrea information about the artist and value of the work. Most of the works are by artist Hilde Genoese, famous for previously furnishing villa on Lake Como for George Clooney, Tom Cruise and Armani Family.

Fire

There is a brazier on the terrace to warm you up and create a unique atmosphere.

Open the lid of the brazier and, using the lighter, ignite the white wool inside.

The glass wool is already soaked in alcohol and will ignite easily. The operating time is about one hour.

Electrical Sockets

In order to ensure maximum aesthetics, we have hidden the electrical outlets. Every single room in the tower has at least one electrical outlet. You will often find it inside a niche in the wall, behind a piece of furniture, or hidden from view. Feel free to ask for information if you cannot find it.

Morning wake-up call

You can ask Alexa to set an alarm clock. Simply say, “Alexa, set an alarm clock at 9 o'clock.” At 9 o'clock, on the wire, an alarm clock will sound in the tower.

The lights don't come on, because’

At the entrance to the chapter tower, there is a master switch on the left that is used both to turn on all the lights in the tower and to activate all the home automation systems. If you enter without clicking it, it may be that some of the tower's internal systems are not working properly.

Are the window shutters blocked?

Portovenere is a special place, but also a fragile one. During the winter it houses about 150 people, which becomes more than 3,000 in the summer. This overload often causes problems with the power grid, resulting in voltage drops.

These dips are not a danger, but they can cause our systems to temporarily shut down. If you notice that the shutters are not working, it is most likely because of this reason.

To solve the problem, you can call us: we will reactivate them. Alternatively, you can just open and close a window by the bed slightly to reset the system and get them going again.

Outdoor whirlpool

We have installed an outdoor hot tub for you. To use it:

• Remove the cover.

• Click on the touch screen to activate it.

• By clicking on the temperature, you can raise or lower it. The heating time is about two degrees per hour.

• To activate the jacuzzi jets or lights, click on the arrow to the right and then on the icon you wish to select.

• If there is not enough water in the tank, click on the outermost physical button next to the display. The button will light up blue.