Hotel in Panarea

Raya is a small hotel, highly prized by an informed group of visitors, which has attained the accolade as the best hotel in the Mediterranean. For many it has reached a cult status, and for those who love nature and tranquillity it is an ideal place to meditate and to refind one's soul.

History

The beginning

Myriam Beltrami and Paolo Tilche arrived here in the 1960's, after having travelled the world visiting many islands. Panarea captivated them and they remained. Living in the fishermans house for the first years, they received friends from all over the world, who would stay sometimes months enthralled by the beauty and simplicity of the island life. The nights where lit by petrol lamps, water was brought by ship and was so precious that one showered with a bucket of water drawn from the well.

Evenings were passed amongst well known artists, musicians and writers, on terraces overlooking the fiery eruptions of Stromboli and from here came the idea of starting up the guest house.

The making

It was not going to be easy, but Myriam's determination and Paolo's creativity, together helped make the Raya, which has become an international meeting place and a hotel so out of the ordinary that it now has quite a cult following. It took many years of research to find the right place, to lay the first stone of a hotel which was to be built in perfect harmony with the invironment respecting the mediterranean tradition of architecture. The rooms, situated on a hillside like a Eolian village, look out over the uninhabited islets of Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Lisca Bianca, Bottaro and in the distance the spectacular eruptions of Stromboli.

Today

Paolo alas, is no longer here, but Myriam continues to look after her cllients as if they were old friends, because the Raya is probably her greatest passion...