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...