Perched on the cliff edge of Sorrento, the inimitable Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has a history full of superlatives. Owned and operated by the Fiorentino family since 1834, the property has hosted Richard Wagner and Oscar Wilde, who enjoyed the same breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius as today's guests. Ruins of Roman Emperor Augustus’ villa are said to lay beneath the property, and the past is also alive in such details as the 18th-century columns, frescoed ceilings and antiques displayed throughout. Outside, the region's beauty is evident in the lush gardens, filled with Mediterranean plants, citrus and olive groves. A quick elevator ride sweeps guests from the port directly to the hotel, a cool touch Wilde and Wagner could only have dreamed of.