Tucked between dramatic cliffs and the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea lies Atrani, the smallest town in Italy. This also happens to be one of the Amalfi Coast’s best-kept secrets. Just steps from bustling Amalfi, Atrani feels like a secret pocket lost in time. When I visited at the start of summer, I truly felt like I had stepped into a dream.
The village offers the kind of setting we all imagine when we picture the Amalfi Coast: children playing barefoot on the beach until sunset, the scent of lemons in the air, little markets where everyone knows each other’s name, and slow afternoons spent sipping Prosecco by the window, watching the sea glitter just beyond the arches.
That’s exactly the type of authentic charm that drew Ty Kuppig, Creative Director of TYGER Productions, a nationally recognized event design and production company, to this special place. Known for orchestrating luxury events around the world, Ty has long shared a love for Italy, and when a rare historic property came up for sale in Atrani, he and his husband saw more than just a renovation project. They saw an opportunity to preserve a piece of the past, and to create something deeply personal.
“We both have family in Italy,” Ty shares, “and we’ve loved embracing that heritage together. The Amalfi Coast has always held a special place in our hearts.” So, they purchased the 1,500-square-foot residence, originally built in the 1600s when Atrani was home to regional nobility, and began a two-year transformation.
Today, the property is home to their two luxury one-bedroom residences: Infinito, offering panoramic sea views, and Belvedere, a romantic hideaway overlooking the village piazza that lights up like a Fellini film each evening. I stayed in Infinito, and it was even dreamier in person than in pictures.
Ty brought his signature eye for detail and style to the restoration. “Our goal was to honor the home’s history while updating it with modern comfort and luxury,” he explains. The results are stunning. Infinito features original 1700s millwork, while Belvedere reveals a hand-painted mural from the 1800s. These preserved details are complemented by sleek, modern finishes: Sardinian granite floors laid in a herringbone pattern, soaring 18-foot steel-and-glass bedroom walls, and fully equipped kitchens that make you actually want to cook! And I did! Whipping up some pasta made with ingredients bought just steps from the apartment really makes you feel like a local in the best way.
One of the most special elements of this property is the personal story behind it. Ty and his husband actually celebrated their wedding here on the coast, with an intimate ceremony that included both Atrani and Ravello. “That memory is woven into everything we’ve created here,” he says. And it shows, from the lovingly restored details to the welcoming touches that make every guest feel at home. The design walks that fine line of feeling like a five-star hotel suite, yet somehow also embraces that quiet magic of Atrani, which happens to be right outside your door.
As a guest in this stunning Airbnb, one of my favorite things was simply being still. Whether I was sipping an espresso by the window in the morning or watching the glow of the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena at night, it felt like living inside a postcard. And the level of peace you get to soak up literally minutes from the crowds of Amalfi next door is astonishing and that alone makes me want to book another stay at Infinito next season!
Ty always encourages guests to explore Atrani’s network of hidden staircases and stone passageways. “The village is built into the cliffs, so it’s less like a town and more like a vertical maze,” he explains. “It’s completely enchanting.” (No wonder these staircases are the ones that inspired M.C. Escher’s surreal style!)
And for a taste of true Atrani flavor, Ty recommends booking a table at Le Arcate, a beachside restaurant serving fresh seafood with views of the sea and the soaring church facade above.
What makes this Airbnb stand out among so many offerings along the Amalfi Coast is how effortlessly it combines five-star quality with all the comforts of home. And perhaps the best compliment of all? “Our returning guests,” Ty says. “People come back year after year. That tells us we’ve created something that resonates not just with us, but with everyone who visits.”
After my stay, I can say the same. Atrani has left a mark on me, and thanks to Ty’s vision, I think I have finally found my home away from home in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.