Villa San Michele
The Villa San Michele was built about the end of the 19th century on the isle of Capri, Italy, by the Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe.[1]
Description
The villa's gardens have panoramic views of the town of Capri and its harbour, the Sorrentine Peninsula, and Mount Vesuvius. The villa sits on a ledge at the top of the Phoenician Steps, between Anacapri and Capri, at a height of 327 metres (1,073 ft) above sea level.
San Michele's gardens are adorned with many relics and works of art dating from ancient Egypt and other periods of classical antiquity. They now form part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani.
In his later years, Axel Munthe wrote his youthful memoir The Story of San Michele, which describes how he first visited the island and built the villa, decorated with the remains of palaces built by the Ancient Romans which he found on his land. This colourfully written book was first published in 1929 and became an immediate worldwide success, being translated into many languages. It has been reprinted many times since then.
Between 1919 and 1920, Munthe was an unwilling landlord to the outrageous socialite and muse Luisa Casati, who took possession of Villa San Michele. This was described by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie in his diaries.[2]
Gallery
- Sphinx
- Pergola with Roman statue
- Chapel
- Loggia with statues
- Pergola
- View of the sea from Villa San Michele
References
- ^ Italy Italy. Italy-Italy Corporation. 1997. pp. 17–21.
- ^ Ryersson, Scot D.; Yaccarino., Michael Orlando (2004). Infinite variety: the life and legend of the Marchesa Casati. University of Minnesota Press. p. 233. ISBN 0-8166-4520-5.
Further reading
- Berger, Diane (1999). Rivera Style (hardback). London: Scriptum Editions. pp. 215 pages. ISBN 1-90268601-2.
External links
- Villa San Michele
- Photo Gallery by Leonardo Bellotti (in Italian)
40°33′26″N 14°13′30″E / 40.55722°N 14.22500°E / 40.55722; 14.22500
- v
- t
- e
- Contempt (Le Mépris)
- Entdeckung der blauen Grotte auf der Insel Capri
- South Wind
- The Story of San Michele
- Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo
- Chiesa di San Michele alla Croce
- Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
- Chiesa di Sant'Anna
- Chiesa di Sant'Antonio
- Chiesa di Santa Maria a Cetrella
- Chiesa di Santa Maria di Costantinopoli
- Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso
- Chiesa di Santa Sofia
- Chiesa di Santo Stefano
- Chiesa di San Costanzo
- Chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore
- Eremo di Santa Maria a Cetrella
- Villa Certosella
- Villa Jovis
- Villa Lysis
- Villa Malaparte
- Villa Monacone
- Villa San Michele
- Villa Solitaria