Villa San Michele
Anacapri · Italy
Villa San Michele is the singular creation of the Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe, built on the ruins of a Roman villa on the hillside of Anacapri on the island of Capri. Munthe began constructing it in 1896 and described it in his bestselling memoir The Story of San Michele: a loggia open to the sky, antique sculpture set among the pergolas, and views over the Bay of Naples that remain among the most breathtaking in Italy.
The villa is particularly notable for its integration of antiquity and fantasy: Roman columns, Pompeian mosaics, Egyptian sphinxes, and medieval objects are combined with an instinctive mastery into an architecture of pure personal vision. The influence of Munthe's eccentric erudition and his deep love of the Mediterranean is evident in every corner and vista.
Visiting Villa San Michele is an enchanting experience that cannot be rushed. The garden pergolas, the loggia, the chapel, and the tower with its views all demand unhurried attention. Allow at least two hours, and come in the morning before the summer heat arrives.
Reviews
One of the most beautiful places on earth. The loggia, the antique sculptures, the views over the Bay of Naples — it is impossible not to understand why Munthe devoted his life to creating this. Unforgettable.
Read The Story of San Michele before visiting and the experience was overwhelming. The villa is exactly as described — personal, eccentric, and extraordinarily beautiful. Essential on any Capri visit.
The most affecting house museum I have ever visited. The combination of the antiques, the architecture, and the views creates something quite beyond the sum of its parts. Go early, stay as long as you can.
One of the most beautiful places on earth. The loggia, the antique sculptures, the views over the Bay of Naples — it is impossible not to understand why Munthe devoted his life to creating this. Unforgettable.
