Villa di Anacapri

Villa di Anacapri is impeccable. Anyone seeking extraordinary luxury and service in a private setting must consider the extraordinary Villa di Anacapri. The accomplished owner, well-known as a dealer in important antiques and paintings, has restructured her historic family home, originally constructed in the early 19th century. The style is neoclassical, very much in keeping with an important period in the development of Capri as a sybaritic and luxurious vacation destination for the rich and powerful families and industrialists of Europe. Today, the Villa di Anacapri is an oasis of calm and refinement with an exceptional commitment to ensuring guests complete enjoyment of the property, island and region.

Anacapri itself swirls around the Villa, a reservoir of services and attractions immediately available outside the front gate. The sublimely elegant Capri Palace is just down the lane with a stunning spa- beautifully designed for complete relaxation and self-indulgence. There are boutiques for browsing and plenty of restaurants in and among the narrow lanes of Anacapri's dynamic central neighborhood. You are near the well-known home- now a museum- of the famous Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe. These are the streets haunted by Graham Greene and Norman Douglas. This is also a town, distinct from Capri, priding itself on its own spirit and natural appeal. Without descending to "middle Capri", as the area surrounding the famously picturesque and important Piazza Umberto I is called, you can scale the height of Monte Solaro in a funiculare, picnic in hand, and find a spot for enjoying the extraordinary panorama. Take a leisurely stroll to the church of San Michele and its justifiably famous painted ceramic tile floor, or start the day with several sets of tennis on the well-groomed clay courts at the local club just down the Street. You can take a taxi down to the beach club of Il Faro where you can enjoy a day of sun and swimming in the sapphire seas. The romantics will be sure to stay for the long and glorious sunsets as they unfold in the open panorama of sea before you.

The delight of a Capri vacation is being easily and constantly surrounded by extraordinary beauty and charm in an atmosphere that invites relaxation and pure enjoyment. This is simply a stunning island; dramatic cliff faces plunging into the sea; postcard pictures of bright houses nestled close together under the protection of a tree-covered mountain; brightly painted boats bobbing in a harbor; the sun-soaked skin of Italy's affluent young. The island is large enough to absorb days and days of exploration and enjoyment- in spite of the tourists. There is no problem finding space of your own, as most tourists stick to a very narrow track. Even on the hottest, busiest day, you can find a deserted cove with clear, refreshing water or a quiet and shady back lane where life carries on much as it has for decades. Capri offers excursions of both cultural and recreational interest. This is without question an island for walking. The walking does not need to be strenuous, you can walk the charming paved streets of middle Capri and exercise no more than a credit card. This is an area for serious shopping, with much of what you will find in Rome and other boutiques unique to the culture and artistry of Capri. The walking can also be dramatic; cliff side paths that take you past ancient forts lining the northwest coast of the island and linking several beach clubs; the trail to Tiberius' ruin; the numerous stairs form Capri to Anacapri once the only passage between the villages.

This is an island for the pleasures of sun and fresh air. Taking to the deliciously inviting ocean waters can be done in any number of ways. Private boat hires- from sailing vessels to sophisticated motor boats with skippers- enable you to circumnavigate the island, stopping at your leisure in deserted coves and enjoying the coastline. A swift boat can also take you from Capri to Positano, Amalfi, Ischia and Naples. We are quite partial to the simple beach clubs at Nerano where you can truly feast- while still in your bathing suit- at a charming restaurant set high on stilts over the water. A helicopter can take you to the Michelin-starred dining room at Don Alfonso. Professional guides can introduce you to the treasures of Naples from the comfort of your own chauffeured vehicle. You can travel to Salerno to observe the making of the area's famed bufalo mozzarella and try their bufalo yogurt and ice cream. Homebase Abroad and the owners of Villa di Anacapri are at your disposal to organize a vacation customized to your tastes and interests.

The piazza of Anacapri, busy with taxis, tourists and the "segovia" carrying visitors to the summit of Monte Solaro, is also the head of the narrow street ending at the home of Axel Munthe. Along this narrow and characteristic lane, you will find the high gate and walls of the Villa di Anacapri. Once inside, you are in a different universe. The tiered garden, lush with fragrance and color, is impeccably kept in all seasons. A wide marble stair leads form the entrance gate to the main terrace and entrance to the villa. Along the way you will pass robust beds of hydrangea and enjoy the clear sunlight filtered by the long leaves and pendulous flowers of wisteria. Private sitting areas for intimate conversation and reflection are tucked discreetly here and there. The sound of the street just beyond hardly interrupts the tranquility of this luxurious garden and home.

Relaxation and pleasure are the bywords of the Villa di Anacapri. The pool (10 x 7.5) is set below the Villa, surrounded by its own garden of palm jasmine, rosemary and lavender. A lovely paved patio leads seamlessly to the pool's shallow entrance stairs, one edge overhanging with fragrant flowers. Enjoy the gentle lapping sound of the vanishing edge, as well as hydro-massage jets for those wanting a more vigorous swim. There are ample sun beds to be moved at will around the perimeter, and a dining corner with brightly colored umbrellas shading two cafe tables seating eight for snacks or lunch by the pool. We cannot say enough about the garden. Every vista is enlivened with the fragrance, color and texture of this Eden; pomegranate, pine and magnolia trees, robust shrubs of roses and hibiscus, bedding plants filling in here and there to ensure a complete tapestry of well-cared-for lushness.

Wide and shallow marble steps lead from the pool to the romantic and sweet-aired secret garden, a pergola hung with climbing roses and jasmine and beds of datura and viburnum adding to the classic and elegant design of this garden. There is comfortable seating for nine or more at intimate groupings of couch and chair. A hammock is placed amidst the green for reading or napping. At one side is the serving bar for coffee in the morning, cold refreshment after lunch and aperitivo in the evenings. Each of the outdoor spaces is thoughtfully and completely considered for the enjoyment of guests.