Between 1896 and 1910, the Villa San Michele was the home of writer and Swedish physicist, Axel Munthe. The appearance of his book in 1929, in English "The Story of San Michele", brought a great success that soon after there was a second edition and in subsequent years readers traveled to Capri to see the home of the author named in the title. The villa was opened to the public as a museum and has since continued to receive visitors. The village would become a tourist attraction in its own right, which promoted an even greater number of book sales. In the 30 translations were very numerous, estimated about 50 languages.
is not a residence in the meaning of word, but rather the spearhead of the thoughts and feelings of Axel Munthe on the beauty and the great questions of life, but at the same time open to personal interpretation.
Located northeast of Anacapri, 327 meters above sea level, where it enjoys one of the most breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples, one must remember that at the time of the Roman Empire existed here a large villa. The ruins preserved by Axel Munthe still be visited in the garden today.
The remains of a medieval chapel also found in the area and after several events was set in current position. The general view of the garden, architectural and art collection are a unique and reflects the typical romantic essence of that century.
La Villa welcomes the sea and the sky and produces impact described in the book as a precious ambition towards meeting " My house must be open to the sun to see and the sound of the sea, like a Greek temple, and light, light everywhere. Just as well that a museum serves as Villa San Michele a small oasis, where about a hundred students and Swedish artists organize cultural events and musical and other private occasions open to the public.
The architecture has been created to give greater emphasis, if possible, to the beauty of the landscape, while forming a setting for works of art inside. In this regard, the park plays an important role is to highlight the poetic charm of the semi-abandoned statues with ivy next to the pieces of marble filled with moss scattered everywhere. The number of objects in marble, stone, terra cotta tile and a total of 655. There are also over 530 works wood, metal, ceramics and textiles. The collection can be said to be divided into several main topics, such as the nature and images of animals and death. But this large number of works cited are not rigidly fixed in an exhibition scheduled but rather are amalgamated all of them, because regardless of its artistic quality which prevailed, and is still maintained, was the sentimental value they had for Dr Munthe. In fact, the San Michele library does not contain other collections acquired works of others.
The inventory of the museum includes various historical periods from antiquity to the early twentieth century. Antiques are classic Roman, Egyptian and Etruscan. Only a few are original imperial villa that was in place. The remains that are preserved are parts of buildings, ornaments and decorative frescoes.
The microclimate created in the flower garden created by Axel himself there is a selection of Mediterranean flora that lives in harmony with plants from other continents, perhaps a bit exotic. Among the gems, Kochia saxicola, extinct in the rest of the world can only survive in Capri.
design remains Munthe according to the purpose of leaving the place, reaching a low pass an open gallery leading to a pergola, and then a series of terraces with views panoramic views. You could say that it is in this place where we find the more open spaces throughout the town and the most intimate and secret.
At each step we find vases, amphorae and various works of art. Multitude of flowers such as camellias, azaleas, roses, lilies making the place a little paradise with the intense blue of the Mediterranean in the background.
GALLERY - Click to enlarge
The truth is that is one of the places to visit in Capri, if the pictures are not enough I bring you leave your web page where you can find all the information in Villa San Michele, and a small virtual tour.
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