Seen from above, Villa Malaparte is a long brick red rectangle perched on the stark cliff above Punta Massullo encircled by just a few coastal trees and a dramatic sight from the Pizzolungo trail above. Beneath this eyecatching villa, the sparkling waves of the sea stretch to the horizon in a kaleidoscope of blues and greens.
This villa is one of the best examples of Italian rationalist architecture built by Curzio Malaparte, a writer, intellectual, journalist, and poet who lived in this magnificent residence high on the coastal cliffs of Capri for many years.
"The day I began building my home, I didn't think I would be creating a self-portrait": these are the words that Curzio Malaparte used to describe his unique villa, which is the architectural reflection of his character and personality.
Difficult to reach and unfortunately closed to the public, Curzio Malaparte's "home just like me" , as he liked to define it, is one of the most captivating and mysterious buildings on Capri.
With its eclectic style and sharp angles, this house has long been the subject of debate...much like the owner was in life and after death: beloved by critics yet labelled a chameleon and opportunist by others, including Gramsci. The villa is striking for its minimal and linear style both inside and out, which seems almost monastic and is an expression of the profound religious faith of the famed owner.
The unique beauty of Villa Malaparte also struck the director Jean-Luc Godard, who filmed the second part of Contempt, his film based on the novel by Moravia, inside these walls starring the young and lovely Brigitte Bardot, in scenes in which she wanders through the rooms of the villa and sunbathes on the terrace overlooking the sea.
Today the descendents of Malaparte live in the villa. Visitors to the island can admire it from afar from the sea or while hiking the Pizzolungo trail, one of the most beautiful on Capri.