Villa San Michele

"My home shall be open in order to let in the sun, and the wind, and the voices of the ocean, like a Greek temple, and there shall be light, light everywhere!"

Boasting an incredibly panoramic position on the north-eastern slopes of Anacapri, Villa San Michele was built by the Swedish physician and author, Axel Munthe, towards the end of the 19th century. The site, some 300 meters above sea level, was previously occupied by an ancient Roman villa, the remains of which can still be seen in the gardens.

Munthe constructed Villa San Michele so as to house his impressive collection of classical Roman, Etruscan and Egyptian artefacts, including a head of the Medusa, a marble bust of Emperor Tiberius, and an Egyptian sphinx.

The gardens of the villa, home to a great variety of Mediterranean plants and a charming little mediaeval chapel, which Munthe restored himself, are as beautiful as any of the exhibits inside the museum. From here, a magnificent view of the Bay of Naples can be seen.