The Villa San Michele
Located on the island of Capri, San Michele is the work of Axel Munthe, a Swedish writer and doctor, who built the villa at the end of the 19th century.
Born into a family of chemists in Sweden in 1857, Munthe studied medicine in France, then worked as a doctor in Paris for a few years. It was in 1884 that he went to Italy, to help the victims of the cholera epidemic. He is considered a profoundly modern doctor, who emphasized the importance of psychology and willpower to help patients recover.
Axel Munthe loved animals and transformed the Barbarossa mountain – located behind the villa – into a protected area for birds.
In his gardens, there were countless birds, dogs and also a small monkey.
San Michele was a dream of a lifetime for Munthe. He told his story and that of his villa in his book, “The Story of San Michele”.
“The high arcades of the great loggia quickly rose from the ground, one by one the hundred white columns of the pergola rose up into the sky. »
Axel Munthe
With its columns, arches and mosaics, the architecture of Villa is inspired by antiquity.
In the inner courtyard are typical elements of the imperial style of the Roman era; figures sculpted in white marble, garlands of leaves and fruits…
The well was a gift from the nuns of Naples to thank the doctor for his efforts during the cholera pandemic.
Munthe’s collection of furniture and sculpture has been carefully preserved inside the house. The dining room is decorated with Renaissance style furniture from Bologna and a mosaic from Pompeii.
Located on the heights of the island, the gardens of the villa offer a breathtaking view of the city of Capri and its port, as well as of Mount Vesuvius.
The gardens are full of Mediterranean plants. Amongst the plants, a sphinx, dating from ancient Egypt, is perched on the hill overlooking the sea.
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