Suspended gracefully over the cliffs of the Sorrentine Peninsula, this extraordinary villa sits upon the ruins of an ancient Roman villa built by Agrippa Postumus, grandson of Emperor Augustus and dates back to the first century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, William Waldorf Astor, U.S. Ambassador to Italy and wealthiest man in the world at the time, acquired the property. Astor redesigned this cliffside palace and filled it with among the greatest collections of classical and Renaissance antiquities. In addition, he constructed a magnificent garden where a 13th century convent once sat. The estate has hosted famous actors and royalty (and allegedly famous Roman poet Ovid), and within its walls governments have been made.
This phenomenal estate towers above the Mediterranean, overlooking the Marina Grande, Marina Piccola, and Mount Vesuvius. To the north lies the city of Naples, to the east, Mount Vesuvius, and to the south, Sorrento. Nestled in a calm neighbourhood, accessed through old, narrow roads, the villa is a mere five-minute walk to the flourishing town centre of Sorrento.
One may find little reason to leave the estate, however. The villa is situated upon two hectares of perfectly manicured grounds, considered among the top ten most beautiful gardens in Europe: fountains, palm trees, ancient statues, flowering plants, and citrus trees with secret walking paths throughout. The estate also provides direct access to the gulf that it dominates. A path of 100 steps leads to a private boat dock where guests can enjoy sunbathing or taking a refreshing swim within the pristine waters of the Amalfi Coast.
The luxurious and tastefully decorated villa was recently redesigned by renowned designer Jacque Garcia. The villa, spanning three floors, can accommodate up to twelve guests. The villa features a roof terrace with 360-degree views of the surrounding sea, a gym area, a fully-equipped kitchen, two dining rooms, a piano room, three living rooms, and a powder room. The villa additionally features six spacious double bedrooms, four with king beds and two with double beds, all with luxurious en-suite bathrooms. All bedrooms provide a beautiful panorama of the breath-taking surroundings.
The villa is nestled in among the most beautiful bays known to man. Combined with the impeccable design of the villa, perfected over centuries, the villa is simply spectacular - suspended upon the Sorrentine cliffs, between myth and truth.
