Villa Cimbrone

ARRIVING AT VILLA CIMBRONE is rather like walking into a living temple of art. We were instantly smitten by its incredible hilltop location, fabulous gardens, extravaganza of artworks and heart-stopping views sweeping down from Ravello to the sea.

Temples, gazebos, crumbling cloisters, pillars mantled in vines and dozens of classical statues make Villa Cimbrone a must for anyone passionate about art. My girlfriend couldn’t tear herself away from the Terrazza dell’Infinito, with its row of sun-weathered marble busts and stunning backdrop of the Cilento mountains. The villa itself is bursting with artistic treasures, yet still has the feel of a wealthy friend’s historic home.

Rooms at Villa Cimbrone are strewn with antiques and huge armoires. The best have frescoed ceilings, huge stone fireplaces, original Majolica tile floors and ample old-time comforts. There’s a terrific pool terrace framing cliff-edge views, and you can have the park to yourself at dusk, when visitors are gone.

Hollywood lovers

Greta Garbo famously eloped here with her lover Leopold Stokowsky back in the 1930s, and a roll call of other glamorous names have stayed every since. What secrets could the walls of our deliciously atmospheric bedroom tell, we wondered? It faced right over the sea, so no need to close the shutters…

Dining on Villa Cimbrone’s terrace is a must – if only for those incomparable Ravello views. We lingered there late over a chaser (having already lingered over breakfast, lunch and dinner), plotting our return next year.

© Room for Romance