Amalfi Houses: Architectural Gems on the Italian Coast

Rambling along the edge of the sea and climbing into the hills are the fabled Italian towns of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. They are the home of the dolce vita, of glitzy parties, monied families, and an influx of artists, including Rudolf Nureyev, Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, John Steinbeck, D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo, Franco Zeffirelli, and Gore Vidal. The houses they occupied, along with all the other starry-named guests and owners, are the subject of this ode to place and style by Cardinale, a journalist specializing in design, art, and architecture (Living in Argentina). The nine featured houses, including Villa Tritone and Villa Cimbrone, are each introduced with a brief description, mixing the history of the current owners with the home’s glittering past; a few design and architectural highlights are also noted. Then come Salvaing’s photos, rich in color and mood and offering engaging angles, details, and panoramas of gardens, pools, kitchens, porches, and more.