Capri 1937

Casa Malaparte It is one of the best example of Italian modern and contemporary architecture.

Author: V.Valogianni [Επιλογή ημερομηνίας]

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Casa Malaparte (also Villa Malaparte) is a house on Punta Massullo, on the eastern side of

the Isle of Capri, Italy. It is one of the best example of Italian modern and contemporary

architecture.

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The house was conceived around 1937 by Italian Rationalist architect Adalberto Libera for

Curzio Malaparte.

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Malaparte actually rejected Libera's design and built the home himself with the help of

Adolfo Amitrano, a local stone mason.

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Casa Malaparte is a red masonry box with reverse pyramidal stairs leading to the roof

patio. On the roof is a freestanding curving white wall of increasing height. It sits on a

dangerous cliff 32 meters above the sea overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. Access to this

private property is either by foot from the Town of Capri or by boat and a staircase cut

into the cliff.

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Casa Malaparte was abandoned and neglected after the death of Curzio Malaparte in

1957. It suffered both from vandalism and natural elements for many years and was

seriously damaged, including the desecration of a beautiful tiled stove, before the first

serious renovation started in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The building was donated to

the Foundation Giorgio Ronchi in 1972.

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Malaparte's great-nephew, Niccolò Rositani, is primarily responsible for restoring the

house to a livable state. Much of the original furniture is still there, because it is too large

to remove. The marble sunken tub in the bedroom of his mistress still exists and functions.

His bedroom and book lined study are still intact. Many Italian industrialists have donated

materials for the preservation.

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Today the house is used for serious study and certain cultural events in Italy and is

admired (and hated) by many architecture enthusiasts worldwide.

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The house can only be reached by traversing the island. The last twenty minute walk is

over private property, belonging to The Ronchi Foundation. It takes an hour and a half to

walk there from Capri's Piazzetta at the summit of the funiculare from the Marina Grande.

The house can be reached by sea, on calm days only, as the waves are cast upon

treacherous rocks and there has not been an official pier for many years. From the sea,

one must climb 99 steps to reach the house. Malaparte gave his friend and boatman

money to open a restaurant which is run by the boatman's son today. It is the only

restaurant one would pass on the path from the Piazzetta to the promontory where

Tiberius built his palace, Villa Jovis.

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