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CONTEMPORARY VILLAS
Capri may have its detractors, especially in high summer, but the island
retains an unmistakable glamour, especially within the confines of Anacapri's
Villa Le Scale (BI; sleeps 12; $$$$$). A minute's walk from the main
square, this 19th-century mansion—all white and very elegantly
set in a terraced garden with a peacock-blue pool—only recently
became available for rent. Refurbished by a chic antiquarian-art dealer-owner,
the house is pretty much faultless. The Garden Suite is dominated by
an 18th-century sarcophagus bath, albeit in an almost minimalist bedroom.
The dining room is dominated by a 16th-century Turkoman fireplace and
an Indian fountain commissioned by a 19th-century maharaja. Other grand
touches: inlaid mosaics, a fabulous art collection—including a
Neapolitan sea battle painted by the 18th-century master Leonardo Coccorante—and
the best bathrooms of any rental I visited in Italy, complete with en
suite hammams. The guest-to-staff ratio is two to one.
Light snacks are available during the day and meals are prepared on request
using fresh produce and traditional Mediterranean recipes.
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