Villa TreVille

Enchanting, hideaway, homey

Via Arienzo 30, ., Positano 84017

(39) 089 812 2401

See Website

At a Glance

Set amidst the limestone Positano cliffs on the Tyrrhenian Sea, this magical estate was originally the home of director Franco Zeffirelli, who consistently hosted house parties and included the greatest stars of his era. Today, as a luxury hotel, Villa TreVille maintains a sense of old-world glamour and tranquility.

Indagare Loves

  • The spectacular view of the Amalfi Coast and the gardens that descend to the bathing platform
  • Feeling like you are staying in a luxurious Italian home rather than a hotel
  • The rich history of hosting European and transatlantic jetsetters

Review

Florentine film and opera director Franco Zeffirelli discovered Positano while on a bicycle tour in 1941. Back then the town was accessible only by mule and remained hidden until the last sharp curve, when it dramatically appeared: a picture-perfect fishing village of stucco houses nestled into the dramatic mountains and the cerulean sea.

After rising to fame, Zeffirelli bought Villa TreVille and created his dream world complete with three villas, romantic terraces, lush gardens, secret walkways, a grotto and a seaside bathing area. Soon, writers, intellectuals, musicians, ballet figures and Hollywood friends poured in searching for simple pleasures by the sun-drenched sea.

The steep climbs of Positano became too much in Zeffirelli’s old age and he sold his estate to renowned hotelier Giovanni Russo, who brought the 15 suites and villas up to an immaculate standard, leaving most details untouched. Russo operates the small hotel more like a beautifully run home with a kind and low-key staff.

Compared to conventional luxury hotels along the Amalfi Coast, Villa TreVille has limitations. There is no gym, no bellboy, no deluxe minibars and no stately pool. But the property boasts eminent ghosts of past visitors—like Elizabeth Taylor, Vaslav Nijinsky, Maria Callas and Leonard Bernstein—and much of the interior’s original décor remains, including the maestro’s bank of first-edition books and collection 18th century Caltagirone pottery.

Each of the suites were named and decorated by Zeffirelli, and fresh-cut flowers and crystal jugs of the lemonade (made with lemons picked from the villa’s orchard) bring a lightness to every room. Laid-back guests adore exploring the property's gardens filled with wisteria, jasmine and bougainvillea, taking dips into the Mediterranean and having massages in the shade while overlooking stunning views.

Despite its high luxury, Villa TreVille’s no-frills atmosphere makes it a relatively family-friendly hotel. Typical of any Italian home, days revolve around the meals that take place on a shaded veranda with a theatrical backdrop of the sea and mountains. The vegetables come from the garden, the seafood is caught by the hotel’s fisherman, and guests feel comfortable asking for anything at any time.

Who Should Stay

Well-heeled travelers who don't require much pampering and want to be close to the action of Positano but also desire a peaceful and private seaside retreat.

Written by Olivia Cannell Olivia Cannell

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