Capri 1937

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

Author: V.Valogianni
[Επιλογή ημερομηνίας]
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.

2
The house was conceived around 1937 by Italian Rationalist architect Adalberto Libera for
Curzio Malaparte.

3
Malaparte actually rejected Libera's design and built the home himself with the help of
Adolfo Amitrano, a local stone mason.

4
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.

5
 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.

6
 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.

7
Today the house is used for serious study and certain cultural events in Italy and is
admired (and hated) by many architecture enthusiasts worldwide.

8
 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.

9
10