Villa Giusso
Relax, Nature, Art and culture, historic houses, sports in general, beach and seaside

In a splendid position looking over the Sorrento peninsula and the entire bay of Naples, "Villa Giusso" is a magnificent home which was once a Camaldolensian hermitage going back to the 17th Century. The environment, the rooms and the outdoors areas maintain the original appearance and provide the guests with a sense of belonging to the history of the place. Operating with the Bed and Breakfast formula, this is the ideal place for visiting all the wonders of the bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento peninsula.

About 400 metres above sea level, right beside Vico Equense, it is in a splendid natural and panoramic position. This especially nice area was already inhabited in Roman times. The residence is surrounded by a stretch of olive groves and vineyards and there is an ancient column passageway used by the hermits who used to live here.

The inside of the villa has the charm of another era. The big rooms on the noble floor recall ancient families, with portraits of ancestors, wardrobes with ancient clothing and old liveries and endless objects collected in the attic, from old dolls to lace and cradles.

On the first floor, there are four guest rooms, divided into two units with two bathrooms, furnished with ancient furniture which tells the history of the house. There is also a lovely big terrace for the guests with a wonderful view.

The splendid kitchen in which the rich breakfast is served, including a series of typical local products, has walls with majolica bricks from the 18th and 19th Centuries. There is a splendid big fireplace and a well for water supplies, as well as copper pots and marble worktables.

The history of this home tells us that it was created thanks to the munificence of the Prince of Conca, Matteo di Capua, feudatory of Vico Equense who donated the land required, and Cesare Zaffarano who left a considerable sum of money to the Camaldolensians. They lived here until 1807 when, following the laws which suppressed the religious orders, the monastery was acquired by the State Property. Then, in 1815, Gioacchino Murat was put up here for a few days, after the defeat by Austria. From this time on, it was a Royal site, until 1822, when it was sold to the banker from Genoa, Luigi Giusso. It was his intention that the hermitage become a farm for growing mulberry and breeding silkworm. Just after, however, the guest quarters were used as a summer holiday home.

As a result of 400 years of history, the home, as well as domestic and private objects, preserves art masterpieces from the church of the hermitage, which, for reasons unknown, was destroyed at the start of the last century.