Has anyone visited Gore Vidal's Villa Rondinaia in Ravello?

Can you see it high up on its cliff from town?

Any info.would be appreciated.


Thin

Topping

We went to Ravello a couple of weeks ago and my husband asked our driver about the villa. He pointed to something and said it was not accessible. He may have just not wanted to take us there but we'll never know if the building he pointed to was it or not. Sorry to be no help whatsoever. If that was it, you could catch a glimpse.

The villa was white (at least it was when Gore Vidal sold it after companion Howard died) and sits on a cliff all by itself high above Ravello.

The views from the terrace look to be life changing.

Thanks, Judy

Thin

Judy, did you see Gore Vidal: United States of Amnesia? Some of the film was shot there. You might be able to tell if what your driver pointed out to you was Villa Rondinaia if you watch the film (that is if you are interested in Vidal).

Sorry, that probably doesn't help Pepper.

We saw the film yesterday, hence my question because I am going to Ravello in September.

Thin

Also not much help, but FWIW, I just did a google images search for Villa Rondinaia, and a number of the images that I found are actually from the Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone (both in Ravello and both easily visited).

Leely2, thanks but that probably wouldn't help me. I only got a quick glimpse as I was mesmerized by the views all around and wasn't paying that much attention.

The villa is owned by the same family that owns Hotel Villa Maria is Ravello, so you could call the hotel and ask if it is possible to tour (maybe combining it with lunch at the hotel).

Maybe the hotel could let me fly up in a helicopter?

I wonder if the hotel plans on opening a Hotel Vidala?

Thin

I emailed the hotel and asked them if I could take a helicopter to the villa.

Do you think we could rent a helicopter in Naples?

Thin

From what I have seen of the grounds in pictures and on an episode of David Rocco, there is not enough room to land a helicopter ... but I could be wrong.

I know someone who has a friend with a helicopter service on the AC - let me know if you want their contact information.

Well lunch at the Villa Maria is pretty good and the views from the Villa Cimbrone are spectacular.
Maybe you could have the helicopter fly over Villa Rondinaia so you can see it from above, land in the main piazza, have someone from Villa Maria take you to Villa Rondinaia for a tour.

Helicopters must land somewhere up there because when we were staying in Minori, some Russian oligarch was having his wedding in Ravello (which we looked up at from our agriturismo) and all his guests were flown in by multiple helicopters for the weekend long bash.

The day we drove up to Ravello all was back to normal, but our landlord was still shaking his head over the gossip about the cost of it all and how all the hotels were booked out for the wedding.

We walked up to the front gate when we were in Ravello in June (see my trip report). Here's some info from the report:
Hotel Rufolo café for lunch: beautiful umbrella’d terrace café for a late lunch of pizza, salad, white wine of the house, and espresso; the waiter pointed out the late Gore Vidal’s driveway next to the hotel leading to his home for 30 years, the Villa Rondinaia, now purchased by a company, closed to visitors; unclear if it will be transformed into a hotel, a rental villa, or a private residence.

When you are in the street looking at the Hotel Rufolo, the outdoor hotel cafe is to your left. And then to the left of that is a long asphalt path, sort of a narrow road, that goes to the front gate.

You can see Vidal's villa from a terrace high point in the Villa Rufolo.

Like many, the closest I've been to Vidal's villa is the documentary "Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia." Well wortb seeing beyond the views of La Rondinaia (Swallows Nest).

I'm a great admirer of Vidal. There are stunning photos of the villa (inside and out) in Vidal's last book "Snapshots in History's Glare." It's a kind of a loose companion to his memoirs "Palimpsest" and "Point to Point Navigation." Wonderful photos accompanied by ample narrative.