Occupying an entire hillside just outside the beautiful fishing village of Positano, Villa Treville offers a complete escape from the pressures of the outside world and an opportunity to step into an environment of sybaritic pleasures. Now operating as an exquisite 5-star boutique hotel, Villa Treville can still be rented as an exclusive villa rental for exceptional vacations, subject to certain conditions.
Formerly the home to film producer Franco Zefferelli, Villa Treville is a magical place that has captured the hearts of so many creative maestros. Illumination of pathways, terraces and pool help you enjoy your surroundings late into the evening. There are numerous terraces for dining al fresco during the long Amalfi summer season from May to October. The bedrooms are nearly all ensuite, many with private balconies or terrace. The staff, gardeners and caretakers are well-prepared for ensuring you dont have a crae in the world. An exceptional and storied estate, with a famous guestlist, Treville encourages you to indulge in appreciating the stunning, dramatic landscape and the charm and relaxed hospitality of the Positanesi.
Treville is an exhuberant reflection of the owners' life-long involvement in the arts, as well as their delight in entertaining, affection for worldwide travel and adoration for the absolute drama and beauty of this sun-drenched coast. True to its name, the estate comprises three distinct villa buildings, linked by garden paths and stairways so that it feels rather like a large rambling home.
The oldest of the three, Villa Rossa, was built in the 1500s. Villa Azzure was built in the 1600s with some renovations into the late 18th century, and Villa Bianca is early 20th century. The current owner has been enjoying the property most of his life, having first discovered it some 60 years ago. Acquiring it for his own use in 1968, the house underwent a significant restoration maintaining the high vaulted ceilings, tall French doors and multiple terraces so typical of the local architecture.
A notable addition was an incredible variety of largely Neopolitan 18th century handpainted tiles, now very hard to find. Each floor and wall is an artistic composition, which perfectly enriches the extensive personal collection of objects d'art, antiques and collectibles on display throughout the estate. Especially interesting are the various drawings and paintings by the owners' own hand, animating walls throughout.
Each room and terrace is distinctly its own space, making the whole effect of the property much more than the sum of its parts. The paved drive, a itself a rarity, descends from the street to the garage and parking. From here, stairs continue to the main villa entrance on a public walking path, popular only in July and August when the local beach, Arienzo, is busy serving day-trippers from Naples.
The gate opens to an entrance terrace planted with beds of vibrant flowering annuals. A short curved flight of stairs brings you to the uppermost principal terrace, with wisteria-shaded pergola along the house and a spacious sun-soaked terrace jutting out towards the undulating blue-green sea. Most of the windows and terraces at Treville are southwest-facing, providing an exceptional and unusual view of Positano and the receding peninsulas of the Amalfi Coast into the distance, with the the Isole dei Galli accenting an otherwise pristine expanse of sea.
Beyond the terrace is a spacious dining pavilion, centred with a simple fountain and partially shaded by broad pine trees and bougainvillea. Travertine tables may be used separately or reconfigured into a round table accommodating 12. The view is south-east towards other Arienzo villas hugging the coastline and the inviting ocean.
Stairs lead down past the Villa Rossa tucking into the shade of 70-year-old tropical trees. Along the edge of the stairs, narrow, ruffle-edged trough-shaped pools pour a stream of water into the goldfish pond which marks your arrival at the principal terrace for the Villa Bianca. To the right, also enjoying the shade of tall trees, is the ping-pong table, lit for night play. A broad double staircase leads up to two additional terraces, one set as an outdoor living room, the other for casual outdoor dining. Both are under wisteria pergolas providing a deep cooling shade.
Below the staircase is a charming dining terrace, distinguished by a deep stone-lined grotto, accommodating 20 for lunch or dinner. Up to 30 could be easily accommodated buffet-style, with ample additional seating at the cushioned banquettes lining the edge of the terrace.
Two levels of carefully tended beds of tomatoes, eggplant, basil and other staples of the Italian garden are cut through with walking paths shaded by grapevines. One flight of stairs brings you to the pool, set on a further promontory and defined by a keyhole shaped terrace shaded with an enormous umbrella pine. The pool is oval, and set into a high domed alcove with a rough stone ceiling. Guests have the option of enjoying the pool as is, or heated with or without the whirlpool.
Two curving staircases give easy access, with two built-in Carrara benches for sitting and standing. A simple bath with hot and cold shower is adjacent. The vegetable garden then continues from the pool to the final set of stairs, which descends through a gate to the delicious ocean. Here, broad terraces have been fashioned on top of the rocks, providing ample room in the sun. Two straw pergolas have been installed for shade. There is furniture for 16, tanning on sun beds or sitting with a book.