If you travel on the slow ferry from Naples to Capri, it may take up to 90 minutes to cross the Gulf of Naples and reach the island that is divided into two towns. To the west, Anacapri spreads across a plateau covering about two-thirds of the island and overlooking the town of Capri. When you land, – at Marina Grande, – the funicular will take you to Piazzetta, the center of Capri. ; and fFrom there, it may take up to two hours to walk the mile or so to Casa Malaparte, an iconic example of modern architecture, but not open to the public.

The house, built on a promontory on the southeast coast of Capri, was completed in the early 1940s by Curzio Malaparte, a writer, author, playwright, and film maker. He first worked with architect Adalberto Libera who was – acclaimed for his modernistic style and co-designer of the Italian Pavilion in the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. But, – but Malaparte took control and worked with a local master stonemason, Adolfo Amitrano, to build the structure.