CAPRI

Villa Lysis was built between 1904 and 1905 at the behest of the French poet and writer Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen, a controversial and fascinating character whose existence was marked by scandal and the constant pursuit of beauty and transgression.

Born in 1880 into an aristocratic family, Fersen soon became known in Parisian literary and artistic circles for his lifestyle and his works, which reflected his interest in eroticism and paganism.

In 1903, he was the subject of a scandal, due to his alleged homosexual relations with young students, which forced him into exile. It was then that he chose Capri to build his ideal residence, far from the social conventions of the time.

The mansion, initially named "La Gloriette," was designed by the French architect Edouard Chimot, with the aim of creating a retreat that reflected Fersen's passions and aesthetic sense. It is a perfect example of neoclassical architecture mixed with Art Nouveau and Deco references, blending classical elements with modern innovations to create a unique setting. The imposing façade features Doric columns supporting a large portico, while the interior is a triumph of decadent aesthetics, with spacious rooms decorated with marble, stucco and fine mosaics.

Through the entrance lies a sumptuous hall where Fersen welcomed his guests for evenings of poetry and music.

The most notable room is the smokehouse, where the writer loved to smoke opium. It is richly decorated with references to classical antiquity, such as columns and gilded stucco, work symbolizing the ideal of beauty and virtue that the poet pursued in his life and works.

It was here that he was found dead; he is suspected to have killed himself after being left by the great love of his life, the young Nino Cesarini. The cause of death was a lethal cocktail of champagne and cocaine.

After Fersen's death in 1923, Villa Lysis changed hands several times. Over the years, the Villa has become a monument to aesthetics and a symbol of freedom of expression, embodying the tensions and contradictions of an era marked by profound social and cultural change.

An interesting fact: The villa's name was inspired by a work by the philosopher Plato, in which Socrates talks about the concept of friendship between men.