Torre di Civita

High above Ravello, Torre di Civita occupies a former medieval watchtower and monastery overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. Across two and a half hectares, ancient stone, lemon trees, olive groves, gardens and terraces surround a private seven-bedroom estate whose history stretches back around a thousand years.

Story

Torre di Civita has watched over this stretch of the Amalfi Coast for around a thousand years. First a defensive watchtower, it became a monastery in the 14th century before eventually passing into private hands. Each chapter left its mark on the buildings and landscape.

Its defining modern chapter began in 1952, when American heiress, publisher and artist Marajen Stevick Chinigo discovered the property while sailing the coast with her future husband, Michael. The couple acquired it and restored the house and gardens, turning Torre di Civita into a celebrated private home where Marajen entertained an extraordinary circle of 20th-century guests. Her original guest book remains in the house today.

Why we selected Torre di Civita

A thousand years remain within its walls

Watchtower, monastery, private villa: the estate's architecture carries layers of Amalfi Coast history rather than reproducing them as decoration.

Its gardens are part of its cultural legacy

Marajen Chinigo devoted particular attention to the gardens, while today lemon trees, olive groves and terraced planting root the estate in the cultivated landscape of the Amalfi Coast.

A remarkable private-home history survives

Marajen was an artist, publisher and formidable hostess. Torre di Civita became both inspiration for her paintings and a place of gathering; even her historic guest book remains at the estate.

Hospitality is rooted in people who know the house

The estate is cared for directly by Greyheath and resident staff who know its history, the coast and its seasons.

Local life & traditions

Ravello belongs to a side of the Amalfi Coast shaped as much by terraced agriculture as by the sea. For generations, families have cultivated steep hillsides with lemons, olives and vines, creating the stone terraces that characterise the landscape. Food follows the same geography: citrus, olive oil, seafood, vegetables and local wines remain at the heart of Campanian cooking.

Torre di Civita reflects this quieter rhythm. Lemon trees scent the estate, evenings unfold among the olive groves, and nearby Ravello, Minori, Maiori and Atrani each preserve their own traditions and pace. It offers a perspective on the coast from above — connected to its gardens, villages and people rather than only its famous shoreline.

Authentic experiences in the area

Experience the coast from the water

Take to the Mediterranean by private boat, approaching Ravello’s coastline from the sea and discovering the small coves and coastal villages that have historically connected this region.

Discover Ravello beyond the villa

Explore Ravello’s gardens, churches and historic streets before venturing down to neighbouring Minori, Maiori and Atrani — each with its own character and relationship with the coast.

Dine beneath a thousand years of history

Let the estate’s two chefs shape dinner around the day and season, whether breakfast on the terrace or an evening meal beneath the medieval tower.

Live from the estate's gardens

Spend a morning among the lemon trees, terraces and olive grove, understanding the cultivated landscape that has shaped both Torre di Civita and the wider Amalfi Coast.

Protecting culture & land

At Torre di Civita, preservation begins with continuity. A property that has survived for around a millennium remains a private house, with its medieval fabric, gardens, terraces and agricultural landscape still defining how it is experienced.

Its two-and-a-half-hectare grounds retain lemon trees and an olive grove, while a long-standing resident team cares for the house throughout each stay. Greyheath's approach is deliberately one of stewardship: the estate is directly managed rather than handed between external operators.

Location & surroundings

Torre di Civita sits approximately 350 metres above the Gulf of Salerno, just below Ravello, on Italy's Amalfi Coast.

Its elevated position gives the estate extraordinary views across both land and sea. Ravello lies immediately above, while Minori, Maiori and Atrani are within easy reach. Amalfi, Positano and the wider coastline can be explored by road or from the water.

Key details

Address

Ravello, Amalfi Coast
Campania
Italy

Getting here

By plane: Naples International Airport is the principal international gateway, with private transfer onward to Ravello.

By train: High-speed services run to Naples and Salerno; Salerno is particularly convenient for approaching the eastern Amalfi Coast.

By sea: Private boat transfers and days on the water can be arranged as part of a stay.

Facilities

7 unique bedrooms across the main house and outbuildings

2.5 hectares of private grounds

Outdoor swimming pool

Exclusive use of the entire estate

Resident house manager

Two private chefs

Dedicated butler / resident service team

Private dining throughout the stay

Every stay booked direct keeps value with the people of this place, so they can reinvest in culture, community and land

We believe travel should give back more than it takes; that it can protect cultures, not erode them.

That is why we connect you directly with each hotel’s own website. By booking direct, value remains in the hands of those who shape these places, enabling reinvestment into local culture, community, and land.