Villa Astor: Paradise Restored on the Amalfi Coast

Three books were all released at about the same time - all restored historic homes by Jacques Garcia. I was knocked out by Chateau de Villette - it is flawlessly decorated and a miraculous restoration. The other two homes are really not my favorite style but they are also impeccable. Villa Astor has a more minimalist classic look. The black marble bathrooms are stunning as is the red Pompeiian bedroom. The views of the sea and gardens are magnificent. This book was printed in Spain, and the quality is first rate. The history of the villa and details about Astor's other residences is fascinating. This is well worth your time and money, if you like this particular style. I must give Mr. Garcia praise for not only mastering French design, but other styles as well. He's a genius.

This seems to be an elaborate brochure for this gorgeous place, which is apparently available for rent at $150,000 (yes, $150,000) per week. I wonder who owns it (not revealed). Having said that, the books is gorgeous, the villa is gorgeous and .... it's all padded out with descriptions of Astor's other homes and offices (in the UK) which is pretty interesting, but perhaps not if you thought everything was going to be about a Mediterranean villa.. The written material is well-done, in that hard-to-hit area between academic art history and effusively light travel writing. So basically its a pretty good coffee table book.

Great coffee table book !

Gorgeous coffee table book. We have it on a console table and I love looking at it every time I pass by.

Very happy with this entire transaction! Beautiful book!!!

This is a seriously lovely book: all encompassing, beautifully produced, thoroughly researched; but alas the abundance of detail on the house's collection of antiquities as well as Astor's other properties (Cliveden, Hever etc) leaves a heathen like myself more with a sense of having spent the morning in a museum; rather than lolling around one of the most spectacular historical properties in the Med. As a biography on Astor himself though - surely one of the most cultivated men of wealth the world has ever known - it ranks very highly. The man had taste and money to match.

Villa Astor begins on Chapter III, context and other influences in preceeding chapters.The print quality of this book is average i.e. not great as I would’ve expected.

Gorgeous book with wonderful photos. I found out about it recently from The Lady.

Exceptionally well written and illustrated

superb book ,beautiful pictures ,and good value -only downside is I should have lived in Italy for my final days