On a sun-drenched promontory above the bay of San Francesco at Punta Caruso, Il Belvedere del Giardino Esotico is one of the most singular and captivating luxury villa rentals on the island of Ischia — a place where old-world Roman elegance, extraordinary gardens, and a 180-degree panorama over the open Tyrrhenian Sea combine to create something genuinely unlike anything else. Next door to the celebrated gardens of La Mortella, founded by Lady Walton in the 1950s, and with sweeping views across the village of Forio and its port all the way to Capri and the coast beyond, the setting alone is enough to take your breath away.
Built by the Roman family who still own it as a grand summer retreat, the villa retains all the chic confidence of the era in which it was conceived. Spacious reception rooms are paved in traditional Vietri tiles, the furnishings are classic and considered, and the bedrooms are delightfully colourful — each one individually decorated to complement its own ensuite bathroom. Sleeping up to 12 guests, it is a home that feels made for large, happy gatherings, with room to breathe and space to disappear into.
The gardens are an attraction in their own right: vast, immaculate, and home to an astonishing collection of cacti gathered from across the world — a living sculpture garden that sets this property entirely apart. A private walkway descends the hillside all the way to the water, where a converted beach shack and private mooring await — perfect for boat trips along the coast to Ischia's finest coves, restaurants, and hidden swimming spots.
Ischia itself is one of the most rewarding and underrated islands in the Mediterranean, with natural hot springs, thermal mud baths, crystal-clear waters, and the dramatic peak of Monte Epomeo all within easy reach. Available April to October, Il Belvedere del Giardino Esotico is an Ischia villa rental of rare beauty and character — a place that rewards those curious enough to look beyond the obvious.
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