Villa Kérylos

Hamish Bowles Tours the Best of the Côte d'Azur's Historical Homes | Vogue

"One of my favorite places on the planet, this scrupulous recreation of an Ancient Greek villa—built for Theodore Reinach and completed in 1908—realizes Emmanuel Pontremoli’s breathtaking gesamtkunstwerk vision. Miraculously set on the tip of a promontory in the Baie des Fourmis at Beaulieu sur Mer, its gardens are lapped by water on three sides, and the views—rocky cliff faces to one side, a charming 18th‑century seafront and grand villas to the other—feel much as Reinach would have seen a century ago in a town that remains remarkably unspoilt. Every detail is considered, from frescoes, textiles, marquetry, mosaic, metal, and marble work to the high day-beds in the dining room, set at the same height as the table so that the Pontremoli family and guests could eat in the ancient Greek manner. It’s easy to see how this aesthetic has profoundly influenced decorators like Jacques Grange and Stephen Sills. Declared a historic national monument in 1967, it is exquisitely preserved as a testament to the immense culture, knowledge, and taste of its patron and designer." - Hamish Bowles