The beautiful crescent-shaped town of Portofino stretches along the coast of Liguria on the Italian Riviera and is one of Italy's most wonderful, exclusive and famous seaside destinations. It is a picturesque village that is filled with a cluster of colourful buildings hugging the port, boats and yachts bobbing in the harbour, and tourists wandering the streets and eating fresh food at tables overlooking the water.
If you have found a luxury villa in Liguria, it is an ideal place to spend some time unwinding and enjoying the unique atmosphere of the town. While there, one of the must-see highlights is the lovely Castello Brown.
Castello Brown is perched on a rocky outcrop above the town, which overlooks Portofino and is surrounded by picturesque hanging gardens. While it is now a house museum, its very prominent and strategic location in the town clearly indicated its original function as a practical defensive structure.
If you have found a luxury villa in Liguria, it is an ideal place to spend some time unwinding and enjoying the unique atmosphere of the town. While there, one of the must-see highlights is the lovely Castello Brown.
Castello Brown is perched on a rocky outcrop above the town, which overlooks Portofino and is surrounded by picturesque hanging gardens. While it is now a house museum, its very prominent and strategic location in the town clearly indicated its original function as a practical defensive structure.
Used since the 15th century, it was completed by 1557 and was enlarged from 1622 to 1624. Involved in several power struggles in the town over the centuries, it was abandoned after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 until it was purchased by Montague Yeats-Brown, then English consul in Genoa, in 1867.
Under the supervision of the architect Alfredo D'Andrade, it was transformed into a liveable and lovely villa, in which Yeats-Brown's family lived until 1949. It was then owned by an English couple until it was eventually sold to the City of Portofino in 1961. Now open to the public for tours and to host cultural events and weddings, it is surrounded by stunning gardens full with roses and pergolas and boasts incredible views over the town and bay. It is well worth making your way up to the castle for the vista alone but the whole site is extraordinary.
Under the supervision of the architect Alfredo D'Andrade, it was transformed into a liveable and lovely villa, in which Yeats-Brown's family lived until 1949. It was then owned by an English couple until it was eventually sold to the City of Portofino in 1961. Now open to the public for tours and to host cultural events and weddings, it is surrounded by stunning gardens full with roses and pergolas and boasts incredible views over the town and bay. It is well worth making your way up to the castle for the vista alone but the whole site is extraordinary.
Photo credit: randreu / CC BY-SA 3.0
