On the north-western promontory of the island, draped over the capes of Vetereto and Arcera, there is another Roman imperial villa called "Damecuta", name of uncertain provenance that also indicates the whole headland's area and the pinewoods. Standing in a solitary, lonely position, it resembles Villa Jovis with its promenade and hemicycle. The view from Damecuta comprises a panorama which includes spectacular views all over the Bay of Naples, from isle of Ischia, Cape Miseno and Phlegraean Fields up to Sorrento peninsula on the other side, with the Vesuvius in the middle.

Damecuta was one of the largest of twelve villas Tiberius built on Capri, and it was once divided into several small blocks which extended as far as the port of Gradola and the Blue Grotto. The remains of cisterns are all around the neighbourhood, enclosed in modern buildings, and their locations suggest the villa was originally connected to quarters of Timberino and Monticello near the centre of Anacapri. If so, Damecuta could have formed a wide complex like other imperial villas on the mainland, each of which is characterized by large gardens and variety of small buildings.

It is believed that Villa Damecuta was abandoned because of the eruption of Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii in 79 A.D., as archaeologists discovered the ruins were densely covered with a thick coating of volcanic ash. The few remains of Damecuta that are still visible among the pine trees are the result of excavations done between 1937-48 by Amedeo Maiuri (who also excavated Villa Jovis), and are on land which was donated to the Italian Government by Axel Munthe, celebrated author of "The Story of San Michele".  [ More...]