Villa Valentino Historic Landmark

The stucco walls of Villa Valentino rise against the steep hillside of Whitley Heights, topped with a distinct red-tiled roof. Rudolph Valentino bought this Mediterranean-style villa in nineteen twenty-two after his meteoric rise to fame in The Sheik. He decorated the interior with heavy velvet curtains, carved Spanish chests, and a massive fireplace. He lived here for only a year before his divorce and financial troubles forced him to sell, yet the house remains synonymous with his silent film stardom.