ROME – The Italian cliff top villa that was home to Gore Vidal, the American writer, for 30 years has been sold to a local hotelier for almost $17.5 million.

Perched above medieval Ravello on the Amalfi coast, La Rondinaia or Swallow’s Nest has been on the market since Mr. Vidal, 80, decided to go back to California in 2003.

Only approachable by foot, it had become too much for Mr. Vidal and his life-long partner, Austin Howard, who died recently after a long illness. Built into the cliff, the property extends over six acres and has 20 levels terraced around stairways. The grounds include a chestnut grove and boast stunning views over to Capri.

In Italy, the home where he entertained world leaders and Hollywood stars is so famous that his peace was disturbed by daily tour boats retelling his life 500ft below his balcony.

Ravello’s mayor, Secondo Amalfitano, originally tried but failed to persuade the regional government to buy the building and turn it into a writers’ retreat, but now the villa has been sold to local hotel owner Vincenzo Palumbo, who studied in the villa as a boy before it was sold to Mr. Vidal. He later came to know the writer well.

He plans to have the building listed then turn it into a “niche” hotel for the wealthy and a museum dedicated to the life and works of the writer and political provocateur.

Exhibits will include mementoes of his guests, among them Princess Margaret, Graham Greene, and Sting. Hillary and Chelsea Clinton left a photo signed: “Thanks for letting us trespass.”

There will be other unusual exhibits including the chair used in the epic movie “Cleopatra” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

The study where Mr. Vidal wrote everything from the historical novel Burr to his polemical Perpetual War For Perpetual Peace will be the museum’s centerpiece. Always a colorful figure, he was known locally as il maestro and, despite his cantankerous reputation, adored.

“The important thing is to keep what was his there,” said Mr Palumbo.