Vailima

Vailima is a village and suburb of Apia, the capital of Samoa, on the island of Upolu. It lies on the southern slopes of Mount Vaea, overlooking Apia’s harbour. The area is known for its scenic gardens and colonial-era architecture, with easy access to central Apia.

From 1890 to 1894, the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson lived at the hillside estate known as Villa Vailima. He purchased and expanded the property, using it as his Samoa residence and a center for his literary work and correspondence during his final years.

The villa and its grounds later became the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, dedicated to preserving his life in Samoa. The museum houses manuscripts, letters, memorabilia, and household items related to Stevenson, and is a major cultural site open to visitors.

Nearby, on Mount Vaea, is Stevenson’s grave, which has become a prominent landmark visible from Apia and a point of interest for visitors and scholars studying his life and colonial Samoa.

Today, Vailima is regarded as a heritage site that combines a historic residence, a museum, and landscaped grounds. It attracts researchers, tourists, and locals interested in Stevenson’s legacy and Samoa’s late 19th-century history.