Capri
is a small (very beautiful) island, 4 miles long and 2 miles
wide. From the boat that brings you to Capri, the island looks
like a combination of craggy limestone rocks, trees and glorious
flowers erupting from the sea. To get to the famous Piazzetta/Piazza
Umberto 1 (the world’s living room) take the funicular
up from the drop off point of Marina Grande (the main port of
Capri — watch for the colorful houses overlooking the harbor
and you’ll know you’re there). If you have bags, get
one of Capri’s taxis to carry you up to the drop off zone
right before the piazzetta (white Mercedes many of them —
you have arrived….). The island is separated into two parts
— Capri and Anacapri. Capri is bustling and chic and Anacapri
is quiet and rustic. There has forever been a rivalry between
the two towns. As for sights, I think the Blue Grotto
(boats leave from Marina Grande) is scoffed at way too often
as being a tourist trap. To me, when the sun is shining and
reflecting and you see the shocking blue — call me a tourist,
but it’s amazingly beautiful. In the upper town right in
the Piazzetta is the Chiesa Di Santo Stefano (17th
century Baroque). I had the wonderful treat of watching choir
practice just before Christmas here — the beautiful voices
filled the church and truly put me in the spirit (serendipity
lives!) Down Via Emanuele is La Certosa di San Giacomo
with beautiful cloisters (14th century Carthusian
monastery). The Giardini di Augusto (Gardens of Augustus)
are just beyond La Certosa. This is where you get some
lovely views and get to see I Faraglioni (rocks in the
sea — a symbol of Capri and the home of the blue lizard).
Villa Iovis/Jupiter’s Villa or Tiberius Palace
(ruins) was built in the first century AD and was the most
important imperial villa built by the Emperor Tiberius (he did
build 12 villas on the island of Capri). It’s east of the
center of town (if walking, it’s about an hour’s walk).
Behind the villa, down the stairs is the Salto di Tiberio.
This is where Tiberius (is said to have) tossed his enemies
to their deaths. Arco Naturale is a natural archway created
by the elements. There are boat trips that will take you around
the entire island (not a bad trip, you get a good view of the
geography of the island). Anacapri, above Capri has several
sights. Take the bus to Anacapri and at Piazza della Vittoria
take a chairlift ride up to Monte Solaro (great views
— a 10 minute ride). From here you walk 5 minutes down
to Axel Munthe’s Villa San Michele (a villa built
on Roman ruins) with beautiful gardens, rooms, statuary collected
by the doctor and writer (read The Story of San Michele). The
bus returns you to Capri town.