The romance of the isle of Capri
The isle of Capri is one of the once-in-a-lifetime places in Italy. A calm, care- and almost carfree island 80 minutes boatride off the hectic traffic in Naples.
The ferry trip it itself is stunningly beautiful heading out for the rocky outcrops in a sparkling sea with Naples’ skyline and the Vesuvius volcano over your right shoulder and the Sorrento peninsula on the left. Getting closer you’ll see the Faraglioni limestone crags and the steep green slopes before the boat docks in Marina Grande. From there you can take another boat out to the Blue Grotto or take the funicular up to Capri Town.
Designer shops and everything limoncello
We decided to walk up the hill, which might not be the wisest decision with children in the midday sun, but the views were unforgettable and around every other u-turn shade could be found.
Capri town was packed with classy restaurants and cafes, posh hotels, designer boutiques and souvenir shops selling everything limoncello, where wealthy tourists were airing their big hats and gold watches. A great place for honeymooning couples wanting to immerse themselves in beauty and luxury. Or for anthropological field studies in hedonistic lifestyles.
Capri is like many of the towns on the Amalfi coast with the added charm of being an island.
A writer’s paradise
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Capri became a popular resort for artists, writers, actors and other celebrities. Graham Greene had a house on the island and in ‘The Lotus Eater’ Somerset Maugham gave a poignant description of an English banker who traded his tedious life in London for 20 years in beauty and luxury on Capri. He ended up living among the animals in a barn, having learned the lesson of not making unpremeditated, hasty decisions you cannot really afford.
Someone who managed to finance the Capri passion was the Swedish physician Axel Munthe. He built the celebrated Villa San Michele on the island and willed it to the Swedish nation. The complex still functions as a museum and cultural center hosting concerts and visiting Swedish scholars.
If I ever go back to the isle of Capri Italy, I will definitely take the bus up to the inland town of Anacapri and walk up to the villa. But then I won’t go back to the Blue Grotto. Daytrippers – like dreamers and bankers – can’t have it all.
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Capri sounds like an ideal place to relax – carefree and car free. It looks beautiful! I like how you described that scenic ferry ride. All of it sounds very inviting.
Sorry, carfree is an exaggeration, but there are very few cars on the island.
Everytime I read your blog, my list of places I want to visit in Italy gets longer and longer. Capri looks incredible, especially on this cold, snowy, gray day in Munich.
In grey, dark, cold, smoggy winter just about everywhere looks attractive.
Capri is absolutely gorgeous. Apparently, Ibsen loved it here, too. Must be something about Scandinavians and Italy :)
As I recall, Ibsen had a penchant for Trieste too. I think he was a man who understood ‘La dolce vita’ better than most:).
Anthropological field studies in hedonist lifestyles – he he he. I couldn’t help dreaming of living in one of those villas as I walked up the hill. But I liked neighbouring Ischia more!
You’re right – sarcasm is a kind of envy in disguise:)
Capri has always had a magical quality about it – at least in my imagination. I’d never heard of the island of Ischia that Natasha mentions. I need a few solid months in Italy to see the sights on my list.
Ischia is really beautiful too. And very famous for its thermal baths and spa treatments.