Capri

The island of Capri is famous the world over: the blue of the sea around it and the rich scent of its nature and of the fruit that grows so abundantly from its soil have won the hearts of visitors past and present.

The charm of the “pearl of the Mediterranean” lies in its wonderful scenery, full of sea views and greenery. Although it shares an enviable location and a stunning sea with its neighbors Ischia and Procida, Capri keeps an identity of its own that makes it unique.

The island is made up of two municipalities, Capri and Anacapri, the lower and the upper part respectively, and has a harbor area called Marina Grande, where the colorful fishermen’s houses, in the typical island style, are a delightful sight.

A land of very ancient origins, Capri has a long history of foreign rule behind it: when the Romans challenged the dominance of the Greeks, Augustus freed the island from Naples’ control and made it his personal domain (unlike neighboring Ischia). Augustus’ successor, Tiberius, made it his home, and thanks to him it filled with imperial villas such as Villa Jovis, whose ruins you can still admire today.

During the Middle Ages Capri passed through several rulers who partly changed its appearance: Spanish rule began in 1496 and was followed by raids and destruction at the hands of pirates and Barbarossa’s corsair fleets. After a brief period under England, the island was conquered by the French and remained theirs until the end of the Napoleonic empire.

Capri’s rebirth began in the Romantic era: considered an essential stop on the Grand Tour, the journey young aristocrats made to broaden their culture and complete their education, the island welcomed a great many intellectuals from all over Europe, who were enchanted by its nature and its great beauty.

In the early years of the last century, Capri took in Russian exiles who had left their homeland after the 1905 war with Japan, and it became a major political and literary center.

Among those who lived on or often visited the island, Maxim Gorky and Vladimir Lenin stand out, but many other famous figures, above all writers and poets, were drawn to this jewel in the middle of the sea: Curzio Malaparte, Pablo Neruda and Thomas Mann are just a few names on a long list.

Many filmmakers, too, have chosen the island’s evocative setting for their films. The master Jean-Luc Godard in particular shot a movie here that became a classic of cinema: Le Mépris (1963, Contempt), based on Alberto Moravia’s novel of the same name. Its stars were Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli, among the best-known actors of those years.

Part of the film is set in a villa, the famous Villa Malaparte, where another film was also shot, La pelle (The Skin, 1981), with Marcello Mastroianni as the writer Curzio Malaparte: the film is based on the book of the same name by Malaparte, a controversial figure who lived through both world wars and told of their horrors in his writing, depicting them in all their harshness.

Besides historic ruins and beautiful trails, Capri offers very attractive beaches, some of which can only be reached by boat. And don’t miss a trip to the Blue Grotto, known for its special play of light and reflections that give the water an unmistakable blue.

Among the island’s festivals are the feast of Capri’s patron saint, San Costanzo, on May 14, and that of Anacapri’s patron, Saint Anthony, on June 13: on these two days the island’s streets come alive with processions, music and fairground rides.