Interrail throughout Italy
Milan - Padua - Verona - Venice - Florence - Saint Gimignano - Sienna - Pisa - Naples - Pompei - Amalfi Coast - Capri - Assisi - Rome - Tivoli - Monaco |
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 Dispensable |
Worthwhile |
Very recommendable |
Marvel |
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It is a world-wide famous island because of the extraordinary beauty of its nature, the Blue Grotto, the faraglioni, the natural arcade, the creeks, the villages and the fantastic panoramas. It’s odd that this is not a volcanic island like the rest of islands in the Naples gulf.
It is a place frequented by rich people, so bring you own food in order to buy the minimum here. The island is reached in a boat that sails for 30 min. from Naples.
The emperor Caesar Augustus visited it in 29 B.C. and, getting marvelled by its beauty he exchanged it for another richer and bigger island called Ischia. He was the first to build a villa. His successor Tiberius lived here from 27 to 37 A.C. and he constructed 12 villas dedicated to the 12 gods of the Olympus. The most important villa was Jovis, from where Tiberius governed the Roman Empire. The following emperors visited the island sometimes. |
After the fall of the Roman Empire the island belonged to several civilisations: Normans, Anjou 's dynasty, Aragon, Spanish, French and Italians. In 18th and 19th centuries the island was in fashion and after the rediscovery of the Blue Grotto in 1826 by a German painter, the island filled with Italian and foreigner tourists. Many artists, intellectuals, writers, exiled or eccentrics arrived in here and thus they contributed to the growth of a cosmopolite and international colony that made the island even more known. |
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After the arrival to Big Marina's harbour we took a boat at once towards the island's emblem, the Blue Grotto . The boat sails until the entrance along a splendid landscape with high impressive cliffs and clean water. |
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When the boat stops several small boats with a rowing man approach to take the tourists. It is not always possible to enter the cave because if the tide is too high the entrance hole submerges. As a matter of fact you have to lower your head in the boat to go into the cave. I start with the worst side: the short journey from the harbour to the cave is quite expensive. I estimate 12-18 Euro per person, because you pay the first boat and then to the rower man. The best side: you will witness a unique scenery world-wide that I will try to describe. You find yourself in a big cave, dark and obscure. |
The small boat seems to levitate over a brilliant fluorescent blue cloud. All the light in the cave comes from the water and this causes the astonishing effect. You are dark and suddenly, if you introduce your hand in water it becomes brilliant blue!!
The Romans already knew about it. A German painter rediscovered it in 1826, and this fact brought a sudden increase of tourists to the island. |
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After returning to the harbour you it is necessary to ascend towards the village in a funicular, so you have to spend more money. The village is lovely, with narrow streets, colourful houses and many jewellery shops. However it is too expensive. From the village a wonderful itinerary leaves towards the natural arcade and Matromania grotta . It lasts for an hour. The natural arcade is a big stone arcade that seems to balance on the mountain. It is the rest of an ancient cave inside the mountain that was eroded by the sea waves. After the island rising during the Palaeolithic era the wind and the rain completed the actual shape.
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From Capri we walked through the Augustus gardens , that stand out due to the flower variety and colours, but above all the views are magnificent . You contemplate the faraglioni, the creeks and the abrupt coast. From here we descended to a village called Marina Picola (little marina) in 20 min. by means of the Krupp's via , a zigzag path descending through a sharp slope. |
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In Marina Picola the beach is located in a superb and beautiful creek with crystalline and fantastic colours, surrounded by huge cliffs and mountains, in the middle of nature. You can't ask for anything more. We were enjoying the scenery very much, and having some baths. This beach is much better than Big Marina's one. |
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One advise, when you arrive in this beach people address to you explaining that you have to pay for the beach. Ignore them and go further to your right until you find the free beach.
Finally we took a bus (expensive again) to the second village of the island, Anacapri , along a vertiginous road. |
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We wanted to take the chair lift that leads to the highest point of the island and to admire the landscape from mount Solaro . The lift had been closed since 17 h. They didn't pass any buses towards Big Marina despite a panel saying the contrary. We decided to take a bus to Capri and then to take the funicular down to Big Marina, but the bus arrived full. Very just with time we had to go in a taxi with other tourists until the harbour of Big Marina . You have only to see the taxi cars to understand the money that is moved in this island. The taxi driver bargains but they abuse of tourists. |
You will need one day to spend here and you will miss some things. It is expensive, but it is worth the short stay. If you are lucky you will contemplate the sunset from the island or from the boat. |
