A day on Capri

Of the three islands in the Campania archipelago, Capri is the most fascinating, drawing huge numbers of tourists and, above all, famous faces. For first-time visitors, there are certain things you simply must do and see.

by Alessia Giannino

Capri is, of the three islands in the Campania archipelago, the most fascinating, drawing huge numbers of tourists and, above all, famous faces.

For first-time visitors, there are certain things you simply must do and see.

24-hour mini-tour

The ferry arrives at Marina Grande, where in summer crowds of people of every nationality and language meet and jostle. Looking around, you’ll notice the harbour’s colourful little houses and the fishermen’s boats. A must-stop is Capri’s famous little square, the beating heart of the island: Piazza Umberto I. To reach it, simply take the funicular and cross the terrace, from which you can enjoy a truly breathtaking view. The Piazzetta is nothing more than a small square where, once, there was a fish market, and which today is regarded almost as Capri’s drawing room: you can stop for a coffee or a drink at one of its bars.

From there you can carry on towards Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Here you’ll find Gelateria Buonocore, famous for its handmade wafers made fresh on the spot and for its homemade ice cream. If you fancy it, you can go shopping in Via Camerelle, the street of luxury and craftsmanship. At the end of it lies the Punta Targara viewpoint, from which you can admire the Faraglioni, witnesses to millions of kisses. Heading back, along the lane by the famous Hotel Quisisana, you can reach the Gardens of Augustus, a true Botanical Garden home to countless varieties of flowers.

Visiting Capri in a single day is rather difficult, as there is so much to see. At this point, then, you need to make a choice: you can head to Anacapri, the island’s other town, or take a boat trip to visit the Blue Grotto. If you choose the second option, you’ll need to go back to your starting point at the harbour and book a tour. If, instead, you go for the first option, you can’t miss Villa San Michele, the former home of Axel Munthe, the Swedish doctor who arrived on Capri in 1885 and had his residence built on the ruins of an ancient chapel dedicated, fittingly, to St Michael. Today the Villa has become a museum full of archaeological finds and has recently won the title of “Most beautiful garden in Italy”, with countless plants and flowers from all over the world. Also in Anacapri, you can admire one of the symbolic sights of the Capri town, the Casa Rossa (Red House), a building painted Pompeian red, built between 1876 and 1899 at the wish of John Clay MacKowen, an American colonel, who used the house to collect archaeological finds discovered on the island.

If, then, you fancy stopping for a swim, you can head to Marina Grande beach, near the hydrofoil pier, or to the Punta Carena Lighthouse, a spot much loved by Capri locals because it’s far from the tourist crowds; here you can enjoy the sun right up until sunset. Sadly, Capri has no low, sandy coastline, so most of the loveliest spots for a dip can only be reached by boat.

Your tour ends here — all that’s left is to come back, perhaps to visit the things you haven’t managed to see yet.