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| A little Tour of the Island of Capri |
| Insula Capreae " so named because from a distance its outline brings to mind a reclining goat. The Greeks called it Kapros (goats) ,perhaps because many goats lived on its rugged surface. Geologically speaking, the island was an extension of the peninsula of Sorrento and formed of the same limestone. Slightly wider than ten square kilometres, the island is divided between two townships Capri and Anacapri. The Greek prefix "Ana" indicates in fact its greater height. One of the first well know lovers of the island was the emperor Augustus who arrived in 29 B.C. After him the emperor Tiberius found the island replete with roads and buildings and he made these into a miniature personal kingdom. He built twelve villas and set up his imperial residence in the one dedicated to Jove (Jupiter) " Villa Jovis " . For centuries many eminent people have lived on or visited Capri, kings, queens, rich and famous have all been part of the magical atmosphere of the place and the genuine friendship of the islanders. One of these was Axel Munthe the famous Swedish physician author, he built villa S.Michele , now a museum.Also to live on the island was the German steel magnate Krupp who built the famous "Via Krupp" as well as the writer Curzio Malaparte, Lenin & Massimo Gorky and The English singer Gracie Fields, who had built a villa by the sea on the Bay of Marina Piccola. While often reality is less extraordinary than imagination, we cannot say this regarding Capri. Positioned at the mouth of the gulf of Naples and facing the breadth of the Tyrrhenian sea, the island features innumerable sea caverns of which perhaps the most famous is the "Blue Grotto". Many other breathtaking sights surround the island, for instance the "Faraglioni", the "Arco Naturale" the unspoiled beauty of Monte Solaro, standing six hundred meters above sea level and giving from the top an incredibly fantastic view of Capri itself and the gulf of Naples, all reproduced on millions of books and postcards. Another memorable gathering spot is the famous "Piazzetta" or if you wish, the drawing-room of the world. The meeting point of the island's, writers, directors, well-known actors, politicians, stylists and a good part of international jet set.Last but not least is the local cuisine, an incredibly satisfying blend of natural flavors translated by the locals into fine food for the world to enjoy together with home made wine. In many ways Capri has been left unchanged through the years, so maybe you won't find the kind of friendly fisherman or farmer welcoming you to the island like perhaps a hundred years ago, but one thing is for sure, the intoxicating beauty of the place will be there for years to come and for many to enjoy |
| Please feel free to Take a little tour of Capri with Tony click the pictures |
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| Please feel free to Take a little tour of Capri with Tony visiting |
| www.caprimia.com |
| Last updated December 2009 |
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