CAPRI ISLAND ITALY
La Piazzetta
La Piazzetta, also known as the "salotto del mondo". La Piazzetta is the heart of the city of Capri and can be easily reached from other places on the island: Anacapri and Marina Piccola. The terrace is almost entirely occupied with tables and chairs from the cafe, close between the Town Hall, the clock tower and the stairs leading to the Church of Santo Stefano, and is a meeting point for Islanders and visitors alike. The architectural design of the square incorporates the remains of Greek and Roman walls. Nearby the terrace of the funicular and the bell tower, the Skyway between the Gran Cafè and the Church in the 18th century served as a liaison between the Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace.
Gardens of Augustus
The gardens of Augustus are situated a short 10 minute walk from the Piazzetta. As these pictures show, the gardens are well manicured and simply beautiful. They are some of the most beautiful public gardens that I have ever seen.
The Giardini di Augusto (or, Gardens of Augustus) were established by Friedrich August Krupp. Krupp was an extremely wealthy German industrialist that made his home in Capri from 1898 to 1902. Krupp is also responsible for the creation of the picturesque Via Krupp which bears his name.
Blue Grotto
The darkness prevented me from getting a really good picture inside the Blue Grotto, but it really doesn't matter because a picture cannot do justice to the magical experience one has while visiting this cave. The Blue Grotto is one of the biggest draws on the island of Capri. It is a surreal experience. The peculiar iridescence of the water bathes the interior of the grotto with a serene light that is similar in color to a sapphire blue topaz.
VISIT BLUE GOTTO PAGE
Monte Solaro
Monte Solaro (Mount Solaro for us English speaking folk), at 1930 feet (589 meters), is the highest point on the island of Capri. The rocky formation is volcanic in origin and is actually and extension of the Sorrentine peninsula.
We did make the trip up to the top just around closing time. The little man at the top was not to happy to see us on the way up and his expression made that clear. Even so, he did give us 15 minutes to roam around the look-out that has been constructed at the upper terminus of the lift.
The spectacular views from the top and the fun ride up on the chair lift made the trip to the top of Mt. Solaro very enjoyable. It's a great way to kill an hour.
Old walk of Forts
There have been various watch-towers and fortification on the cliffs of Anacapri for many centuries; some of them go back to the need to protect from Saracen incursions well over 500 years ago. The restored forts that you can now hike to and visit, however, are probably largely the work of the British, allies of the Kingdom of Naples during the Napoleonic wars. Scholars are not entirely agreed on that, however; to some extent, you may also be looking at bits of earlier Bourbon fortifications from the late 1700s or later French construction and even Bourbon building from the period just after the Restoration (1815). The fort on the northwest corner of the island, Fortino Orrico, near the Blue Grotto, is the most interesting one in terms of military history. As Napoleonic battles go, the "Battle of Capri" is not exactly Austerlitz or Marengo, but it does rate a mention among Napoleon's Mediterranean victories inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Indeed, the battle does have at least one spectacular highlight.