Capri

Capri is a limestone island of approximately 10 square kilometres in the Gulf of Naples, Campania, Italy, celebrated for some 2,000 years for its dramatic coastal scenery, vivid blue waters, and glamorous character. The island divides into two settlements: Capri town, connected to the main Marina Grande port by funicular, and the higher, quieter Anacapri. The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), a sea cave that glows with extraordinary electric-blue light, is the island's most famous attraction, accessible by rowing boat from the cave entrance on the northwest coast. The Faraglioni, three giant sea stacks rising from the water off the southeast coast, have become Capri's most photographed landmark. The Gardens of Augustus (Giardini di Augusto) in Capri town offer spectacular views over the Faraglioni and the dramatic Via Krupp zigzag pathway carved into the cliff face. Monte Solaro, Capri's highest point at 589 metres, is accessible by chairlift from Anacapri and provides extraordinary views across the Gulf of Naples and toward the Amalfi Coast on clear days. The ruins of Villa Jovis on the island's eastern promontory mark where Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire for ten years; the 2km walk from Capri town passes through macchia mediterranea scrubland with sea views throughout. Capri's main street, the Via Camerelle in Capri town, is lined with high-end boutiques and restaurants that attract an international clientele. Day trips are popular and the island can become extremely crowded between 11 AM and 5 PM in summer; staying overnight transforms the experience entirely as the day-tripper crowds depart on the late afternoon ferries.