Bucket List: Why Capri, Italy

​I believe that no trip to Italy is complete without making a stop at this serene little Island on the Amalfi coast. In fact, my father just put out a blog detailing the best itinerary for traveling to Italy. See link here. Capri is organized as a day trip in his plan, but, if you have the time, I recommend staying 3-5 days as there is plenty of fun and relaxing activities to do on this little island gem. 

Can’t-Miss Attractions

​​If your schedule is tight and you can only stay for a day or so, you must spend some of your time experiencing these can’t-miss spots on this paradise island.

Boat Tour Around Capri             

​If you are only here for one day, you MUST take a ride on the Capri boat tour with the Blue Grotto extension package! The water is a beautiful crystal blue color, and the view of the coast is breathtaking. The captain will circumvent the island while pointing out local landmarks and historically significant locations. Along the journey you will see several natural grottoes, learn history, and maybe share a smooch in one of the most romantic places in the world. 
Brief History           
​One of the coolest parts about the tour is the history you will learn along the way. The skipper will point out several historically significant places on the island. One such place is the 300 ft cliffs where the late Roman emperor Tiberius the Tyrant would enjoy watching his enemies being thrown from. Another historical stop is the world-famous Casa Malaparte, a uniquely designed adobe home constructed for the late Curzio Malaparte, a world-renowned Italian writer, filmmaker, and diplomat. The house is quite a site to see. It resembles an orange cube with a triangle back side where stairs are built into the foundation for access to the roof. I would not necessarily refer to it as beautiful, but it is worth marveling at its idiosyncrasy from below.

Romance and Faraglioni              
If you are on Instagram, chances are you have seen these rock formations before and let me tell you, pictures do not do it justice! The Faraglioni rock formations of Capri stand nearly 300ft above the picturesque Amalfi coast enticing everyone that has the honor of seeing them. On the boat tour, you can have an up-close look at these great rocks. The captain sails through the natural archway of Faraglione di Mezzo.  Make sure to bring your significant other with you, because legend has it that if a couple kisses while going through this arch, they will have a long happy life together. 

Grotta Azzurra         
My favorite site in Capri is the Blue Grotto, or as the locals call it grotta azurra. I have never seen water with such a royal blue color like the water in this cave. The main tour boat is much too large to fit into the tight entrance of the grotto, so you must hop on a small rowboat where the skipper will paddle up to the entrance and then ask you to lay as flat as you can, as this is only way to enter the cave. Once you enter, it feels as if you have entered a fantasy land. I remember feeling as if I was in Homer’s Odyssey and a group of sirens were just about to swim up and serenade me with their entrancing voices.  But alas, there were no mermaids but there was singing. As we paddled around this seemingly new world, our skipper serenaded us with songs from the area, completing the magical ambiance of this place. 

​Phoenician steps and Memorable Chair Lift to Monte Solara

There are a few ways to get to Anacapri, the nearby city just above Capri. If you are a fan of hiking, you have to take the Phoenician steps from Marina Grande to Anacapri. The hike offers some of the best views of the island and the history behind this ancient route is intriguing. The steps are thousands of years old and long ago scala fenicia was the only trail that connected Capri to Anacapri. In order for the people of Anacapri to have freshwater, they had to collect it from a spring that is close to the current day marina. Before the carriage roads were built in the late 19th century, the only way for them to get the water was for the women to take large vases for water and walk back and forth on the nearly thousand steps balancing the vases full of water on their heads. Its incredible to think how tourist now walk it for enjoyment and relaxation, when long ago it was a tedious task necessary for survival.

Another way to get there, is by taking public transport or by using an organized tour company. Which ever way you decide to get there, you must take the chair lift from the base of Monte solara to the summit. The experience was memorable to say the least. Your adventure starts by paying the fee and waiting in a line. Once you get to the front, the attendant will place you in a certain spot so that the chair literally scoops you up. And as the chair is constantly moving, the push down a “safety” bar and send you on your way. The bar is secured by nothing and you can push it up at any time. Additionally, there are several places where the cable that controls the machine jump onto the next track which can be slightly nerve-racking. With all of this said, you cannot miss this part of the trip. The views are AMAZING! Make sure to look down at the large advertisements for local businesses placed below you. The experience is awesome and sure to be a highlight of your trip.

​Marina Piccola

​As your boat pulls into the harbor for the first time your get your first look at the beautiful but crowded marina Grande of Capri. It is nice to spend some time here and check out some of the shops, but if you have time and you want a truly relaxing and beautiful experience, you need to take a short taxi ride over to Marina Piccola. This is a much smaller marina and, in my opinion, a much more beautiful one as well.

​Due to its location, the bay is almost always warm, even in the dead of winter. Also, the bay is located very close to the gorgeous Faraglioni rock formations which makes for some great Instagram pictures. Furthermore, the beach and marina are far less crowded, making it perfect for relaxing on the Amalfi coast. ​

More Things To Do

This island has plenty to do and if you have a few days to spend here, reserve a cute little Airbnb and take some time to experience more that this island has to offer.  Here is a list of a few more things I recommend that you do while in Capri:
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*Pro Tip: if you do rent an Airbnb and they have a glass cover for their stove, do not cook on the glass surface. Trust me Turtle and I learned the hard way. There was glass everywhere! *

​​People Watching in the Piazzo

As someone who has a degree in anthropology and is fascinated in experiencing new cultures, I have to admit that I love people watching. People watching is something that is fascinating in all parts of the world and Capri is no exception. If you like people watching too, you should go down to Piazzo Umberto I and grab a sfogliatelle pastry and watch as locals shop for giant lemons twice the size of my head, locals walking with their families dressed to the nines to attend church, or tourists getting ripped off at local stores because they do not know how to bargain (or may be the tourist is you). 

Beach Combing the Coast

​You may not think it, but the Amalfi coast is a great place to beach comb. While walking the beautiful shores, you can find cool sea glass, pottery shards and some pretty shells if you are lucky. Even if you find nothing, it is well worth a stroll on this gorgeous coastline. 

More Hiking Trails

​If you love hiking, like my dad and I, you will love Capri. There are some beautiful hiking options on this island, many of which I had no prior knowledge of and will have to try when I revisit Capri. Here is a list of a few:

Arco Naturale Hike
There is a really cool hike from Piazetta in Capri to Arco Naturale, a natural arch similar to the ones found in Utah. The view from the arch is beautiful and well worth the hike. From there it slowly loops back showing some beautiful views of the coast and the Faraglioni rocks. Overall, the 2.4-mile loop of pure beauty is well worth doing if you have the time.

Villa Jovis Hike
Another cool hike on Capri is the moderate uphill 45-minute hike from the Piazetta to Villa Jovis, the ancient vacation home of the infamous Emperor Tiberius. The villa is over 2,000 years old and nearly everything is still intact. The architecture is impressive including the large cisterns used to collect rainwater. There once stoop a primitive lighthouse that showed visitors where the villa was. Also on the property is a famous cliff where Tiberius would gleefully watch as his enemies were pushed off to their deaths. Additionally, remember to do some research to find out when the site is open to the public. 

photo from Capri.com

Sentiero dei Fortini
The longest, but arguably coolest, hike on the island is the Path of the Little Forts. This trail is three hours long and spans from Grotta Azurra to the lighthouse of Punta Carena. The trail hugs the coast showing some gorgeous views of the coast. Along the way, the trail intersects with three old forts built by the British in the early 1800s. The first fort is the Orrico Fort, located 300 meters from the blue grotto. The fort has thick stone walls in a semicircular shape. There are places where two cannons once stood ready to defend the area. The second fort is the Mesola Fort. This fort is circular in shape and similar in construction to the other forts. However, the most unique thing about this area are the traces of primitive man that have been found such as primitive bone utensils and remnants of an ancient stairway. I think it is worth taking a look around and seeing if you can find any artifacts on the surface. The final fort you will see is the Pino fort. This fort has a circular outer ring with a rectangular inner ring for added protection. 

​This is the closest for to the Lighthouse of Punta Carena. Make sure and take some time at this lighthouse. If you took the aforementioned boat tour, you had a glimpse of it from the water, but it is even cooler up close.  This light house is pretty, but a can’t-miss experience is watching the sun set behind the light house. It is arguably the best view on the island for seeing the sunset. 

​Instagramable as a MOFO