Capri History
by ruki
The privileged and talked-about have been coming to Capri for two thousand years. The Emperor Augustus took a fancy to it, and swapped it for his island of Ischia, and his successor Tiberius made it his home when Rome became too hot to hold him. By all accounts he had a good time on Capri; if his Roman biographers are to be believed, he got up to all sorts of scandalous behaviour on the beautiful island. You can still visit the ruins of his villas, and appreciate the spell that charmed the Emperors.
Later, and presumably better-behaved inhabitants were the monks who built the Certosa in an attempt to defend the island from invading Saracens. The Romantics and Grand Tourists later admired the island's rocky natural beauty, while the French occupied Anacapri and fought the English here during the Napoleonic wars.
In 1826 the Grotta Azzurra was 'discovered' by a German tourist, the poet August Kopisch, and gradually the island became established as a desirable holiday haunt for artists, writers, royalty and celebrities, a status it still holds today. The port at Marina Grande was built in the twentieth century and enabled visitor numbers to rise as tourism became the island's chief industry.
Marina Grande
by iandsmith
It's not grand in that it would take an ocean liner but it's certainly grand when it comes to numbers. There's hardly a time when there's not some craft coming or going and there's no telling what size or shape it might be. There's precious few places where you can manouvre a boat around the island so the importance of Marina Grande cannot be underestimated.
When you first alight you will be among others. The tourist numbers coming and going are serious. The number of daytrippers probably almost equals the number of residents so the funicular and the buses (my preferred transport) are constantly on the go.
The ferry from Naples to Capri
by funnyl
Capri is sooooooo beautiful, everyone who goes to Italy must go there. Naples is a 2 hour train journey from Rome and then from the station we took Tram #1 to the port, and saw the beautiful boats for Capri, Ischia, Sardinia. We took a Caremar ferry which was around 10 Euros for a round trip per person. The ferry ride was awesome with the shady mountains/hills of Capri and Ischia in the distance.
Mount Solaro
by solopes
Mount Solaro is the highest point of the island, and obviously the widest sightseeing point.
The transport up and down by the funicular is interesting, however, unfortunately, you are always facing some of the most discreet areas of the island. But the summit compensates you.
The thousand words - Photos of Faraglioni
by iandsmith
Of course, with the Faraglioni, what they don't tell you is how many different angles there are to shoot this famous attraction.
Some of the key places are Via Matromania (pic 3), Garden of Augustus (pic 2), Punta Cannone, Via Krupp (pic 5), Piccola Marina (pic 4) and Monte Solare.
For Via Matromania see my tip on that walk and the same for Via Krupp (both recommended).
Punta Cannone (Cannon Point) isn't that easy to find. The signposting from Capri (the town) is minimal but eventually you'll get there and, along with Monte Solare, it offers the best views looking down onto the Faraglioni.
For an excellent view and a nice garden and a lovely rest spot you should head to the Garden of Augustus where you will join many other tourists doing the same thing, but don't let that put you off.
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JumpingJason,VTer Jmill42,Grotto Azura,Capri,Italy
Arco Naturale
Nice place to visit
Checking out the fresh fruit
