Capri Off The Beaten Path

.....I was just really pleased to see what's in the photo. Farmers are, in my experience, not especially tidy folk and even on pristine, twee Capri here was a pile or two of typical farm 'junk' left lying around.

It made the island and its community a bit more 'real' to me. There is an ordinary, everyday working life going on here despite the exclusive shops and the perfect gardens and the secluded villas. That was good to find out.

For a beautiful coastal walk, take the bus from Anacapri to Punta Carena. From there, you have a gorgeous 2 hour walk along the cliffs to the Blue Grotto. You pass several old (very small) forts on the way. We did this last April and passed no-one for the full length of the walk. It was as if the thousands of tourists had just disappeared and we had the island all to ourselves.

Despite the Via Krupp being officially shut for many years, you can easily do as the locals do and slip round the gate to make your way to pretty much the only public beach on the island at Marina Piccola.

I always look for the out of the way place even in one of the most in the way places in the world. One of my favorite short walks (2 km) was from Anacapri's main square, along a paved path carved into the side of Monte Solaro, the island's highest point. Passing secluded small cabins and houses with intensely cultivated vineyards and gardens wedged into the hillside. I soon found myself out of sight and sound of the busy small town with the entire tourist crowd puff gone. I was surrounded only by lemon trees, tiny sunbathing lizards and bees humming among the fragrant flowering bushes. In half an hour, the path arrived at the Belvedere della Migliara, a terrace with views of Capri's lighthouse, and just around the corner the view changed to that of the Faraglioni, rocks outcroppings rising dramatically out of the waves.

But, that is not all this excursions included a stop at a tempting place to eat just minutes from the Miglira, I found myself completely relaxed at Da Gelsomina, a restaurant accessible only by foot. The restaurant's large sheltered terrace overlooks the sea, and get this in hot weather, it even provides an open-air swimming pool.

da Gelsomina (Restaurant)
Via Migliara, 72 - 80071 Anacapri
Tel. +39 081.8371499

The photo is the view anything else to say!!!??

High up in the hills is Anacapri and the stunning Villa San Michele which houses the art collection of Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, author of the autobiography 'The Story of San Michele.' Imagine a light and airy villa, full of ancient statues, and perched high above the sea. You will be overwhelmed by the magic of this place.

You can visit and swim at the famous Blue Grotto (a big blue cave reached by boat; the sunlight passing through an underwater cavity, creates the blueness) and the Natural Arch (caused by a cave collapsing) and the Faraglioni (the world famous stacks/rock formations off the eastern tip of the island. )

There are no sandy beaches on Capri, but there are flat rocks at Marina Piccola and at the Faraglioni where one can sunbathe and swim safely; and there is a small stone beach called Bagni di Tiberio within walking distance from Marina Grande.

Via Krupp is a favourite of mine. It is a walk that takes you along a narrow routeway past villas, orange trees and bougainvillea. The views are sheer Alma Tadema and the road has been called 'the world's most beautiful.'

The Gardens of Augustus, built on top of Roman ruins, were built by Krupp. Take your camera!

The best example of typical Capri architecture (little domes and flat roofs) is found at the Charterhouse of San Giacomo, built in 1371-74, by the secretary to the Queen of Naples. Another place for photos.

Villa Jovis is probably my top favourite place. This is the island's largest Roman villa and was built for Tiberius. The ruins were only discovered in the 1700's. What is so sublime about it is the feeling of being up in the sky, looking down at faraway mountains, cliffs and rocks; and thinking: Tiberius held orgies here! Ah, and there's also a scrumptious little open-air restaurant that does steak and chips and wine.

Explore. You may encounter fuschias and poppies and a light house and......

Carpri is a little island off the south east coast. From Naples you can take a train to Sorrento where you must catch a ferry from Sorrento and in no time you arrive on the Island of Capri. This island is lovely to walk around and explore.The people here are very friendly and proud to live here.

THE ISLE OF CAPRI.
The Garden of Augustus on the top of the Isle of Capri, I took the Funicular train to the top of the mountain and walked around these wonderful gardens which were just so pretty at this time of May