An Imperial Resort
Capri has been a place to relax for at least 2,000 years. There are the remains of a dozen villas built by various emperors. Emperor Tiberius lived here for the last ten years of his life. What has attracted people to Capri since early times? A temperate climate, magnificent vistas, lush vegetation, and limpid blue water.
The
topography of the Isle of Capri is like a hyperbolic paraboloid. OK, so
I got my degree in math. Other hyperbolic paraboloids are saddles,
Pringles, and the "Flying Diaper" entryway that used to stand in front
of the
System Development Corporation in Santa Monica. Capri has two large,
high limestone masses. The smaller one, in the east, is Monte Tiberio.
Tiberius used to have his enemies thrown down from its heights. The
larger one, in the west, has a set of mountains, the tallest of which is
Monte Solaro. Behind it is a high plain with the town of Anacapri on it.
In the saddle, is the town of Capri. The land slopes down northwards to the Marina Grande, and southwards to Marina Piccola.
Marina Grande has regular ferry service to Sorrento and Naples. We came in from Sorrento, and rode the funicular up to the town of Capri. The Piazzetta, dominated by its clock tower, was alive with tourists. The views down to the harbor and up at the cliffs were breath-taking. A bus took us up the winding road scratched into the rock. We were in Anacapri, looking down at Capri and Marina Grande.
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 Marina Grande |
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 Can you spot the road? |
 The funicular from Marina Grande to Capri is in the middle. |
 The name of the Faraglioni reminded us of the Farallones off San Francisco. |
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 We couldn't decide between these two pictures, so you get both. |
 Caesar Augustus had gardens here. |
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 The footpath down to the water is named the "Via Krupp." |
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 As everywhere in Italy, wine is produced on Capri. |
After our tour of Anacapri with its spectacular views out and down, we returned to Marina Grande and took a boat ride around the island.
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 This bronze boy greets all visitors to Capri. |
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 The entrance to the famous Blue Grotto was clogged with little boats waiting an hour for their couple of minutes inside. |
 Grotta Meravigliosa |
 We visited the Green Grotto instead. |
 Punta Carena Lighthouse |
 Faraglione Mezzo has a hole through it. |
 12th century Norman watchtower |