Capri

One of the adventures we had while on holidays in Italy was visiting the island of Capri. Early on a Friday morning we were collected by local fisherman and whisked to the island on a mildly choppy sea. Capri is located in the Tyrrhenian sea and is part of Campania. Attractions of the island include the towns Capri and Anacapri, ruins of Roman villas and the Blue Grotto. We arrived at the main port and took a bus up to Capri. It was jammed with very well dressed people sipping on coffees while people watching and frequenting designer stores. We drank in the view and the hustle and bustle for a while and then decided against taking on the crowds in Anacapri. Instead we decided to embark upon a challenging 2km walk to Villa Jovis. The walk through narrow winding streets was long and hot but so beautiful and the view made it worthwhile. There was countless villas and gorgeous gardens to gaze upon in peace, the only noise the occasional school child running home for lunch.

Villa Jovis is one of the best preserved Roman villas in Italy. It was built by emperor Tiberius in AD 27 and he ruled the Roman empire from here for 10 years until his death. Considering the size of the ruins and the breathtaking view (it's located on the second highest peak of Capri) he picked a pretty epic place to rule from. It is speculated that some very wild debauchery went down here, so it's quite in contrast to these stories that there is now a church built on the ruins. I was so impressed with the brick work of the villa and the patterns made with the different colors used, hence all the pictures I've shared! After 5 hours exploring the island we sailed around the island and stopped at the blue grotto, a sea cave where sunlight creates a blue reflection that lights up the cave. To visit it you get on a little boat and lie on your back to fit inside the entrance. 

After sailing for an hour and a half we were back to shore windswept, hair covered in salt but grinning from ear to ear. Capri is a very picturesque island but I had thought it would feel a little more deserted and secluded. If you're after the 'island' feel as opposed to that of a busy luxury shopping destination, I recommend you spend time by the beach swimming in the clear blue water or on a stroll through narrow alleys in search of roman ruins. Also if you don't want to spend a fortune while here, pop into one of the grocers in the more residential parts where food and drink are priced normally. My highlight was sailing across the sea, we sat up the front of the boat, so when we hit waves we got completely drenched in salty water, there's nothing quite like the alive feeling it gives you.

What would you like to read about next; Pompeii or Mt. Vesuvius?

xox