5 good reasons to travel to the Isle of Capri

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In our long travel up and down Italy, we have already talked about all the southern regions of the Bel Paese and their calm, blue waters: the hot Sicily, the charming Amalfi coast, the wild Calabria, the young Apulia, the cool Emerald Coast. But it’s really incredible how, in such a small part of the globe, there are still many other idyllic places to discover.

A destination that can’t be missed is for sure Capri, the most known isle of the gulf of Naples.

It is a legendary idyll: Capri’s beguiling combination of fabled beauty and hedonism has charmed Roman emperors, Russian revolutionaries and showbiz stars for decades.

Today known to be an “elite” destination, it’s always packed with high-spender tourists, and thus not seen as a place for explorers. But we dare there’s at least one good reason for each kind of traveller to include Capri in the must-see list…

This island is the perfect microcosm of:

1) Calm, blue, Mediterranean appealing waters

2) A smooth cocktail of chichi piazzas and cool cafes

3) Roman ruins and traces of a millenary history

4) The Blue Grotto and the Faraglioni

5) The unspoiled, rugged seascapes off the crowded paths

Already inhabited in the Palaeolithic period, Capri was briefly occupied by the Greeks before the Emperor Augustus made it his private playground and Tiberius retired here in AD 27. Its modern incarnation as a tourist centre dates from the early 20th century.
The luminescent Blue Grotto, the impressive peaks of the Faraglioni and the Palazzo al Mare are famous among travelers, but to make you a real gift, snorkel from the beach of Marina Piccola. It is said to be the place where Odysseus nearly surrendered to the Sirens’ song...a legend that fits perfectly with this island. It’s also a hugely popular day-trip destination and a summer favourite of holidaying VIPs.

Inevitably, the two main centres, Capri Town and its uphill rival Anacapri, are almost entirely given over to tourism with the high prices that predictably follow. But explore beyond the effortlessly cool cafes and designer boutiques, and you’ll find that Capri retains an unspoiled charm, with grand villas, overgrown vegetable plots, sun-bleached peeling stucco and banks of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea. All of this overlooks the deep blue water that laps unseen into secluded coves and mysterious grottoes.

Is one of these a reason enough for you to go to Capri?

PS. You can go to Capri by car boarding it on the ferry! If you want to rent a car to visit this destination you can use Autoeurope international rent service