Faraglioni di Capri
Capri is pure romance: breathtaking views, the most intense blue sea you have ever seen and even the fragrance of lemon blossoms that inebriates the air. The luminescent Grotta Azzurra, the impressive peaks of the Faraglioni and the Palazzo al Mare are famous among travellers, but to give yourself a real treat, go snorkelling from the beach of Marina Piccola. It is said to be the place where Odysseus almost surrendered to the song of the Sirens. A legend that fits perfectly with this inviting island.
The ferry docks at the port of Marina Grande, which was once a small fishing village with colorful houses and nets drying in the sun. In Marina Grande there are bars, restaurants, pizzerias and souvenir shops.
Behind this building there are the ticket offices of all the maritime and bus companies and the funicular station.
The funicular is a cheap and fast way to reach the Piazzetta of Capri in 5 minutes. It is the true heart of the island, with its breathtaking views. A few meters away there is also the bus station that leads to the nearby town of Anacapri.
In Marina Grande you can also opt for a boat tour of the island which will show all the beauties of the island that can only be seen from the sea, such as the various caves including the famous Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), which can only be visited at low tide.
I Faraglioni di Capri
The first image that comes to mind about the Island of Capri is certainly Faraglioni: three rock peaks which rise from the sea a few meters from the coast.
There are 3 equally valid ways to see the Faraglioni.
The image we all have in mind is obviously the one from the sea. A boat tour will allow you not only to see the stacks up close, but even, in case of calm seas, to pass through the “Tunnel of Lovers“, a natural arch in the central rock.
The “cheaper” but equally valid alternatives are to see the Faraglioni at sea level from the beach of Marina Piccola, located exactly behind Marina Grande and easily reachable from the central Piazzetta of Capri.
The quickest and most fascinating way to see the Faraglioni, however, is probably from the panoramic terrace of the Gardens of Augustus.
Augustus Gardens of Capri
If you have a few hours to visit Capri and want to take home the most classic photo with the Faraglioni in the background, then a stop at the Giardini d’Augusto is a must. The Gardens of Augustus consist of a series of flower terraces overlooking the Faraglioni of Capri and the Bay of Marina Piccola on one side. Around the Certosa Valley, Monte Tuoro, Monte Tiberio and Monte San Michele.
Visiting Anacapri
Anacapri is one of the two municipalities into which the island of Capri is divided. It occupies the highest part of the island and in ancient times it was connected to the port with a long staircase still accessible with its 921 stone steps, the Phoenician staircase. It is the quietest and least “vip” area of Capri, full of small artisan shops, flower-filled squares and completely pedestrian stone alleys.
The quickest way to reach Anacapri is by taking the direct bus which leaves a few meters from the main square of Capri.
The Anacapri chairlift is the best way to see the most beautiful panorama offered by the island. We are talking about the viewpoint at the top of Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island, 589 meters above sea level. Here the view has no boundaries: below the whole island of Capri, in front of Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples and the Sorrento Peninsula, in the distance the mountains of Calabria, the Apennines and the Amalfi Coast.
Anacapri lighthouse
For those who particularly love exploration, it is recommended to go to the extreme tip of the island, up to the Anacapri lighthouse, which is located beyond the village of the same name.
In particular, it is recommended to reach the Anacapri lighthouse at sunset, to admire the sun disappearing behind the horizon. This is certainly the most beautiful point on the island to admire the view.
The Anacapri lighthouse is relatively easy to reach on foot, but at least for the return trip it is advisable to take the bus that takes the traveler back to the center of Anacapri.
The Phoenician Staircase of Capri
To best conclude the one day Capri tour, the traveler should absolutely return to the port of Marina Grande via the “Scala Fenicia“. These are 921 steps that connect the port of Marina Grande with Anacapri, once the only access route to reach the “high” municipality of the island.
It is called this because it was thought that the Phoenicians had built it, but in reality it was the Greeks who chiseled the steps into the rock, around the 7th and 6th centuries BC. The view of Marina Grande from the Scala Fenicia is also breathtaking.
For millennia the ladder was used to transport water and goods from the port of Marina Grande to Anacapri: women were responsible for this task, capable of climbing the almost thousand steps with heavy vases full of water balanced on their heads. Today it is certainly a slightly tiring, but free way to return to the base, admiring the views and passing through history.
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