The Magical Isle of Capri
From
the moment you spot the enchanting coastline of Capri, the island begins to
weave its spell on you. Situated in the Mediterranean five kilometers from
the Italian mainland, Capri has defined itself over the years as the place
to escape. From the trendy, people-watching mecca of
Capri’s main town to the more subdued retreat of Anacapri, the island’s
magnetic charm has drawn visitors from all over the world.
On the day I arrived in Capri, I couldn’t help thinking of my first trip to Paris. I had a preconceived notion that Capri would be inundated with tourists and not to my liking – this is what I had thought Paris would be like as well before I fell under its spell years ago! Before visiting Capri I thought, “Isn’t that where everyone goes?” Now I know – yes, lots of people visit Capri, for good reason! What Anne-Marie and I had the pleasure of discovering during our time on the island is that, after buzzing all day with its eclectic dose of daytrippers, the island settles into its small town roots at sunset. A full day of first-rate exploring and five-star dining can be completed at a café in Capri’s main square watching the crowds board the ferries and depart for Naples or Positano.
Island Arrival and the Capri Palace
When
Anne-Marie and I sped away from the Italian mainland headed to Capri on an
early morning hydrofoil I was watching both the looming outline of Mount
Vesuvius and the spectacular Amalfi Coast disappear in our wake. When I
turned and saw the coast of Capri jutting up from the deep blue waters of
the Bay of Naples I was startled by its beauty. As the boat drew closer I
could see the lovely town of Capri perched high on the hill above the harbor
and the dramatic outline of the island’s Mount Solaro to the west. The
hydrofoils, which take about 40 minutes to travel from Naples to Capri, and
ferries (which take a little over an hour) all arrive in Marina Grande, a
busy seaside town that absorbs and distributes a daily infusion of visitors.
After falling in love with the Italian countryside I wasn’t sure what this little island in the Med would offer but as we docked and went ashore I knew I was already under its spell. We had arranged with an Italian travel service to make all of our Capri arrangements for us – they picked us up at the Naples airport, drove us to the ferry dock, collected our ferry tickets, handled our luggage and put us on the ferry to Capri. When we arrived in Capri the service rep met us at the dock, helped us with our luggage and drove us to our hotel in Anacapri. The service they provided smoothed out the bumps in Italian travel and provided us with something priceless - peace of mind.
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