The Island of Capri

Next, my travels in Italy took me to the Island of Capri.  I really wanted to go here but it wasn't a planned trip on my route because I knew it was pretty far from Naples and I had to take a bus and then ferry.  Not to mention that to get around the steep cliffs, I would need a tour guide of some sort.  But I found a tour bus and signed up for it.  I was so excited.  Plus, I felt that I could allow myself to relax and have a local show me around. 

So indeed, I took a bus to The Port of Naples and from there my tour group got on the ferry.  The ferry ride was an hour long.  I got some much need sleep in on the way there.  Here is a map to show you where Capri is in reference to Naples.  Also, pay attention to Sorrento, because I will be featuring a post from there as well.  If you ever get a chance (I wish I did) go to the Island of Ischia.  It is less touristy than Capri and just as stunning!


Source

My rating of Capri

So we exited the ferry and here is my first view of Capri!







Our tour guide, Aldo was great.  He was very knowledgable and never ran out of energy.  He also made it clear that natives stress the vowel of "a" not "i" in the word "Capri."  The views from the shore alone were beautiful.  But Aldo had plans for us to get on a bus immediately and make the most of our time by heading to the other side of the island.  The plan was to make it to the town of Anacapri which is high in the mountains. I'm glad I went with a tour because we needed a bus to navigate the tiny streets that snaked around the cliffs.  It was scary watching the bus squeeze between the cliff and other cars.  And forget about looking over the edge of the cliff.   Eeek!  I had so many beautiful pictures from the few hours that I spent in Anacapri, so I'm actually going to save them for the next post.  But the views I got were breathtaking and the best views on my entire trip to Italy.  

After visiting the town of Anacapri, we headed to our restaurant for lunch.  Before we made it to the restaurant our bus was stopped by police.  There was a funeral going on and a row of about 100 people were walking down the street with the coffin in hand for a loved one that had died in their town.  It seemed like everyone knew who the departed was.  Every face in the procession was visibly upset.  They all seemed to really care for each other.





After seeing the procession walk by and being confronted with a bit of reality, we headed to Ristorante La Pigna, which means pinecone in Italian.  There are many of these pinecones on the island.  Aldo told us the story of the restaurant and how they make all the pasta from scratch and the cheese!  My meal consisted of two kinds of pasta including a ravioli with cheese, fresh calimari and salad, and vanilla ice cream for dessert.  This meal was amazing and I got a chance to chat with all of the people on the tour.  I even met a couple from a town near where I grew up.  How crazy!






After dinner, I snapped a few shots of the island. 




So now Aldo offered to give us a walking tour.  We walked all along town and got to see the beautiful sights.  He pointed out that Capri used to be only a destination for the rich and famous, but now it has become more affordable.  You can tell by all of the designer stores and shopping!  We stopped in to a little shop to try out some of the famous limoncello liquor.  They had so many kinds.  Even a creme kind.  And lemon chocolate, soap, and honey.  All kinds of lemony goodness!  





Aldo mentioned that Capri is known for the amazing perfume it produces.  I'm not a big perfume fan but I really like light scents and sprays.  He showed us the factory on the island that produced the aromatic Carthusia perfume. Below is the small factory and some lovely hanging lavender.  You could try out all of the scents but the best scent was called "Mediterranean" and leaves the light and refreshing scent of green tea and lemon on your body.  I'm not exaggerating, this perfume is amazing.  You can even order some on Carthusia.it.  I wish you could all smell your computers right now!  I had to take some home with me.





Just near the perfume factory, Aldo lead us to this small but beautiful botanical garden, high above a cliff.  I took this opportunity to also snap some shots over the cliff.  Gorgeous!  






Below, Aldo pointed out that this tan hotel was one where all the rich people stayed.  And it was about $1000 a night.  Damn, I wish I could ball like that.  


Below is just another beautiful hotel on Capri.



Capri reminded me a lot of my trip to Santorini.  Though, I actually had time to explore the island in Capri.  I spent 8 hours on Capri, but I could have stayed weeks.  It was breathtaking.  Perfect weather I might add. And at the end of September, it was towards the end of the tourist season. So while there were plenty of tourist, there weren't as many.  If I had more time I would have visited the Blue Grotto by boat which is absolutely stunning I've heard.  You lay down in the boat to get into the grotto and sometimes they let you swim in it.  I would go back to Capri in a heartbeat.  

Next Stop: Anacapri From The Clouds (You don't want to miss this either!)

Anyone lucky enough to have traveled to Capri?  Anyone ever smell the perfume??



27 comments :

  1. Ahh! I loved looking at these pictures and knowing where you were! I adore Capri. We did go to the Blue Grotto and it was so beautiful and just amazing. No one swam in it but it was still fun!

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    1. I know I wish I could have done the Blue Grotto, it sounded awesome!

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  2. I was just in Capri too. You had a beautiful day and your pics are fabulous. It was dreary and rainy at the beginning of the day and the sea was very choppy. The boat tour we were signed up for was cancelled because of the conditions. My pictures are not good because it was so overcast. We enjoyed our walking tour around the island and saw some of the same sites you did. We also had a nice lunch. It is a beautiful place and your post really shows it off. Glad you enjoyed it and we did too. I wanted to go to Anacapri and did not get to so I look forward to your post on it.

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  3. This is very inspiring post. Now I want to go to Capri on my our next traveling to Europe.
    Thank you for sharing this.

    Ellya
    @CuriositaEllya

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  4. Wow, gorgeous tour of Capri! And the food looks delicious! Thank you for sharing your trip! Have a happy day!

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  5. Oh wow, such beautiful pictures. Thanks for the tour. I would love for you to link up to my Inspire Me party that will be live this afternoon at 2:30 Pt. www.astrollthrulife.net Hope to see you there. Hugs, Marty

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  6. Officially home sick...my eyes welling with tears over how much I love Italy. Plus a bit biased since I grew up in Napoli and love Capri, but one of my favourite posts for #TravelTuesday! Thank you for sharing so much about your trip!

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    1. Awe. Glad you liked it. Thanks for reading Bonnie!

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  7. Beautiful!! I've not made it there, but did go to Sorrento, which we loved! If I ever make it back that way, this definitely looks like an incredible place to visit!

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  8. Brittany, I can't wait to read more about Ischia! Capri is so charming and I loved how Aldo took you around and showed you the inside scoop. I was totally drooling over that plate of pasta :)

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    1. Amy, I didn't get to go to Ischia, but I wish I did! Aldo was the shit, he was a great tour guide. And that homemade pasta...omg!

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  9. Oh Capri! We also spent a day here while we were staying in Positano. We climbed to the top of Tiberius' villa and thought that the wind might blow us over the cliff. I could sit in the piazza, sip limoncello and people watch all day.

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  10. Ah, so beautiful!! The cliffside villages are just so nice. I was in Nice, Eze-Village, and Monte Carlo in August and loooooved the relaxation and beauty of villages by the sea!

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    1. Ooh how was Nice? It amazes me how many cities Italy has to offer visitors!

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  11. Stunning photos and I really feel like I got to know the Island. Good coverage!

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  12. Hi and wow how beautiful Italy is! I went to the island of Capri back in 1991 and it looks like it hasn't changed to much! I do miss it and I hope to go back some day to visit again. Thanks for sharing at the rooted in thyme party.
    Julie at julieslifestyle.blogspot.com

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  13. It's time for another trip to Italy and I will definitely include Capri!!
    Love calamari, limoncello and those views!

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    1. I know, doesn' that just sound like the perfect day, calamari, limoncello and Capri. Missing it already!

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  14. Capri is so picturesque, especially the blue water in your photos. I notice you rated it high in lots of categories, too. And if life gives you lemons, make limoncello.

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  15. Hi Brittany, thanks for your sweet comment on my blog for the mini crocheted pumpkins I made. If you would like to learn to crochet a good way to learn is to visit your local yarn shop, they sometimes have classes to learn how to crochet. You could also go on youtube and there you can learn how to hold a crochet hook and learn the single and double crochet stitches and then practice with acrylic yarn and a crochet hook. You could also learn for a crochet book. I hope that I have helped you a little. Take care and have a great day. :0)
    Julie from julieslifestyle.blogspot.com

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  16. Hi Brittany, I loved seeing pictures of your trip and it makes me want to go back! Years ago we spent several days in Positano and took a ferry to Capri for the day. That is such a beautiful part of Italy.
    xx,
    Sherry

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  17. It really does look amazing, and what perfect weather to have?!? :)

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    1. My god the weather was amazing in Capri at the end of September.

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  18. I love your traveling posts Brittany. They bring back so many memories of all the places I visited when my husband was stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany many years ago. Seeing your posts; somehow it seems like only yesterday I was traveling where you are now.

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I love to hear from readers! Questions and comments welcome. I try to respond to everyone (I respond back to your comments on the comments page so check back for a response). Thanks for reading!

-Brittany Ruth