Visiting Capri: the most famous Neapolitan island in the world
Capri, Ischia and Procida are three islands belonging to the Neapolitan archipelago that you will be able to visit easily during your stay at Hotel Tiempo. Each island has its own particular vibe and will enchant you not only with lovely landscapes, but also cultural historical places of interest. There is no end of interesting spots to visit.
A mere 5 km from Naples, Capri is a small craggy limestone island of jaw-dropping beauty. Immersed in shrubbery with wooded trails, it affords spectacular views of the deep-blue Mediterranean Sea beneath.
Getting to Capri
It is really easy to reach Capri from Hotel Tiempo. It will take you 15 minutes by car or taxi to get to the Beverello Pier in the Port of Naples and from there you can catch one of the ferries or hydrofoils that leave for the islands each day.
Historical hotspots
History buffs will be able to visit a series of places steeped in history, such as the ruins of Villa Jovis where Roman emperor Tiberius spent a part of his life, and the Certosa di San Giacomo, a Carthusian charterhouse that dates back to 1371. High up on the island, visitors will be enchanted by Anacapri where they can get lost in the pretty streets of the historical town centre.
The viewpoints
From Gardens of Augustus, botanical gardens filled with ornamental flower beds, you will get a stunning view over the Mediterranean and the famous rock formations known as the Faraglioni of Capri. At the picturesque Punta Carena lighthouse you will be able to swim in clear turquoise waters and savour a cocktail at one of the beach clubs while you watch the sun sink into the sea. Another unmissable place is the most famous square in Italy – the Piazzetta di Capri, where you can sit in one of the chic coffee bars, soak up the continental atmosphere and watch the world go by.
The beaches
Once you get to Capri, make a beeline for the non-paying beach of the main port of Marina Grande: take a dip in the crystal-clear waters and top up your tan. On the other hand, you might prefer the more sheltered and smaller beach of Palazzo a Mare (the “Sea Palace” beach). There are more beaches at Marina Piccola (the “little harbour”) where the waters are just as transparent and the view over the Faraglioni sea stacks are just as inspiring. If you want to do some sunbathing after a leisurely lunch, the right beach is the Punta Carena, which is sun-drenched until twilight. On the other hand, the Gradola beach is lined with cliffs overlooking deep waters and lies close to the Blue Grotto where visitors enter in small rowing boats to admire the brilliant blue light that floods the ancient sea cave.
Food and cuisine
There is no end to the culinary specialities you could relish during a visit to Capri. One is the Caprese salad made up of slices of creamy mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil leaves. Another delicious local speciality that you could taste on the island, but also bring back home, is the Caprese cake, a moist chocolate cake made with toasted almonds.
