Capri was the place that really blew my mind when in Italy… Indeed, the highlight of my trip was not quite Venice, Rome or Milan but that tiny little Isle which popularised capri pants.
Perhaps it was the way the calm turquoise sea blended with the bright blue sky. Or it could be the delicious lunch I had at the random restaurant. It was the whole relaxed Mediterranean resort vibes coupled with the naturally breathtaking scenery that captivated me. I thought I might want to hold my wedding there, at one of the villas on top overlooking the island, without a care in the world.
An island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Capri is a popular vacation destination in summer. It is accessible via hydrofoil or ferry from Naples, Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi.
We took a 2-hour cruise around the island and explored the Blue Grotto (Grotto Azzurra), where water inside the natural sea cave is crystalline blue due to reflection within the cavern. As the cave mouth is only a metre high, visitors need to be transferred to tiny rowboats to enter the Grotto. Imagine yourself sitting in a little boat rowing into a pitch dark cave: the echos were loud and noisy but the sight of the mysterious bright blue waters was just exhilarating!
Back on the island, we took the funicolare (tram) up the mountain into Capri town, which was dotted with fancy villas, restaurants and luxury shops. You could sit by the cafe, order your lunch and coffee and enjoy the panoramic view of the island. Alternatively you could do some shopping at Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Hermes and the likes there!
One of the must-do in Capri is to hike! We took the trail to Arco Naturale which enabled us to admire the seaside view from another vantage point. The Arco Naturale is an arch on the East Coast of Capri, and is the remains of a collapsed grotto.
The trek was quite easy and there were clear signages. If you find it strenuous as there are a lot of steps, you could even stop by a cafe along the trek to rest and enjoy a glass of lemonade.
We spent only one day at Capri and took the hydrofoil back to Naples before sunset. If the mix of glamour resort chic and rustic coastal landscape (neatly adorned with purple bougainvilleas) appeals to you, I would advise to stay a night at one of the villas on the Isle, to be able to fully enjoy Capri and perhaps go for a few other hikes.
As for the wedding, it didn’t happen. Maybe in another girl’s dream…
