Peter D'Attoma, President of DaVinci Custom Travel & Tours

The Isle of Capri is famous the world over as a classy and beautiful holiday destination. There are few who won’t sigh and express their envy when you tell them of your visit to Capri.

Rich in history, glamour and beauty, Capri is also the perfect size for two days of exploring this gem of an island. If there is a place immersed in the blue heart of the Mediterranean Sea where myth meets history and the natural beauty is nothing less than astounding, well then, you must go to Capri. “There is no spot in the world with such delightful possibilities of repose as this little isle,” eulogized Charles Dickens.

The principal Capri tourist attraction is the island itself; its views, its rocky seashores and its scenic charm. There is plenty of good walking -- or strolling -- to be done as you explore the island. The top scenic panoramic views include the Bay of Naples, the Faraglioni Rocks and the Gardens of Augustus. The island is divided into four distinct areas: The Town of Capri, Marina Grande, Marina Piccolo and Anacapri.

Over 8,000 people live in the town of Capri, the central, more conspicuously touristy and wealthy area, while a further 7,000 live in Anacapri, which is much quieter and more typical of the Caprese people.

Capri is served by the Marina Grande on the eastern side, where you will find a fabulous assortment of private yachts dominating the berths and where ferries and hydrofoils dock; and Marina Piccola on the southern side, with its beach and restaurants.

Getting around Capri is easy, particularly if you make good use of all the island’s modes of transport -- boats, buses and the funiculare, which runs from Marina Grande (where visitors first arrive) to central Capri, takes only a couple of minutes to reach and is a wonderful way to travel to the central square. In addition, you can hop on one of the orange buses that continuously travel between the marinas of Capri and Anacapri. And best of all, there is never a long wait for another, should one be full.

Because the island is only about three miles long by one mile wide, it is very easy to explore it on foot. Don’t bother bringing a car here unless you’re loaded with luggage or have a fear of pierside parking lots on the mainland -- especially during the high season when ferries are packed.

The best place to people-watch is in the piazetta, also known as the Piazza Umberto I. This square, which sits in the center of Capri above the Marina Grande, is a great place to sip a drink, enjoy a cappuccino or simply admire the beauty and charm of this island. This piazetta has also been described as the “drawing room of the world,” and is a magnet for actors, writers, politicians, artists and the international jet-set community. Here you will also find some of the finest designer boutiques, including Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Prada, Gucci and Versace.

There is a collection of first-class hotels such as the historic Hotel Quisisana, the new Marriot Tiberio Palace and the Hotel Gatto Bianco, a lovely three-star hotel built in the 1950s. In its early years, Hotel Gatto Bianco’s restaurant was a meeting place for the island’s rich and famous. La Scalinatella, a beautiful five-star luxury hotel, is located in a panoramic and peaceful area of Capri. With whitewashed walls, lemon trees and stunning architecture, the hotel also has plenty of amenities including a garden, tennis court and a swimming pool.

A good walk is along the Via Krupp, a winding road cut into the rock in the early 1900s. This road is described as one of the most panoramic roads in the world. It will lead you to the relative tranquility of Marina Piccola on the western side of Capri. Not far from here is the most fragrant part of the island, Carthusia, the smallest perfume factory in the world.

If you want to experience Capri beyond the tourists, it’s best to stay in Anacapri. Most of the people who live and work in Capri have their homes here. It was here that the Swedish writer and doctor Alex Munthe chose to build the Villa San Michele, an imposing residence built on the ruins of an ancient Roman Villa. The gardens here, with breathtaking views of the island, are stunning and are worth a visit. Two other must-sees are the artistic delights of Casa Rossa and the Chiesa di San Michele.

Anacapri is also home to the chairlift, which transports visitors on a ten-minute ride from the Piazza Vittoria to Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island at 589 meters. At the very top there is a café and a spectacular view across the island and to mainland Italy. To descend, either take the chairlift and enjoy a serene downward drift into Anacapri, or if you feel energetic, try the 50-minute walk passing Santa Maria, a monastery created by fourteenth-century Carthusian monks.

The perfect day out on the sea is on a boat excursion on a chartered yacht or a larger tourist boat. By boat you can explore Capri’s rugged coastline, anchor for a swim in its blue seas or simply stop to enjoy its beaches or restaurants.

No visit to Capri is complete without a visit to the famous Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzura). You can visit this well-known grotto by boat excursion, by bus or on foot. Entrance into the grotto is gained through a tiny gap in the cliff face. The bay outside is filled with many small rowing boats waiting to enter, manned by Capri’s expert oarsmen. Once you enter, the cavern opens out into magnificent space where the refracted light turns the water into an intensely rich cobalt blue. The grotto is open everyday, weather permitting, from 9 a.m. to one hour before sunset.

Getting to Capri

The best way to reach Capri is by ferries that run regularly from Naples and Sorrento, either from the point of Mergellina or Molo Beverello. Journey time is a little less than one hour by hydrofoil and one hour and twenty minutes by ferry from Naples. The trip from Sorrento is much shorter, departing throughout the day from the Marina Grande and it takes about 40 minutes and costs about seven euros each way.

So, if you want to visit Capri, simply to experience its natural beauty and to experience the high life, why not make like the famous, artistic and glamorous? Take a seat among the many people who sit in the piazetta, sip a glass of chilled wine, enjoy a gelato, relax and just watch the world drift by.

My favorite restaurants in Capri

Il Tinello - Via L’Abate, 3. Phone: 081 8377673
Casa Nova - Via Le Botteghe, 46. Phone: 081 8377642
La Capannina - Via Le Botteghe, 12B-14. Phone: 081 8370732
La Pigna - Via Lo Palazzo, 30. Phone: 081 8370280

Anacapri:

La Rondinella - Via Orlandi, 295. Phone: 081 8371223
Le Arcate - Via de Tommaso, 24. Phone: 081 8373325

Beaches:

Bagni Tiberio Palazzo a Mare, Da Luigi, Faraglioni at 14 E or Da Gioia, Marina Piccola at 10 E.

Peter D’Attoma is president of DaVinci Custom Travel & Tours. He has over 25 years of planning and designing independent, custom and escorted tours of Italy for individuals, groups and incentives. For more information call 330-633-2292 or visit www.davincicustomtravel.com.