The Isle of Capri

The Most Beautiful Places on Earth

Arco Naturale

 

The Isle of Carpi is the most romantic place I've ever been.  Even my travel buddy, who is not prone to romance, sighs whenever we reminisce about our three days there.

 This Mediterranean jewel is located off the coast of Naples, Italy.  The limestone cliffs anchoring each end of the island rise out of the sea sending everyone on the boat into a fit of rapture.  Once you land at the harbor, the whitewashed buildings decorated with tiles and pots of geraniums soften the drama.  Almost all the hotels have an incredible view.  Our first evening there, we did nothing but sit on the terrace and sigh.  And sigh some more.

As beautiful as the natural setting is, the history of the island is fascinating.  The Roman Emperor Tiberius spent the last ten years of his life here and stories abounded of his cruelty and debauchery.  Many historians, however, doubt these tall tales.  Tiberius fled here in fear of assassination.  He became reclusive and lived a quiet life behind his villa walls which can be seen in the photograph above.  Did he throw an enemy or two over the cliffs?  Who knows?

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Capri was ruled by Naples.  It was constantly being attacked by pirates, the most notorious of them being Barbarossa who plundered and burned Capri, not once, but seven times in the 1500's.  In 1850, a French antique dealer named Jean Jacques Bouchard discovered Capri and thereafter, it became a popular tourist resort.  The island is a wonderful place to unwind and is great for hiking.  Trails lead you to the ruins and to several caves.  The Blue Grotto is known the world over, but we found it to be disappointing.  It's the breathtaking views that pushed Capri to the top of my Most Beautiful Places on Earth list.  I didn't want to leave.