The Italian island of Capri, situated off the coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula, can certainly lay claim to being the oldest resort in the Mediterranean. The island served as a resort during the age of the Roman Republic; ancient Roman ruins can still be found scattered across the island.
These ruins, combined with the island’s ruggedly spectacular scenery, make Capri one of the Mediterranean’s most fascinating islands. The two settlements of Capri Town and Anacapri serve as the major tourist hotspots with their chic restaurants and stylish hotels. Venture into the surrounding areas, however, and a rural landscape emerges full of traditional charm and stunning scenery.
Capri cannot lay claim to wide expanses of golden sand; the island’s small yet attractive beaches can be found in small nooks and coves carved into the rocky cliffs, many accessible only by boat. The Marina Piccola and Bagni di Tiberio beaches are two of the most popular. La Fontelina, meanwhile, is perhaps the islands most famous beach, situated at the foot of the iconic Faraglioni rocks.
The island is home to the ruins of numerous Roman villas, the most notable of which is Villa Jovis, the former residence of Emperor Tiberius. Capri’s other must-see destination is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave of legendary beauty. To access the cavern, tourists must lie down in a boat while entering through the grotto’s low opening.
Capri can be reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples, Positano, Sorrento or Amalfi. Ferries from Naples take about 80 minutes, or 40 minutes from Sorrento. Hydrofoils are slightly more expensive, but cut the travel time in half.