Capri ( , ; ) is an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples in the Campania region of Italy. A resort destination since the time of the Roman Republic, it is known for its natural beauty, historic sites, and tourism industry.

The island is characterized by its rugged limestone landscape, sea stacks (Faraglioni), coastal grottoes including the renowned Blue Grotto, and high cliffs overlooking the sea. Notable features include the harbours of Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, the panoramic Belvedere of Tragara, the ruins of Roman imperial villas such as Villa Jovis, and the towns of Capri and Anacapri, the latter situated higher up the slopes of Monte Solaro, the island's highest point.

Administratively, Capri is part of the Metropolitan City of Naples within the Campania region. The island is divided into two municipalities (comuni): Capri and Anacapri.

Etymology

The origin of the name Capri is uncertain. It may derive from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'wild boar'. Ancient Greek colonists from Magna Graecia were the first recorded inhabitants, calling the island (). Alternatively, the name could come from the Latin , meaning 'goats'.

History

Antiquity

thumb|The ruins of [[Villa Jovis, completed by Emperor Tiberius in AD 27]]

Archaeological evidence indicates human presence on Capri dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The Roman historian Suetonius recounts that when workers excavated the foundations for Emperor Augustus's villa, they discovered giant bones and stone weapons, which Augustus displayed in his residence, the Palazzo a Mare. (Modern analysis suggests these may have been fossils of large extinct mammals).

The Roman poet Virgil, in the Aeneid, referred to the island being inhabited by Greek settlers from the Ionian Islands (the Teleboi). The geographer Strabo noted that Capri anciently had two towns, later reduced to one.

Emperor Augustus developed Capri as a private resort, building villas, temples, and aqueducts, and planting gardens. His successor, Tiberius, constructed twelve villas on the island according to Tacitus. The most famous, Villa Jovis, is one of the best-preserved Roman villas in Italy. In AD 27, Tiberius moved permanently to Capri, governing the Roman Empire from the island until his death in AD 37. Later, in AD 182, Emperor Commodus exiled his sister Lucilla to Capri, where she was subsequently executed.

Middle Ages and Modern Era

thumb|left|[[Certosa di San Giacomo, a Carthusian monastery founded in 1363]]

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Capri came under the control of the Duchy of Naples. The island suffered raids by pirates and Saracens. In 866, Emperor Louis II granted the island to the Duchy of Amalfi. In 987, Pope John XV established the Diocese of Capri, initially as a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Amalfi. Capri remained a diocese until 1818, when it was absorbed into the Archdiocese of Sorrento. It is now listed as a titular see.

By the end of the conflict for the kingdom of Naples between Louis II d'Anjou and Ladislaus, the fort of Capri, controlled by Louis' garrison, was besieged by Ladislaus' forces and captured in July 1399. The French garrison escaped death by joining French marshal Boucicaut's passing ships on their way to fight the Turks in the Aegean Sea. sea.

In 1496, King Frederick IV of Naples established administrative parity between the settlements of Capri and Anacapri. Pirate raids intensified during the 16th century; admirals Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha and Turgut Reis captured the island for the Ottoman Empire in 1535 and 1553, respectively.

The French antiquarian Jean-Jacques Bouchard visited in the 17th century and is considered one of the first modern tourists; his diary provides valuable insights.

19th Century to Present

thumb|Villa Behring, where [[Maxim Gorky lived from 1909–1911.]]

During the Napoleonic Wars, French troops occupied Capri in January 1806 but were ousted by the British in May. Britain established a naval base (a "Second Gibraltar") but caused damage to archaeological sites during construction. The French recaptured the island in 1808 and held it until 1815, when it was returned to the Bourbon Kingdom of Naples.

In the 19th century, naturalist Ignazio Cerio catalogued the island's flora and fauna. His work was continued by his son, Edwin Cerio, an author and engineer known for his writings on Capri life.

From the later 19th century, Capri became an increasingly popular resort for European artists, writers, and expatriates. It gained a reputation as a tolerant haven, attracting wealthy gay men and lesbians seeking a more open life than elsewhere in Europe. Notable figures who lived or spent significant time on the island include John Ellingham Brooks, Somerset Maugham, Norman Douglas, Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen, Christian Wilhelm Allers, Emil von Behring, Axel Munthe, Louis Coatalen, Maxim Gorky, Oscar Wilde (briefly), Compton Mackenzie, Romaine Brooks, Dame Gracie Fields, and Lenin (hosted by Gorky in 1908). Queen Victoria of Baden was a frequent visitor. German industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp funded archaeological work but left after a scandal involving accusations of homosexual orgies.

Today, Capri remains a major tourist destination, particularly popular during the summer months, attracting visitors from Italy and abroad.

Geography

thumb|Location of Capri in the Gulf of Naples

Capri is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea at the western entrance to the Gulf of Naples, approximately 5 km from the mainland tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. The island has an area of 10.4 km<sup>2</sup> (4.0 sq mi). The terrain is mountainous, consisting primarily of limestone and sandstone; steep cliffs dominate much of the coastline.

Administration

The island is divided into two municipalities (comuni):

  • Capri
  • Anacapri

These are administratively part of the Metropolitan City of Naples, which is part of the Campania region.

Main sights

thumb|left|The [[Blue Grotto (Capri)|Blue Grotto]]

<imagemap>

File:Capri sights.png|520px|center|thumb|A clickable map showing some of the most important sights on Capri. (Use icon on the right to enlarge)

rect 49 952 212 1050 Punta Carena Lighthouse

rect 701 575 898 725 Monte Solaro

rect 1157 562 1325 636 Via Krupp

rect 1599 396 1768 497 Arco Naturale

rect 1627 101 1789 182 Villa Lysis

rect 1772 174 1897 249 Villa Jovis

rect 1553 765 1731 866 Faraglioni

rect 774 206 983 286 Villa San Michele

rect 236 42 408 128 Blue Grotto

rect 270 682 466 881 Capri Philosophical Park

rect 1725 544 1910 663 Villa Malaparte

rect 1346 552 1551 618 Certosa di San Giacomo

rect 475 246 765 518 Anacapri

rect 1338 500 1514 554 Capri (town)

rect 1287 429 1462 501 Piazzetta

rect 1191 185 1446 299 Marina Grande

rect 1101 644 1307 699 Marina Piccola

rect 1151 499 1318 561 Gardens of Augustus

rect 294 552 483 671 Torre Materita

  1. the following entries do not yet have articles:
  2. rect 129 128 344 211 Villa Damecuta
  3. rect 827 90 1007 180 Bagni di Tiberio
  4. rect 1568 523 1710 643 Monte Tuoro
  5. rect 1335 309 1537 422 Monte San Michele
  6. rect 771 369 937 511 Monte Cappello
  7. rect 1793 66 1990 171 Monte Tiberio

</imagemap>

Notable sights include:

Economy

thumb|left|upright=1.35|Panoramic view from the Piazzetta in Capri town.

thumb|upright|Grotta Meravigliosa sea cave.

Capri's economy is mostly based on tourism. The island has been a major resort destination since the 19th century, attracting visitors from Italy and internationally. During summer, particularly July and August, the island experiences a large influx of tourists, including many day-trippers arriving by ferry from Naples and the Sorrento Peninsula. The central Piazza Umberto I, commonly known as the Piazzetta, is the hub of social life and tourism in Capri town. The international luxury linen brand 100% Capri originated on the island.

Culture

In arts and literature

thumb|upright|[[John Singer Sargent: Head of a Capri Girl, 1878]]

During the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century, Capri became a popular destination and residence for European artists, writers, and other prominent figures. August Kopisch's account of his 1826 rediscovery of the Blue Grotto significantly boosted the island's profile.

Painters John Singer Sargent, Frank Hyde, and Charles Caryl Coleman worked on the island. Writers who set works on Capri or lived there include Norman Douglas (South Wind), Compton Mackenzie (Vestal Fire, Extraordinary Women), Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen (Et le feu s'éteignit sur la mer), Somerset Maugham ("The Lotus Eater"), and Maxim Gorky. Notable memoirs set on the island include Axel Munthe's The Story of San Michele, Edwin Cerio's Aria di Capri, and Shirley Hazzard's Greene on Capri: A Memoir about Graham Greene. Claude Debussy titled one of his préludes Les collines d'Anacapri (1910).

Annual events

Capri hosts numerous annual events, including religious festivals, cultural happenings, and traditional celebrations. Key events include:

  • Festival of San Costanzo (patron saint of Capri town) – May 14
  • Festival of Sant'Antonio (patron saint of Anacapri) – June 13
  • Settembrata Anacaprese (Anacapri harvest festival) – September
  • Capri Art Film Festival
  • Capri Tango Festival
  • Eventi Villa San Michele Locally, it is held that () is a specialty, and numerous versions are cooked, including with prosciutto or pancetta, and fats including prosciutto fat, oil or butter. It is almost always made with short tube pasta.

Transport

thumb|Marina Grande, the main harbour of Capri

thumb|Typical open-top taxi used on the island

Capri is accessible via ferry and hydrofoil services operating from Naples (ports of Molo Beverello and Calata di Massa), Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. Services also run from Ischia and other locations during the summer months.

Boats arrive at Marina Grande. From there, the Capri Funicular ascends to Capri town centre (the Piazzetta). A public bus network connects Marina Grande, Capri town, Marina Piccola, Anacapri, the Blue Grotto, and other points. Taxis, often open-top limousine-style cars, are also available.

Vehicle access for non-residents is heavily restricted for much of the year (typically April to November), due to the island's narrow roads. Visitors generally rely on public transport, taxis, or walking.

Airports

The island does not have an airport. The nearest airports are:

  • Naples International Airport (NAP)
  • Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport (QSR)

Twin towns – sister cities

Capri municipality is twinned with:

  • Crosby, Merseyside, United Kingdom
  • Bethlehem, Israeli-administered regions (Palestinian Authority)

See also

  • List of islands of Italy

References

  • (Municipality of Capri)
  • (Municipality of Anacapri)
  • Capri Tourism official website