Thursday 9th May 2019
Today we set off to explore the nearby island of Capri. Extremely unusually for us we had to set an alarm because the ferry was due to leave at 8:15am, a time we rarely see these days 🙂
We had pre purchased the return ferry tickets from our genial campsite host for the sum of €80.20 and we were waiting on the dock in good time for the ferry. We arrived in Capri around 10am following a change of ferry in Sorrento. The port was already extremely busy.
Setting off in search of a map Kim entered the office of HP Travel. We were given a map and information of where to get buses and boat tours etc. We were then offered a guided tour which included a boat tour around the island, all bus fares, lunch, and, as it turned out, our very own guide for the day! This for the sum of €69 each.
Within minutes of paying up our guide, Stefania, had us crossing the road to the port and after a short coffee break we were on board our tour boat for a one hour circuit of the island.
The skies were very dark and the water very choppy at times. I wondered how Kim would hold up for the hour trip but the time passed without incident 🙂 Our guide was on the bridge and took the microphone to keep us informed about the parts of the island we were seeing, but a lot of her commentary was lost in engine & wind noise. The captain showed great boat handling skills as he took us into a sea cave and through one of the rock arches while the boat was tossed about by the waves.
Boat tour safely completed we were shepherded toward a waiting coach and took the road up to Anacapri, named by the Greeks meaning Upper Capri. The top part of the road is known as the Mamma Mia Road and clings precariously to the edge of mountain.
Once off the bus, and colour once again restored to our knuckles, we proceeded to walk around Anacapri led by our trusty guide.
We arrived first at The Casa Rosa. This is a historical house built by a retired American Colonel John Clay MacKowen. It is now a museum.
The inscription in Greek over the door reads “Hello, inhabitant of city of sweet idleness”. We didn’t enter the museum but the courtyard was impressive.
Our next target was in Piazza San Nicola, a short walk away. It is the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo. Stefania explained that it was built in 1719, and is octagonal in shape and of Baroque style.
The church received a “monument” designation due to its notable majolica floor mosaic.
The church is impressive, particularly the floor, and a better vantage point to view it can be had by climbing the spiral staircase to the gallery.
Wandering back toward the bus station we passed the Chair Lift Anacapri which we declined to ride as the cloud was very low over its’ destination and to be fair it looked a little scary 🙂
Kim contented herself with a little window shopping for sandals, which Stefania told us they can make in 15 minutes flat, made to measure. I looked at the price tag of €115 and hastily made my way to lunch 🙂
Lunch completed we made our way back to the bus station to make the return journey back down to Capri town. I swear that there can be no scarier ride at Alton Towers than sitting near the front of these buses. How they do not shatter each others mirrors escapes me. The sharp intake of breath by a group of American tourists behind me was the only fun part of the trip 🙂
We passed the Capri funicular railway station and were then led along more shopping streets to see Piazza Umberto I and its’ famous clock tower. The piazza was very busy and we could see no seats to spare for a break.
We dropped down past rather expensive shops and hotels as we made our way to the Gardens Of Augustus and the Via Krupp, a historic paved footpath.
The gardens are well kept and attractive. The Via Krupp looks an impressive engineering feat but we were told that it has been closed to the public for the last ten years.
One last go on the bus brought us down to the port area and we said our goodbyes to our guide and settled to wait for our ferry back over a beer and an aperol spritz. The ferry arrived at 5:15pm and we slumped into our seats after a very tiring, but interesting, day.
It was with great relief that we only had to cross the road from the ferry to get back to the caravan and take off our shoes.
Reflecting on the day we both agreed that getting a guide for the day had been the correct way to go. We don’t think we’d have seen half of the places if we’d have gone it alone. Thanks Stefania 🙂