The sights of Capri

★ Villa Jovis - Set majestically at the top of a 977-foot sheer bluff above the sea, this is but one of 12 villas that Roman Emperor Tiberius built on his favorite island. You can clamber around the half-decayed walls that once defined the imperial apartments, baths complex, and servant’s quarters, but none of it is in very good shape—come more for the romantic setting than the archaeology... » more

Giardini di Augusto/Certosa di San Giacomo - "Augustus' Gardens" are a small set of terraced and well-kept civic gardens bursting with flowers and overlooking Certosa di San Giacomo, a vast mausoleum of a charter house built by the Carthusian monks in the 14th century, burned by pirates in the 16th century, and evicted by the Bonaparte dynasty in the 19th century... » more

★★★ The Blue Grotto - Capri's biggest claim to fame is this long, low sea cavern whose water glows a brilliant, unearthly blue from the effect of light refracting through an entrance tunnel... » more

★ Villa San Michele - A classically inspired villa and gardens that capitalize on vistas and naturally frame the essences of Capri's beauty: crumbling walls overflowing with bougainvillea, arbored paths centered on copies of Greek bronzes, ancient columns supporting whitewashed Gothic arches, miniature temples hidden in lush gardens, and a bust-lined balustrade beyond which spill breathtaking panoramas of the island and azure waters... » more

★ Monte Solaro - At 1945 feet, Monte Solaro is Capri's highest point, sporting a romantically ruined little 1806 British castle (built medieval-style) that offers dreamy island vistas and a panorama of coastal Italy that on clear days stretches as far as Calabria to the south and north almost to Rome. ... » more

★ Chiesa di San Michele - This 18th-century church is floored with a fantastical studied majolica representation of the Garden of Eden (1761), filled with remarkable detail and dozens of exotic plants and beasts.... » more

★★ Walks & hikes - From 10-mintue strolls to two-hour hikes, Capri has some gorgeous walks, but most have a significant grade to them. Wear sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and a brimmed hat, and carry water and a snack... » more

★ Beaches & swimming - No, there aren't broad sandy beaches on Capri, but there are several lovely pebble strands and rocky coves for swimming, some of them laced with tales straight out of Homer's Odyssey... » more

★ Boat excursions - From a trip to the fabled Blue Grotto to a cruise around the island to submarine dives, there are plenty of boating trips around Capri... » more

Shopping - From limoncello liqueur to delicate perfumes, handmade sandals to hand-painted ceramics—and, of course, those famous Capri pants... » more