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 Regions in Italy : Region Campania : Province Napoli: Anacapri
Napoli in Campania

Anacapri (NA)

Region Campania, Italy

One of the communes situated on the fascinating island of Capri, Anacapri is surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and garden terraces overlooking the Mediterranean, and can easily be reached by hydrofoil from Naples to Capri, then 15 minutes by car or bus. In the territory of the comune is the celebrated Blue Grotto.
Info: Altitude: 275 m a.s.l -- Population: about 6,000 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 80071 -- Phone Area Code: 081 -- Patron Saint: St. Anthony of Padua celebrated on 13 June -- Frazioni & Località: Villa Damecuta, Villa San Michele -- Official Website: http://www.comune.anacapri.na.it/

History: The island was connected to the mainland in Paleolithic Period, and was inhabited in antiquity by Greeks and Romans. Since when Emperor Augustus built here a villa, the island became a fashionable resort for the patricians, and Tiberius chose it as his residence from 27 to 37 AD. Then after the fall of the Roman Empire it was reduced to a fishermen's site, often attacked by Saracens and pirates. A revival began in the 18th century, with the coming of the Bourbon monarchs to the throne of Naples, and in that period palaces and churches were built. Since the late 18th century travellers from Northern Europe, poets, musicians and artists, began to include Capri among their itineraries, and with the rediscovery of the Blue Grotto visitors came in ever growing numbers, and many chose Capri as a residence or built their fine mansions on the island, making it a world-famous destination.

What to see:

  • the Villa San Michele and the Axel Munthe Museum, created by Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe (1857-1949), who spent on the island 56 years of his life: he bought a large area of land on Mount Barbarossa and made it a sanctuary for migratory birds.
  • the Sentiero dei Fortini, a route among rocky cliffs touching the small fortresses built in Saracen times and still used during the Napoleonic wars, from Punta Carena to Punta dell'Arcera, below the road leading from Anacapri to the Blue Grotto Grotta Azzurra.
  • the church of Sant'Antonio di Padova, rising on top of the so-called Phoenician Stairway, built in the 18th century over a previous chapel dedicated to the Saint; it was a mariners' church, and meeting place of fishermen at sunset.
  • the Grotta Azzurra, which can be reached from Anacapri with 50 minutes walking, on of the many wonders of this otherwise wonderful island. The grotto is a cavity whose only light comes from the very small entrance, creating the legendary blue reflections on the walls and a strange silver luminescence of the sunrays reflected from the white sandy bottom.

    • Events

  • on 12-13 June, patron feast with a procession carrying the statue of the St. Anthony along the alleys of the town, with flower decorations prepared in all the quarters, and children following the procession dressed in Franciscan tunics: on the occasion, children are presented with small loaves of bread called "pane di Sant'Antonio"
  • the Settembrata Anacaprese, a grapes festival with typical products, dances and music all around the town, with separate programs in the four historical contrade, Le Pietre, Le Stalle, La Piazza e Le Boffe.

    • MAP OF ANACAPRI:
    (use the zoom to enlarge and the arrows or your mouse pointer to move around or switch to hybrid, map or satellite view) or OPEN MAP IN LARGER WINDOW

    		 
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