This is the view from our balcony. In the distance you can see the island of Ischia. Ischia and Capri bracket the entrance to the Bay of Naples.
After breakfast at our hotel (the usual coffee or tea, rolls, and pastry) we set off to explore the sights of Anacapri. In spite of the internet promise of a 5 minute walk to the main part of town, our hotel was actuall a 10-15 minute walk to the town center. It was all up hill through narrow lanes such as the one above. There was actually a fair amount of traffic, mostly scooters and apes but the occasional car. I am sure that Caprese car buyers have to go looking with a tape measure in hand. It would never do to buy a vehicle that could not make it down the lane to one's house.
Like most towns in Italy, there were several parcheggi (parking areas). This one seemed to be only for scooters and motorbikes. While walking around on the day we left, we saw what seemed to be a two scooter family dropping the kids off at school. Dad had the boy with him while Mom had the daughter. When the kids hopped off the bikes they peeled off their helmets and tucked them into the bins on the back of the bikes.
Here is an actual street that passed right under someone's patio.
The church of Santa Sofia in the main part of Anacapri had a variety of different domes on it that could only be seen from the side of the building.
The front of Santa Sofia is lovely with a neat piazza in front of it. Early in the morning there were always a number of delivery vehicles parked in the pedestrian areas of Anacapri.
The church was lovely inside as well. This photo shows a modern baptismal font that incorporates a real seashell into an interesting pedestal of wrought iron.
The range of art within the church was quite broad. This is a centuries old pieta carved of wood and then painted. It was recently restored.
We meandered through the town in a direction we had not explored the night before. Most of the people on the streets early in the morning were locals out doing their shopping and chatting with their neighbors. At one alimentari (small food store) there was this marvelous display of spicy peppers. I loved the colors.
The base station of the chairlift that goes to the highest point on the island is right in the middle of Anacapri. In our meanderings we found a spot where we could watch people loading. It is a single chair and at times the lift attendants had to manhandle the passengers into their seats. It was pretty amusing.
We continued on to Villa San Michele. It was built by Dr. Axel Munthe, a Swedish medical doctor, animal lover and philanthropist from the beginning of the 20th century. The interior of the villa had interesting displays about Munthe's life but the gardens were really spectacular. Above is a covered arcade filled with statues and antique bits and pieces. Apparently, many pieces of ancient Roman structures were found when the villa was being built.
This fountain is off to one side of the arcade.
This is part of the old chapel in the gardens. On the back wall are embedded more Roman finds.
The villa and gardens are built right into the side of the mountain. Here is a picture of Dom admiring the view of Marina Grande and, in the distance, the Amalfi coast.
This statue of Saint Michael was tucked into a niche at the end of the walk along the cliff.
This old lion has a neverending view of Mt. Vesuvius.
During the morning the temperature dropped quite a bit. After visiting Villa San Michele we stopped at one of the many stores catering to tourists that line the lane between the villa and the bus drop off in Anacapri. I found a nice jacket that I put on immediately over the light sweater I was wearing. The combination kept me warm enough in the sun but it was till chilly in the shade. Dom and I found a table in the sun for "elevenses."
To be continued...
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