From Place To Space: Capri

Here is a recipe from paradise: Put a rock in the crystalline Mediterranean, set a little town with colourful houses atop, add zesty lemons, and stir it gently. The result is called Capri. A true delight. A dainty Italian island that makes you yearn for more. 

Once you've decided to appease your appetite for this lush island, you will need to hop on a ferry and approach this rocky beauty from the sea. Quickly you will behold its edgy shape, the vivid port and a line of colourful houses climbing the hillside. Most tourists discover the 'three levels' of Capri. The port and its surrounding coastline with little beaches, many restaurants, the inevitable souvenir shops and - in summer time - a little open market. The second level can be reached by foot (good way to stay fit and get tanned), by bus or - the preferred way - by a cablecar that is worth every cent. Not only will you get up to the center of Capri Town, but you will also be rewarded with spectacular views of the Mediterranean. Once there, you are in Capri proper. 

The little town is a real gem. Capri is incredibly clean (which you will appreciate even more if you just came from Naples - see my report here) and the density of luxurious restaurants, hotels and boutiques is dizzily high. Hold on to your wallet, glue your credit cards and try, just try to resist. Pick one of the beautiful restaurants with a breathtaking panorama of the sea and the gulf of Naples to enjoy every bite and every sip double, triple and quadruple. 

The third level is Anacapri, the village atop of the rocky mountain. Take a bus from Capri Town and be brave. Cling to the seat in front of you and try to smile while the little, shaky bus is driving in super speed up the winding street to Anacapri. Try to enjoy, the view is really, really amazing (though take some tissue to dab your sweaty forehead). Anacapri is a sort of antipode to Capri Town. Quiet, tucked away, residential. You can easily get lost in the narrow little alleys. Look out for old churches, cute details on the houses (lots of adorable ceramics and tiles) and enjoy a somewhat cheaper coffee up here before you head down into the Italian version of Beverly Hills. 

Oh, but above all, enjoy. Just enjoy!

Photography by Igor Josifovic; Capri cushion by Jonathan Adler; Capri candle by Anthropologie; Capri vintage poster via Found In Mom's Basement.

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