Capri

Distance from Villa Marialuisa Km 30 only 40 minutes by boat

 

Capri Picture	“Capri, queen of rock/ in your dress/ the color of amaranth and lily/ where I lived, experiencing/ happiness and pain, the vine brimming with/ splendid bunches of grapes/ that I conquered on land...”. Pablo Neruda Capri is a breathtaking area of natural beauty in the Bay of Naples. Its seductive charms already attracted a great many visitors for thousands of years. During the day the light dips the island into different colours and enchants the viewer. A daytrip - as described in the following text - is also possible on a medium budget and is definitely worth it. Provided that one will travel by boat, one should only take a speedboat from Forio d'Ischia (Aliscafo, about 40 min.) at heavy seas, otherwise one can enjoy the view on Naples by taking the cosier, 50% cheaper ferry. Capri is free of motorcars and there are only minibusses (circa 1 Euro) and taxis running. Already the entry into the harbour Marina Grande with its picturesque colourful houses is worth seeing.  After arriving in the harbour one can take the cable railway (Funiculare), to get to the Piazza Umberto (Piazzetta). The areas surrounding the Piazzetta and the small shopping street are the most expensive tourist regions in Capri. Those who want to sit in a street cafe and watch the trendies, pay around 5 Euro for one Cola.  However, as soon as one leaves the Piazzetta in the direction of Via Botteghe, only a few tourists are to be seen and beautiful views on the high rocks and the ocean open up. Following this nice way straight on via Matermania one reaches a restaurant called Le Grotelle. One only dines outside under trees with a wonderful view over the ocean. The price level is normal. Before one takes a seat here, one should go 100 metres further to see the Arco Naturale, an oval shaped under open rocks in the ocean. After filling oneself with Spaghetti e Vongole, one walks down the steps at the restaurant (a lot of steps! Not suitable for people with a disability) and passes the Grotta di Matronamia, one of the old roman, transformed caves. Walking further along this way over the ocean one again gets to enjoy scenic views. On the way back, following the Via Tragara, one shouldn't forget to pay a visit to the Parfumerie Carthusia, where perfume is produced from flowers, and the Giardini di Augusto (park), from where one has a beautiful view of Marina Piccola, the rocks Faraglioni and the closed Via Krupp (small serpentine road to the sea). When possible, one should buy all articles, including the typical Limoncello and ceramic articles, in Naples.  There they are considerably cheaper. The sunset in Capri is quite impressive, when most of the tourists leave the island on the ferry and the island starts to show another face.  For this reason it is worth staying over in Capri for one night. The higher located Anacapri is recommendable for a overnight stay on a smaller budget.  Walks on Capri In order to discover the island’s countless architectural and natural attractions, we suggests three short itineraries on the trail of enchanting spots and fascinating monuments. All the trips start from Piazzetta Umberto I, in the heart of the town of Capri, and can be traveled by bicycle, moped, car or on foot, although the latter solution can be very tiring in certain cases. Villa Jovis, the splendid residence of the Emperor Tiberius, start from Piazzetta Umberto I and turn into Via delle Botteghe, continuing straight on through Via Fuorlovado, Via Croce and, finally, Via Tiberio. After visiting the villa, you could dedicate some time to other attractions in the vicinity, such as the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, the Cave of Tiberius and the Lighthouse Tower. The walk that leads towards Marina Piccola from the Piazzetta is extremely beautiful. You can get to the beach by following Via Vittorio Emanuele until coming to Via Matteotti, which joins up with the famous Via Krupp after a series of hairpin bends. This road takes its name from the German industrialist who owns some land on the island and is considered “almost a work of art” because of its splendid views and unusual shape. By following Via Matteotti, you will have the chance to stop off at the wonderful Charterhouse of San Giacomo, an attractive ex Carthusian monastery. The Belvedere Tragara is another spot that is well worth a visit. Take Via Vittorio Emanuele from the Piazzetta until coming to Via Camerelle: continue straight on until coming to the Evangelical Church and take Via Tragara that comes to an end at the Belvedere. After admiring the wonderful view of the Faraglioni you could visit some of the beautiful caves located in the vicinity: the Grotta di Forca and the Grotta di Porto Tragara. Typical Shops Carthusia  All the preparations are made from genuine products of high quality and even the end product is hand-wrapped. The essence derived from rosemary picked on Monte Solaro is used in men's products, while the essence of Capri wild carnation is used in women's fragrances. Cultural Events Capri Film Festival  Every year From December to January, Capri, the most famous of the Mediterranean islands, will be paparazzi paradise. Films, actors, and directors from Hollywood and all the world... Events From April to the end of the summer, the island also comes to life from an artistic and cultural point of view. Concerts are organized almost every evening in the squares or the splendid villas built by Tiberius, as well as painting and sculpture exhibitions, plays and dance performances. This wonderful island is a destination that attracts visitors of all nationalities! Festival of Sant’Antonio – July 4th On July 4th every year, the patron saint of the town of Anacapri is celebrated with a large rustic festival. Festival of San Costantino – July 30th On July 30th every year, the patron saint of the town of Capri, San Costantino, is celebrated. International Folklore Festival - August During the 1st week of August, Anacapri plays host to a range of events in its squares, featuring musical bands and folk dance companies. Settembrata Anacaprese - September A large rustic festival for celebrating the grape harvest: 10 days of celebration dedicated to the island’s typical produce, including shows, competitions and games. Capri Film Festival - December Every December since 1991, Capri has hosted an international festival dedicated to the cinema. The event attracts Italian artistes, Hollywood stars and independent filmmakers keen to present their works in this exclusive location. Capri Picture and Attracations Faro Anacapri Punta Carena - This lighthouse built on the headland of the island of Capri was built over a hundred years ago, and is the second most powerful lighthouse in Italy. It's easy to get there by taking a 10 minute bus trip, and the views from the lighthouse make the trip worthwhile. Blue Grotto - The Blue Grotto was discovered in August 1826 by the German writer August Kopisch. The discovery of the remains of an ancient landing place and traces of work on an underground tunnel created an image of a natural cave decorated with statues reflected in the intense and brilliant blue of the sea that has fascinated visitors for many years. The BLue Grotto is not to be missed when in Capri. Live Music Anema e Core  In the very heart of Capri, on a street which bustles day and night with flocks of residents and tourists...   Pompei This guided walk will save you the hassle and expense of finding a guide once you get there. Pompeii, stopped in its tracks by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79, offers the best look anywhere at what life in Rome must have been like 2,000 years ago. An entire city of well-preserved ruins is yours to explore. Once a thriving commercial port of 20,000, Pompeii grew from Greek and Etruscan roots to become an important Roman city. Then, Pompeii was buried under 30 feet of hot mud and volcanic ash. For archaeologists, this was a shake 'n' bake windfall, teaching them almost all they know about daily Roman life. It was rediscovered in the 1600s, and the first excavations began in 1748. When touring Pompeii, remember this was a booming trading city; most streets would have been lined with stalls and jammed with customers from sunup to sundown. Chariots vied for street space with shoppers and many streets were off-limits to chariots during shopping hours (you'll still see street signs with pictures of men carrying vases; this meant pedestrian only). Fountains overflowed into the streets flushing the gutters into the sea (thereby cleaning the streets). The stones you see at intersections allowed pedestrians to cross the constantly gushing streets. A single stone designated a one-way street (just enough room for one chariot) and two stones meant a two-way chariot street. There were no posh neighborhoods. Rich and poor mixed it up as elegant homes existed side by side with simple homes throughout Pompeii. With most buildings covered by a brilliant white ground marble stucco, Pompeii in A.D. 79 was a fine town. (Remember Pompeii's best art is in the Naples Archaeological Museum.) After buying your tickets stop just before entering the archway into Pompeii. This was the Porta Marina — the sea came right to Pompeii's door here before Vesuvius blew. There would have been large public baths below. Approaching the Porta Marina, notice two openings: big for chariots, small for pedestrians. From the Porta Marina, via Marina leads to the Antiquarium (first building on right, artifacts and eerie casts of well-preserved victims). Back on the via Marina walk ahead 50 yards and turn left to the Temple of Apollo (Tempio di Apollo), surrounded by 48 columns, you'll enter facing the altar. The Forum is just to your right. The Forum (Foro), Pompeii's commercial, religious, and political center, is the most ruined part of Pompeii. It's nonetheless impressive, with several temples; the basilica (Pompeii's largest building, used for legal and commercial business); and some interesting casts of volcano victims displayed with piles of pottery behind the fence on the left as you enter the Forum. Continue on, leaving the Forum through the gate at the end. Take an immediate right, then a left. You're on Via del Foro, passing a convenient 21st-century cafeteria (decent value, gelato, books, WCs upstairs; a fancier restaurant in a more elegant ancient gymnasium setting is adjacent). Head down Via del Foro and enter the impressive baths, Terme del Foro (on the left, past the cafeteria). You'll enter through the gymnasium. After working out, clients would find four rooms: a waiting room, warm bath (tepidarium), hot bath (caldarium), and cold-plunge bath (frigidarium). Exit the baths through the back door (onto via della Fortuna), turn right and walk to House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno, Danzante). Notice the holes drilled into the curbs — to hitch your animal or perhaps to support an awning from your storefront. Pompeii's largest home (with 40 rooms), the House of the Faun, provided Naples' Archaeological Museum with many of its top treasures, including the original dancing faun (you'll see a copy here) and the famous mosaic of the "Battle of Alexander." Wander past the welcome mosaic (HAVE or "hail to you") and through its courtyards. The back courtyard leads to the exit. It's lined by pillars rebuilt after the A.D. 62 earthquake. Take a close look at the brick, mortar, and fake marble stucco veneer. Back on the street, turn right and look for the exposed 2,000-year-old lead pipes in the wire cage (ahead and down on the ground to your right). Take your first left on Vicolo dei Vetti. Enter Pompeii's best-preserved home, the House of the Vetti (Casa dei Vetti). The House of Vetti, which has retained its mosaics and frescoes, was the home of two wealthy merchant brothers who were into erotic wallpaper (cover your eyes as you enter). An immediate right upon entering (open now) takes you into the slave's sleeping quarters and through to the kitchen. Enjoy the beautifully preserved rooms walking counter-clockwise around the central courtyard. Some explanations are posted in English. Leaving the House of the Vetti, go left past the pipes again. Then turn right, following Vicolo dei Vetti to Via della Fortuna, where you'll see a public fountain. Intersections like this were busy neighborhood centers, where the rent was highest and people gathered. Turn left on Via della Fortuna and take a quick right on Vicolo Storto, which leads down a curving street to the bakery and mill (forno e mulini). The ovens look like a modern-day pizza oven. And the stubby stone towers are flour grinders: After grain was poured into the top, donkeys pushed wooden bars that turned the stones, and eventually powdered grain dropped out the bottom as flour — flavored with tiny bits of rock. Take the first left after the bakery onto Via degli Augustali, and check out the mosaics on the left at the Taberna Hedones. This must be the tavern of hedonism — see the cute welcome mosaic reading HAVE ("hail to you"), with the bear licking his wounds. Next turn right, over the street dam, and follow the signs to the brothel (lupanare), at #18. Prostitutes were nicknamed lupas (she-wolves). Wander into the brothel, a simple place with stone beds and pillows. The ancient graffiti includes stroke tallies and exotic names of the girls, indicating they came from all corners of the Mediterranean. The faded frescoes above the cells may have served as a kind of menu for services offered. Note the idealized portrayal of women (white, considered beautiful) and man (dark, considered horny). Outside at #17 is a laundry — likely to boil the sheets (thought to guard against venereal disease). Leaving the brothel, go down the hill to Pompeii's main drag, Via Abbondanza. The Forum (and exit) is to the right. (The huge amphitheater — which you can skip — is 10 minutes to your left.) Go straight down Via dei Teatri, then left before the columns, downhill to the Temple of Isis (on the right). This Egyptian temple served Pompeii's Egyptian community. The little shrine with the plastic roof housed holy water from the Nile. Pompeii must have had a synagogue, but it has yet to be excavated. Immediately upon leaving, follow the lane at #17 to our last stop, the Theater. Originally a Greek theater (Greeks built theirs with the help of a hillside), this marks the spot of the birthplace of the Greek port here in 470 B.C. During Roman times, it sat 5,000 in three price ranges: the five marble terraces up close (filled with romantic wooden seats for two), the main section, and the cheap nosebleed section (surviving only on the right). The square stones above the cheap seats used to support a canvas rooftop. Notice the high-profile boxes, flanking the stage, for guests of honor. From this perch, you can see the gladiator barracks — the colonnaded courtyard beyond the theater. They lived in tiny rooms, trained in the courtyard, and fought in the nearby amphitheater. There's much more to see; 75 percent of Pompeii's 164 acres has been excavated. But this tour's over

Sorrento

Distance from Villa Marialuisa Km 40 only 60 minutes by boat

This small town is wonderfully located over white steep cliffs and offers a fantastic view over the Bay of Naples.  Sorrento lies on a Tufa terrace and is enclosed by impressive rocks of the limestone mountains.  For 2000 years already visitors from all over the world have been attracted to Sorrento by breathtaking sunsets and fragrances of orange and lemon gardens.

The small fishing harbor of Marina Grande is especially beautiful in the low season, where one can sense the naturalness of Sorrento. Several Hotels are situated right next to the shore and the gastronomy is delicious. One tip is the small Ristorante di Leva at the harbor with its pictures of Sophia Loren, who shot one of her films at this harbor.  Although there are only a few dishes that are prepared by the owner herself, the Spaghetti Vongole makes a visit worth while. Another restaurant where one can dine superbly is the swimming restaurant "Zi n'tonio Mare".

Sorrento and the Amalfi coast are well known for its splendid big lemons. Typical products from Sorrento are produced with these "Limoni": Limoncello, a very tasty lemon liqueur, lemon chocolate, colorful ceramic articles with lemon motives or lemon soap. One should also try the over 70 different ice cream flavours. One is tempted to shop by the small street Via S. Cesareo, the heart of Sorrento. In addition to this there is the weekly market that takes place on Tuesdays, where one can buy real bargains.

Sorrento is also very popular due to its good location as starting point to all the important surrounding sights. The summit of the peninsula of Sorrento is only about 5 km away from Capri, which can be easily reached from the Harbor Marina Piccola. Also Ischia and Procida, of which the silhouettes can be seen on clear days, can be reached very quickly per speedboat. Sorrento is also the terminus of the Circumvesuviana, a small train with its start in Naples. One can reach Pompeii and Herkulaneum by this rail in about thirty minutes and Naples in circa one hour's time.

The good location of Sorrento unfortunately also led to heavy traffic load in the narrow streets of the town. Relaxation and silence can presently still be found in the gardens and private beaches of the hotels, the orange grove of the museum or the monastery garden. Sorrento is recommendable as a tourist destination or a starting point for sightseeing of every kind, however it is less recommendable for a pure swimming or recuperation holiday.

Positano

Distance from Villa Marialuisa Km 50 only 60 minutes by boat

Positano, also called the "Gem of the divine coast", is probably the most amazing village of the Amalfi Coast and will not fall short of your expectations for its incomparable beauty. It is positioned at the centre of the Gulf, with houses and villas built on terraces, amongst beautiful gardens planted with palm trees, orange and lemon groves.

Despite of an intense expansion due to the tourism boom, Positano has preserved its typical vertical structure and its bright architecture with suggestive corners and panoramique views. In this picturesque landscape Positano offers elegant luxury hotels, many apartments and residences, comfortable resorts and small family hotels with a friendly atmosphere.

Positano is internationally well known for its clothing production too. Walking along the picturesque lanes of the village you can find many little, but elegant boutiques, which are almost everywhere on both sides of the streets.

Naples, Italy

by www.italywebzine.com

Distance from Villa Marialuisa Km 30 only 45 minutes by boat

Gulf of Naples Picture
In Naples is all quite different. You will already realize it on the road at the city. The roadside resembles a wild rubbish dump. During the cities in the north of Italy are so clean as the German cities would gladly be meanwhile this is not so relevant in the south. In the end there are more important things in Naples, the traffic for instance. This is something that one must have seen. In Germany the drivers get into a tizzy if they have to stop and couldn't step their accelerator as far as it will go. But what was it here in Naples. The road was three-track and six cars drove side by side and without a push.

Museum and national Galleries of Capodimonte
The king of Naples, Charles of Borbone, that so many famous monuments wanted for his Italian capital had the idea of the construction of a country house of hunting on the laughing hill of Capodimonte, choice as reserve of real hunting. Attracted by the around seven kilometers of secular wood, the Carasale it entrusted, that already sovraintendeva the jobs for the Theater St. Charles, of the project, giving the direction of the jobs to Giovanni Anthony Medrano and Anthony Canevari. The first stone was set in 1738, but the construction extended for around a ventennio for the enormous difficulty that represented the transport of the piperno du

Theater St. Charles
Charles of Borbone entrusted the first construction of the theater to the military architect Carasale in 1737 (four decades before the Staircase) which succeeded to build it and to complete it within the day of the recurrence of the onomastico of the king, November four of the same year. In that occasion the work Achille was represented in Sciro of the Metastasio musicata from Domenico Sarro. The theater cost well centomila dukedoms of which ventimila offered by the same king Carlo. Part of the necessary sum was drawn by the demolition of the old theater S. Bartolomeo that St. Charles had preceded and to his place he was wanted to erect a chu

Royal Palace
The splendid construction had raised beginning from 1600 for one of the greatest and populous capital city of the Spanish empire. The building, inhabited first from the Spanish viceroys, from the Austrians, from the Borbones and finally from the Savoia, has been center and image of the power, as well as I untie some historical circumstances of Naples and the Midday for almost four centuries. The project was entrusted by the viceroy, Fernando Ruiz de Castro, to the architect Domenico Fontana, between the most famous architects of the time, draftsman of the Rome of Sisto V,

P.zza Plebiscito
Designed by Domenico Fontana for Viceroy Ferrante di Castro. Enlarged and restored, it became the official residence of the Bourbon and Savoy kings. The eight statues along the facade represent the heads of the various dynasties which have reigned over Naples, and were put there on the initiative of Umberto I. Well worth seeing is the royal suite and the court theatre. The Naples public library (Bibloteca Nazionale) is also housed in the Royal Palace.

Castel Dell'Ovo
The most interesting part of this side of the waterfront is with no doubt the Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle) which crossed over the whole history of Naples always as protagonist. Castel dell'Ovo rises on the islet of Megaride, in front of the promontory of Monte Echia (today Pizzofalcone) which divides the bay of the port from the bay of Riviera di Chiaia (the Caracciolo waterfront). This islet, once joined to the mainland by a small strip, was landing and settlement point for the first Greek colonists coming from Pithecusa (Ischia, at the beginning colony of Rhodi) who then founded the first nucleous of Partenope on Monte Echia.

The Angevin Fortress
Maschio Angioino (Angevin Fortress) was also called the Castelnuovo (New Castle) to distinguish it from the older Castel dell'Ovo. It was built by the Angevin King Charles I as the new royal palace when he moved the capital of the kingdom from Palermo to Naples in the 13th century. Only a few bits of the original structure have remained over the centuries, such as the Palatina Chapel. The original structure was built in only four years and was finished in 1282. It then fell into disrepair, accelerated by an earthquake; thus, the structure you see today is a makeover started by the Aragonese in the 1450s and completed by the Spanish in the

Procida island

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Procida, the smallest of the Neapolitan islands the least “touristy” and no doubt the most authentic, was called Prochyta, which means “ profuse, risen from the waters”.
Seven craters are visible along its coasts; the geophisical origins of the island are volcanic like the whole area known as the Phlegrean fields (campi Flegrei).

Beetween the 17th and 16th centuries B.C.the island was inhabitedby the Mycenaeans, as atrefacts found on the nearby islands of Vivara attest to their existence.
The Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo, named after the patron saint of the island, stands on the rock of Terra Murata.

Giovanni da Procida the feudal lrd of the island, organized the Sicilian Vespers to avenge Corradino of Swabia.

Under the Cardinal of Aragon, Innica D’Avalos, the commendatory abbot from 1561 onwards, one of the most important buildings in terms of urban development was built.
The Royal Palace was constructed and the rebuilding of the Terra Murata village which had started in 1554 continued.

Under the Bourbon monarchy (1734-1860) the island became a royal hunting park.
In 1799 following the foundation of an independent Republic, the island was subject to severe repression by the Bourbons.

After the Unification of Italy and at the beginning of this century the island passed through a period of history marked by two different phenomena: on one hand economic autonomy traditonally derived from agriculture, fishing and seafaring, on the other hand there was a growing interest in the environment and culture of Procida, stimulated by the many visitors to the south of Italy during the 19th century.

Naples Picture