Friday, July 10, 2009

The Island of Capri

Maybe the best part of our whole Italy trip was the boat ride we took from Sorrento to Capri, a resort island that stretches all the way back to Roman times.


Our hosts, the guys from Capitanoago, provided an awesome experience. Our first stop was to do some sightseeing in the town of Capri. The town itself had the usual Italian hillside charm, with the colorful buildings, wild vines, and walking paths winding into the hills.


We didn't doddle in town, instead riding straight up the mountainside for some awesome views and a pleasant walk back down.


But the town and the views were far from the highlight of the trip: no, that title goes to the plethora of rocky outcroppings, caves, and grottos that we got to see while boating around the island perimeter. A photo can't possibly do justice to how fantastic Capri is when seen from the water, with its natural arches and towering cliffs jutting menacingly from the blue-green sea.


Here's the view from an enormous cave we stopped to explore.


Tucked at the very bottom of a typically rocky spot on the island perimeter is a nondescript hole just big enough for a row boat. Get inside the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto), though, and the light shines beneath the surface of the water, making it the most vividly blue color you can imagine. It was an absolutely stunning natural sight.



More pictures are on Flickr.

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