GROTTA AZZURRA

Known since Roman times, the Grotta Azzurra had been converted into a nymphaeum and was linked by a passageway to one of Emperor Tiberius' imperial villas, the Villa di Damecuta. Rediscovered in the ^mid-19th century by two German artists who had settled on the island, this natural wonder did much to enhance the reputation and myth of Capri. 54 m long and 30 m wide, the grotto is filled with water, and little light enters from the outside. Once there, you can only enter by boat via a small fissure. Inside, the water's extraordinary "Ming blue" hue and limpidity are nothing short of legendary.

A word of warning. A victim of its own charm, the highly touristic island of Capri has a few drawbacks that you should be aware of before your visit. In the interests of transparency, we feel it's important to mention in particular the "experience" of Grotta Azzurra, an astonishing natural grotto with a magnificent play of light, highly prized by the Japanese, but which can prove bitter without prior recommendations. It's best to get there early in the morning, as the wait can be close to two hours in the middle of the afternoon, under a blazing sun. The grotto is magnificent, with clear blue waters, but you have to pay a high price (€23 per person for the boat trip from Marina Grande, €18 per person for access to the grotto by boat, plus the tip demanded loud and clear by the rowers). Liquid is mandatory! The visit lasts 5 minutes in all. Now you know everything!