dina

I will be staying in Sorrento (as a base) and am looking forward to visiting Capri. I've some good pictures esp Jim Tardio's collection. Is it possible to most of the scencic spots on a day trip (by hydrofoil/ferry) on foot ? Same goes for Ishia.

Paige

Good question! I'd like to know, too. Would it be too much for one day to take the ferry from Sorrento, hike to Tiberius' old place, wander around Capri and Anacapri and take the cable car (?) up the mountain? Is the Blue Grotto really so great?

julie

I did it as a day trip from Sorrento with a tour group, no problem. However, my daughter and I both got very seasick on the hydrofoil. Fortunately, I had dramamine with me. Be prepared for possible seasickness. <BR> <BR>Our favorite sight was visiting this doctors house. I forgot the name, maybe something that starts with an "M". Capri is small, someone there will know the place. They also sell lemon and orange flavored liquors and chocolates there. Visit the candy shops. <BR> <BR>The funicular was interesting and enjoyable. We took it one way down. Took a van all the way up to the top where the shops, church and Doctors house (mansion)was. Great views from the Doctor's mansion. Definately go. <BR> <BR>Van ride was very scary to me. The road makes extremely sharp turns and is so close to the edge of the clifts. I would take the funicular up and down next time. But then again, I'm from New Orleans and never drive on anything higher than a bridge.

DINA

JULIE: <BR> <BR>WHATS WITH THIS DOCTORS HOUSE? WERE YOU 'THAT' ILL (SEASICKNESS) !!!! <BR> <BR>What do you do when you first get into Capri from the port ? I don't want to be wandering around looking lost ! Are there any guides or leaflets around at the ports/hotels ? And can you get by not knowing the lingo ?

Julie

I guess I sounded like an idiot. But it is a mansion that you pay to visit. It had nothing to do with being seasick. <BR> <BR>The house is all the way at the top of the mountain. You buy tickets and tour the interior and exterior. The house contains period furniture from the 1800's, I think. He was a very important person on the island. I think he founded the school that the children still go to. <BR>Seasickness problem was just a warning about the boat ride across. The water was very rough.

Paulo

The house may be Villa San Michele, on the slopes of Capodimonte (not up Mount Solaro). Villa San Michele was owned by doctor Axel Munthe (a Swede). <BR> <BR> <BR>Posted this a couple of years ago ... <BR> <BR>Message: We also visited for a single day some years back (in July). We had our own boat (a cousin's), arrived at 8:30am and left at 8pm, and saw quite a bit. We went directly to the Grotta Azzurra, trying to get there before the hords of tourists to no avail. Since there was a 2-hour wait to get in the Grotta we decided to skip it. We went on past Marina Grande, to Grotta del Bove Marino, Punta del Capo, Grotta Meravigliosa and Grotta Bianca, Grotta Matermania and Arco Naturale, Punta di Tragara and Faraglioni islets, Grotta del Arsenale and stopped at Marina Piccola, with its beautiful small beaches and fishing boats haven. From there we hiked up Via Krupp (very nice ... clinging to the rock face) to the Certosa di San Giacomo (late Romanesque pictures by Diefenbach) and adjoining church (Gothic doorway, frescoes and two cloisters) and Giardini Augusto, with its beautiful view of Punta di Tragara and the Faraglioni from the top. Then we proceeded along the main shopping street to town center and enjoyed the nice Piazza Umberto I and Chiesa di Santo Stefano. After the ladies were through with their shopping tour (while we relaxed taking a beer in the Piazza &lt;g&gt we had a quick snack and hiked along the very attractive footpath Via Tiberio to the Il Capo promontory, Salto di Tiberio, Villa di Tiberio and the chapel of Santa Maria del Soccorso. A short footpath took us to the Arco Naturale. Hiking back to Capri town, we took a cab to Anacapri, lovely Moorish village in aspect, straggling over the plateau and surrounded by vineyards. There we visited the Villa San Michele with its nice furniture and sculptures, the chiesa di San Michele (fine Majolica pavement representing the Garden of Eden), the Santa Sofia church and Castello di Barbarossa. We then descended the Scala Fenicia and got to the Marina Grande port. A funicular took us back to Capri town and after some more window shopping we took the nice Via Madre Serafina (almost entirely vaulted) to the Cannone Belvedere and its view. Since it was already late afternoon, we went back to the boat and completed the tour around the island (Punta Ventroso, Grotta Verde, Grotta Rossa, Punta Carena and Caia del Rio. We didn't make it <BR>1- up Monte Solaro (which is supposed to offer an explendid view - chairlift) <BR>2- to the Belvedere del Miraglia, out of Anacapri (2 hours program); <BR>3- to the ruins of Damecuta, out of Anacapri (2 1/2 hours program); <BR>4- to the Belvedere di Tragara (1 hour program out of Capri town); <BR>5- to the Grotta di Matermania, then to Punta di Tragara, and back to Capri (2 1/2 hour program out of Capri, including the Arco Naturale) <BR> <BR>Indeed, Capri town was a zoo till about 5pm. Aftewards it got much better. Surprisingly, the hiking paths were not crowded at all. If we were to spend a couple of nights in the Island, we certainly would prefer to stay in Anacapri (most visitors prefer to stay in Capri town, though). <BR> <BR>Paulo