We are just a couple of weeks away from announcing our next trip to Italy, so this week I have been blogging about our 2015 trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast in the hopes that memories will surface and excitement will build for our next trip … announcement coming soon.
Day 7: The Last Day
Put a compass to paper and trace a circle. Then tell me which other country has such a concentration of places like Amalfi, Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Pompeii, and Capri.
~Diego Della Valle
Today was all about the island of Capri, but before we proceed allow me
give the same lesson on pronunciation I gave my group before leaving home …
It's all about stressing the correct syllable ;-)
Also allow me to share some interesting facts about the island:
-The island saw an influx of visitors when a Polish poet
named August Kopisch re-discovered la Grotta Azzurra, or the Blue Grotto.
- The Caprese salad gets its name from
"salad of Capri" which is tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil with
seasoning of salt and olive oil.
- Capri is the name of the island but
it is actually divided into two sections: the eastern section takes the name of
the island, and the western part is called Anacapri.
-Via Krupp is a famous road that descends to the sea in a
series of dizzying, hairpin bends.
Via Krupp
But knowing all the above doesn’t quite prepare you for the majestic
beauty of the place. Really, there are no words. The sea is the bluest blue,
the buildings are the whitest white, the flowers are the most vibrant, the
rocks are the most majestic, and the views are unparalleled.
la isola di Capri
We left Sorrento in the morning, traveling by ferry. When we got to Capri,
some of the group explored the shops along the Marina Grande, while others signed up
for a boating excursion around the island to see the Faraglioni – three towering
rock formations that soar 360 ft. out of the sea. Our captain actually sailed under one.
boarding the ferry for Capri
the Italian flag
enjoying the sights
view of Sorrento from the sea
arriving at marina grande on Capri
our captain for the boat tour around the island
beautiful sailboats everywhere
the faraglioni
even more impressive up close
preparing to sail under the faraglioni
The entire group then reconvened for a funicular ride up the mountain to
the Piazzetta, the main square of Capri. From there we walked to the Giardini
Augusto (Augustus Gardens) where we took photos of the flowers and the
yellowest lemons I’ve ever seen. From the gardens we could also see Via Krupp,
the historic paved footpath winding down the mountain to the sea.
funicular this way
riding the funicular up to the piazzetta
walking around the gardens
yellowest lemons
Via Krupp
The afternoon was ours to explore. Some opted for lunch in one of the
many fine dining restaurants, while others walked around window shopping at
places like Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, and Ferragamo. Then there was a group of
us who decided to go MORE UP by taking a chairlift to Anacapri, the highest
point on the island. The 360 degree view was out of this world.
look how the shirts are displayed
riding the chairlift to anacapri
360 degree views
By late afternoon it was time to head back to Sorrento. In case you didn’t
keep track, here are all the modes of transportation we used to get to Capri
and then back again to Sorrento:
Tour Bus
Ferry
Private motorboat
Funicular
Chairlift
Capri bus
Ferry
Tour bus
these two almost missed the ferry back ;-)
Back in Sorrento we had our final, farewell dinner at Ristorante Francischiello. After the meal, our tour guide took us to the roof of the
restaurant to watch the stunning sunset, and as the sun dropped lower and lower
over the horizon, we said our last goodbyes to la bella Italia.
Ristorante Antico Francischiello
farewell dinner with friends
sharing memories of our vacation
one last glass of vino!
watching the sunset from the roof
holding the Sorrento sun in the palm of my hand
sinking over the horizon
farewell sunset, Sorrento, the amalfi coast
Day 8: Depart for home
~THE END~
2 comments:
Your 2015 trip commentary has me salivating for your 2019 trip. It sounds like so much fun!
Thought of you this week when I listened (during my treadmill time) to a MG book by a Newbery Honor-Winning author, Jennifer Holm, about an Italian-American girl, called Penny from Heaven. It was a fun little read and gave me a glimpse into a vibrant Italian-American family.
The photos are amazing! I can't wait to hear the stories and see the pictures from your next trip.
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