Campanian Archipelago

<< Campania

The Campanian Archipelago is a group of islands located off the coast of Campania in the Tyrrhenian Sea, near Naples. The archipelago consists of Capri, Ischia, Procida, and a few smaller islets. These islands are famous for their natural beauty and historic sites, and are popular tourist destinations known all over the world.

Capri

Capri is an island located off the coast of the Sorrento Peninsula. One of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Italy, Capri is known for its beautiful natural environment and some historic attractions. Capri has been a resort since ancient times, when it hosted luxurious Roman villas, and to this day it is often visited by rich people and celebrities. The island includes two municipalities: Capri, to the east, and Anacapri, to the west.

✪ Faraglioni of Capri

The Faraglioni are a group of three large rock formations located at the southeastern corner of Capri. The tallest is Faraglione di Terra (or Stella), which is connected to the main island. Faraglione di Mezzo is instead known for being crossed by a natural gallery on the sea, while the southernmost islet is Faraglione di Fuori (or Scopolo), the only natural habitat of the blue lizard (or lucertola azzurra). East of the Faraglioni is another small islet called Scoglio del Monacone. These small islands are the most famous attraction in Capri, known all over the world.

✪ Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is a sea cave located along the northwestern coast of the island of Capri, near the town of Anacapri. The cave is illuminated by sunlight reflected by the seawater, giving it a unique blue glow. The site has been known since ancient times, and in the Roman era it was turned into a temple and adorned with statues, now hosted in the Casa Rossa in Anacapri. The Blue Grotto is now a world-famous landmark, and it can be visited by taking a boat tour from the main port of Capri.

✪ Villa Jovis

Villa Jovis is an ancient Roman palace built by emperor Tiberius. Tiberius lived here between 26 CE and his death in 37 CE, and governed the empire from Capri. The villa lies at the northeastern end of the island, on a spectacular position on a cliff overlooking the sea, and can be only reached on foot. Now reduced to ruins, it serves as a museum.

✪ Monte Solaro

Monte Solaro is the tallest mountain in Capri. It is located at the center of the island and divides it in two. The top of the mountain can be reached via a chairlift from Anacapri, and it offers a breathtaking view over the entire island and the surrounding sea.

Piazza Umberto I

Also known as: Piazzetta

Piazza Umberto I, more commonly known as Piazzetta, is the main square of the old town of Capri. This is the center of local life, and the square features a panoramic terrace with a great view on the sea and parts of the island. Various historic buildings face Piazza Umberto I, including a clock tower and the 17th-century Church of Santo Stefano.

Arco Naturale

Arco Naturale (“Natural Arch”) is a peculiar rock formation in Capri, located along the eastern coast of the island. As the name suggests, it is a large natural arch that was formed by the collapse of a grotto. Now it is a popular landmark and a tourist attraction.

Charterhouse of San Giacomo

The Charterhouse of San Giacomo (Certosa di San Giacomo) is a former monastery in Capri, founded in 1363. Restored and expanded a few times, the complex now serves as a museum, and includes a church adorned with ancient frescoes and artworks.

Gardens of Augustus

The Gardens of Augustus (Giardini di Augusto) are botanical gardens located near the Charterhouse of San Giacomo in Capri. Established in the early 20th century, the gardens host several species of plants from Capri, and offer a breathtaking view over the sea and the coast of the island. The peculiar Via Krupp, with its series of hairpin turns along a cliff, connects the gardens to the small port of Marina Piccola.

Villa San Michele

Villa San Michele is a 19th-century villa in Anacapri, built on the site of an ancient Roman palace. The villa, now a museum, is known for its panoramic terrace, which offers a great view on Capri and the Sorrento Peninsula, and also houses several artworks. Next to the villa are the Phoenician Steps (Scala Fenicia), a cliffside staircase that connects Anacapri with the main port of Capri and was built by Greek colonists around the 7th or 6th century BCE.

Casa Rossa

The Casa Rossa (“Red House”) is a peculiar 19th-century building in Anacapri. Now a museum, it hosts various archaeological ruins and artworks, including the Roman statues that were once inside the Blue Grotto.

Church of San Michele Arcangelo

The Church of San Michele Arcangelo is a large church in Anacapri, erected in the early 18th century. The church features some artworks, but it is best known for its elaborate majolica floor mosaic, completed in 1761 and depicting the Garden of Eden.

Forts of Capri

The western coast of the island of Capri, near the town of Anacapri, houses several ancient fortifications. Originally built in the Late Middle Ages, they were later destroyed and restored in the 19th century. From north to south these are: the Orrico Fort (Fortino di Orrico), the Mesola Fort (Fortino di Mesola), the Pino Fort (Fortino di Pino), and the Cannon Fort (Fortino del Cannone). The last one is located near the Punta Carena Lighthouse (Faro di Punta Carena), inaugurated in 1867. The forts are connected by the Sentiero dei Fortini Borbonici, a path linking the Blue Grotto with the Punta Carena Lighthouse, running along the coast.

Ischia

Ischia is the largest island in the Campanian Archipelago, and it is divided into six municipalities: Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Lacco Ameno, Forio, Serrara Fontana, and Barano d’Ischia. The island is montainous and has a volcanic origin. Inhabited since ancient times, it hosted a Greek colony called Pithekoussai or Pithecusae, and it was raided by pirates several times during the Middle Ages and Early Modern period. Since the early 20th century, the island has been turned into a tourist resort. Today Ischia is a popular destination, famous for its natural beauty and thermal spas.

✪ Aragonese Castle

The Aragonese Castle is a castle built on a small rocky islet located off the northeastern coast of Ischia, linked with the main island with a narrow bridge. The first castle here was built by Greeks colonists in the 5th century BCE, and was later reworked several times, while the current structure dates from the 15th century. The castle includes several structures built over its long history, including various churches and a Poor Clares convent. The complex is now a museum and the most visited landmark on the island.

✪ La Mortella Gardens

The La Mortella Gardens (Giardini La Mortella) are botanical gardens in Forio, on the western side of the island of Ischia. Built during the second half of the 20th century, it features plants and trees from all over the world, and also includes various decorations and a museum. The gardens also offer a great view on the sea, and are regarded as among the most beautiful parks in Italy.

Diocesan Museum of Ischia

The Diocesan Museum of Ischia (Museo Diocesano di Ischia) is a museum in the town of Ischia. It houses numerous religious artworks, dating from the Paleochristian era until the 20th century, and also features various other archaeological findings.

Archaeological Museum of Pithecusae

The Archaeological Museum of Pithecusae (Museo Archeologico di Pithecusae) is a museum located in Lacco Ameno, on the island of Ischia. Hosted in the historic Villa Arbusto, the museum houses several archaeological findings, mostly dating from the age of the Greeek colonization of the island. The museum hosts the Nestor’s Cup (Coppa di Nestore), a cup from the 8th century BCE featuring one of the earliest examples of writing in the Greek alphabet.

Procida

Procida is an island in the Campanian Archipelago located between Ischia and the Phlegraean Fields. Inhabited since ancient times, the island features a historic town among a beautiful environment. While less visited than Capri or Ischia, Procida is still a popular destination.

Terra Murata

Terra Murata is a hill on the eastern side of Procida, which hosts an ancient town overlooking the sea. Here is the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo (Abbazia di San Michele Arcangelo), a historic medieval abbey housing several artworks.

Corricella

Corricella is the historic fishing village of Procida, located along the coast west of Terra Murata. This town features many peculiar and colorful ancient buildings and narrow roads, and it is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Vivara

Vivara is a small island located off the southwestern coast of Procida, and connected to Procida with a bridge. The island has a volcanic origin and was inhabited in ancient times, but now it is a nature reserve.