Anacapri and Monte Solaro: guide to the other Capri

Another Capri, higher up

The island has two municipalities, and Anacapri is the one facing west. It rises on a plateau on the slopes of Monte Solaro, the highest peak in Capri. The pace changes compared with the Piazzetta: less strolling, more white houses, stairways, vegetable gardens, and sudden glimpses of the sea.

To understand the character of this side of the island, it’s best not to be in a hurry. Anacapri is best enjoyed by walking without a precise destination and giving each stop the time it deserves.

The center at a slow pace

The heart of the town is a tangle of lanes where your pace naturally slows. Between arches, whitewashed walls, and gardens overlooking the streets, it’s easy to get happily lost. A detour of just a few meters is enough to find yourself in a quiet little square or in front of a terrace over the gulf.

The chairlift to Monte Solaro starts near the center, so the town is easy to visit in combination with the ascent.

The church of San Michele and its floor

Among the most distinctive stops is the church of San Michele, famous for its majolica floor. It depicts the Earthly Paradise, with Adam and Eve and the animals of Eden, in a composition of vivid colors that is best seen from above, from the internal balcony.

It is a place of worship: silence and appropriate clothing are required when entering. For visiting rules and any restrictions, it’s best to ask locally.

Villa San Michele and Axel Munthe’s garden

Villa San Michele is linked to the Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe, who built it in a place of great beauty and filled it with fragments of antiquity. The house, loggias, and garden form a route in which architecture and landscape blend together, with the sea always in the background.

The visit above all gives a sense of balance: shade, pergolas, sculptures, and open views over the gulf. For opening times and access rules, consult official sources, as they may change during the year.

By chairlift to Monte Solaro

The ascent to Monte Solaro by chairlift is one of the most memorable moments of the day. You glide in silence above vegetable gardens, dry-stone walls, and Mediterranean scrub, while the island landscape opens up more and more below.

From the summit, with good visibility, the view embraces the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno, the Sorrentine Peninsula, and, in the distance, the Campanian coasts. Morning light or late-afternoon light makes the panorama especially clear.

• Check the official channels to see whether the lift is operating: strong wind or bad weather can stop it.
• Bring a light layer with you, because the air can be cooler at altitude.
• If visibility is poor, consider postponing: the panorama is the real reason for the ascent.

Punta Carena and sunset

At the western end of the island stands the Punta Carena lighthouse, in a stretch of coast that is wilder and more open than the slopes facing the gulf. Here the landscape is made of rocks, deep sea, and a free horizon.

It is a place much appreciated at sunset, when the light drops toward the open sea. As this is an exposed area, it’s better to check sea conditions, access, and return connections in advance, especially at the end of the day.

How to plan your visit

Anacapri is reached from Capri and Marina Grande by the island’s public transport, which goes up along the panoramic road. Since timetables and frequencies change with the season, always check updated information before setting off.

For a well-balanced day, you can dedicate the morning to the villa and the center, leave the chairlift for the hours with the best light, and reserve sunset for Punta Carena. Comfortable shoes are essential: the streets are often steep, with steps and uneven surfaces.

The Blue Grotto is visited only by boat and in calm seas, so it should not be assumed as part of the plan.