Grotta Azzurra
The light you will never forget
There's a moment in life when the word "blue" stops being a color and becomes an emotion. It happens inside the Grotta Azzurra
You climb into a small rowboat. The sailor asks you to lie down. He leads you under an entrance arch barely a meter high. Then darkness, a held breath - and suddenly everything lights up: an unreal glow, turquoise and silver, reflected by the waters filtering sunlight through an underwater opening. It doesn't feel like you're floating. It feels like you're flying, suspended within the sky.
Details of the visit
How to get there: by bus from Anacapri (5 minutes) or by boat from Marina Grande (10 minutes)
Entrance fee: €18 per person (plus the cost of the boat from Marina Grande, if chosen)
Opening hours: April to September 9:00 am - 6:00 pm; October to March 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (only in calm seas)
Duration inside: about 5 minutes
Please note: the cave is only open when the sea is favorable. It's impossible to know for sure in advance, but the boatmen check every morning at 9:00.
Perché visitarla?
Perché è uno di quei luoghi che esistono per ricordarci che la natura a volte supera qualsiasi fantasia. La Grotta Azzurra era già conosciuta ai tempi dell'imperatore Tiberio, che la usava come ninfeo marino. Per secoli fu temuta e abbandonata dai pescatori locali, convinti che vi abitassero spiriti. Fu solo nel 1826 che due viaggiatori tedeschi - uno scrittore e un pittore - la raccontarono al mondo. Da allora nessuno che l'abbia vista è riuscito a dimenticarne la luce.
The advice that makes the difference
Arrive by 9:30 to avoid lines that can last over an hour in high season. Bring water and a hat. And don't forget to take home the memory of that light: you can't pack that in your suitcase.