Vallone dei Mulini, also known as Valley of the Mills is close enough to the city center to warrant a peak at it. On street level, visitors can look below into the valley and see abandoned flour mills. The stone mills date back to the 13th century and its primary use was to grind grain. Due to shifts in industry and reconstruction around the city, the mills were closed and abandoned in the 1940s as access to trade was blocked and the valley experienced great humidity.
Read MoreNaples is without a doubt, a gritty city. From a bird’s eye view, the wide roads and colorful buildings look well kept, rolling down from the hill towards the water. A beautiful view of Mount Vesuvius echoes in the distance. One might mistake it for a southern Italian paradise. Unlike the picturesque Capri, Amalfi Coast, or even Sorrento, Naples is a rough around the edges, lived in city. The locals may speak little to no English. You’ll bend your ear to make sense of the few words you may have studied before landing here. This place isn’t catered to tourists. Nor should it be.
Read MorePompeii was an ancient roman city, best known as the city buried under ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. While the ruins are well preserved and sees many visitors annually, the modern city of Pompeii on the periphery of the ruins is a bustling place, catering to tourists. Shops and restaurants line the street main street and if you are patient enough, you may spot the locals about their business.
Read MoreTo see the Arco Naturale or “Natural Arch” in Capri, we decided to hire a boat to take us around the island. The arc is the remains of a collapsed grotto, dating back to the Paleolithic age. The hour long ride wasn’t cheap but it was a lovely private tour of the natural formations around the island, which took us into grottoes and through tricky waterways.
Read MoreMonte Solaro is the highest point on the island of Capri and easily accessible via a chairlift with 156 seats, taking passengers on a 13 minute ride each way. The lift offers 360 views of the striking blue waters and a peek at Mt. Vesuvius and the city of Naples.
Read MoreAnacapri, literally meaning above Capri, holds different status from the city of Capri though it shares the same island. A bus, winds through hairpin turns from Marina Grande to Anacapri for a small sum. To take the scenic route, hike up Scala Fenicia or the Phoenecian Steps for literally breathtaking views (the steep hike can leave unsuspecting tourists out of breath.)
Read MoreThe Capri funicular deposits passengers at Piazzetta, a small plaza with cafes, restaurants, shops, and a tourism office. From this height, visitors get beautiful views of the sea stretched for miles. Occasionally, one might brush shoulders with celebrities and Hollywood stars as Piazzetta is a popular place for those visiting the island.
Read MoreThe view as you climb Capri’s Scala Fenicia, otherwise known as the Phoenecian Steps, make the grueling pain of this feat worth it. As you ascend to the heights of the island, the landscape unfolds like a beautiful secret.
Read MoreThe Capri funicular connects Marina Grande to the center of the island. The lines get rather long during midday hours, but it may be worth the wait as the climb up can be steep. We took the funicular early in the morning and walked back down towards Marina Grande for a mid-morning excursion on a boat. Running approximately every fifteen minutes, the € 2.00 ticket is well priced and the journey up offers a spectacular view of the island.
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