The view from my villa

When I say romance, you think Paris, right? Well stop it; you’re limiting yourself. I, hopeless romantic that I am, would like to submit for your consideration the Isle of Capri.

First, it is the place Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ran away from her troubles as first lady. Second, poet Pablo Neruda lived on Capri while writing “The Captain’s Verses,” a book of love poems. The island has been home to many a writer and artist. Is there anything more romantic than that?

Of course there isn’t. Don’t be silly.

And let’s not forget that it’s an island. One with a population of just over 7,000. One that doesn’t allow cars above a certain point. It’s isolated. It’s intimate. It’s perfect for walking. Now that’s got romance written all over it. And did I mention it’s in Italy?

Enough said.

Get it all started with the right place to stay. Capri offers elegant hotels, cozy B&Bs and my personal recommendation, the private villa. Private being the operative word here. Plus many of them have patios with spectacular views, perfect for a leisurely morning of cappuccino and cornetti (I’ll have the chocolate creme one, please).

After breakfast, take a romantic stroll through the town of Capri. Don’t stop to shop (no matter how tempting); you can do that later. Follow Via Camerelle to Via Tragara, which will take you to a terrace with a view of the magnificent Faraglioni rocks. From there you can continue on to the Pizzolungo, a route that skirts around the island and takes you past gorgeous greenery and vistas that will knock your socks off. Stop and run your hand over the wild rosemary and breathe in its scent.

Along the Pizzolungo

It’s beautiful here, and peaceful and quiet. You feel like you’re the only people in the world.

As you follow the Pizzolungo, you will come to someplace you simply must stop: Le Grottelle, a restaurant where you can have lunch on the terrace with the Amalfi Coast as your backdrop. The food? Amazing.

After lunch, continue on to the Natural Arch, a perfect place to take a picture.

You’ll be tired after your long walk. Go back to the villa to rest up for the evening. Or not. Romance, right?

Dinner options on Capri abound, but as we’re talking about romance, allow me to recommend two personal favorites:

Faraglioni, (after the rocks), has romantic covered tables that line one side of Via Camerelle. They’re cozy, fairly private and allow you to concentrate on the fabulous food and on each other.

The waters off Capri

da Paolino, where you can eat under a lemon grove in a place frequented by celebrities and captains of industry for over 40 years. The food is worth the cab ride down from the town of Capri.

After dinner, make your way back up to town and take a stroll through La Piazzetta, which is the social heart of Capri. The bars on the piazza have outdoor tables for excellent people-watching and socializing.

After a drink or a cappuccino, ask yourself, “What am I doing out here when I could be back at my villa with my honey?” Then go do something about it.

For me, Capri would be the ultimate honeymoon experience. Too bad I didn’t know about it when I got married. But you don’t have to be a newlywed to appreciate this wonderful place.

And if you don’t get the romantic idea while you’re there, you can always plan a trip across the water to Pompeii. I hear that before Vesuvius blew it was a pretty sexy place.

All photos by Finn

Related post:  Romance at St. Helena’s Wine Country Inn, Napa Valley