Capri

The beautiful and rugged island of Capri rises steeply from an impossibly blue sea on the southern edge of the Bay of Naples. Chic, stylish and spectacular, it is the perfect embodiment of Mediterranean appeal - an enchanting cocktail of elegant piazzas and cool cafés, Roman ruins and rugged seascapes. The island is also an ideal honeymoon destination.

The main tourist centre, Capri Town, is situated to the east. A funicular ascends to the town centre from the port of Marina Grande. It’s smaller rival, Anacapri, is a steep climb uphill from Capri by bus or taxi. Anacapri is at an elevation of 980 feet (299m) and is less overtly upscale than its livelier sister city.

Both are almost entirely given over to tourism, but explore beyond the designer boutiques and ‘traditional’ trattorias and you’ll find that Capri’s hinterland retains an unspoiled rural charm with scenic walks, grand villas, overgrown vegetable plots, sun-bleached peeling stucco and banks of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea.

Enjoying a mild and temperate Mediterranean climate, the island abounds in hills, cliffs, olive groves, vineyards, and steep garden terraces overlooking the sea. Naples and Vesuvius loom in the distance, with white ferries and hydrofoils zigzagging across the bay. Paths and steps offer countless opportunities to explore the island on foot, while churches, historic villas, and a ruin or two offer sightseeing opportunities for the ambitious tourist.

The Grotta Azzurra (Blue Cave) might be Capri’s most visited sight but the impact of the ethereal blue light is no less powerful for that. On the island’s other extremity, the ruins of Villa Jovis testify to the history of the island as a favoured resort of the Roman emperors.