DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67375#0399
THE ISLAND OF CAPRI.
313
especially to one who wishes to study human nature
rather than scenery and ruins.
There are horses and donkeys for those who prefer to
ride; and two paths lead to the town of Capri, — steep, like
most paths on the island, the shorter one being in steps.
Neither of them is pleasant, as both are shut in between
garden walls much of the way, and are warm when the
sun shines. Both end in the little piazza in the centre
of the town, which is situated on a sort of saddle connect-
ing the eastern and western heights of the island. Two
lower hills, on which are the ruins of castles, also over-
look the village, which — itself 460 feet above the sea —
is as if guarded by sentinels. The little church has its
tower and bells, the hotels are scarcely more pretentious
than the houses, and the whole town, in its frank sim-
plicity, is in accord with the people whose home it is.
The tiny piazza is the exchange and centre of trade.
Here, by the gate, the few utensils and articles needed
by the Capriotes can be bought; here the people meet to
talk and rest when not at work, on ordinary days; while
on festival days, and the occasions of other unusual
happenings, it is the important locality.
The old town of Capri was destroyed by the Saracens;
and the Cathedral of Costanza — now in the midst of
gardens — is the only remaining edifice; while the bits
of old walls which still stand, and a marble sarcophagus,
which has been unearthed, are the only visible signs that
men once dwelt on this spot. The cathedral looks like
an ugly village church, and merits no attention; while the
Palazzo a Mare — one of the twelve villas of Tiberius,
near by — is no more interesting. A century ago the
objects of value which excavations disclosed, were car-
ried away. The walls have toppled over, some por-
tions of them falling sheer into the sea, and others still
lying scattered on the slope to the coast, the whole being
313
especially to one who wishes to study human nature
rather than scenery and ruins.
There are horses and donkeys for those who prefer to
ride; and two paths lead to the town of Capri, — steep, like
most paths on the island, the shorter one being in steps.
Neither of them is pleasant, as both are shut in between
garden walls much of the way, and are warm when the
sun shines. Both end in the little piazza in the centre
of the town, which is situated on a sort of saddle connect-
ing the eastern and western heights of the island. Two
lower hills, on which are the ruins of castles, also over-
look the village, which — itself 460 feet above the sea —
is as if guarded by sentinels. The little church has its
tower and bells, the hotels are scarcely more pretentious
than the houses, and the whole town, in its frank sim-
plicity, is in accord with the people whose home it is.
The tiny piazza is the exchange and centre of trade.
Here, by the gate, the few utensils and articles needed
by the Capriotes can be bought; here the people meet to
talk and rest when not at work, on ordinary days; while
on festival days, and the occasions of other unusual
happenings, it is the important locality.
The old town of Capri was destroyed by the Saracens;
and the Cathedral of Costanza — now in the midst of
gardens — is the only remaining edifice; while the bits
of old walls which still stand, and a marble sarcophagus,
which has been unearthed, are the only visible signs that
men once dwelt on this spot. The cathedral looks like
an ugly village church, and merits no attention; while the
Palazzo a Mare — one of the twelve villas of Tiberius,
near by — is no more interesting. A century ago the
objects of value which excavations disclosed, were car-
ried away. The walls have toppled over, some por-
tions of them falling sheer into the sea, and others still
lying scattered on the slope to the coast, the whole being