In ancient times the island of Capri was always the destination of choice for rich Romans. Since the days of Tiberius it had always been thought of a decidedly decadent backwater, a sun-drenched paradise uncorseted by bourgeois inhibition. This reputation persisted well into modern times, thanks largely to the writings of the antique dealer Jean-Jacques Bouchard. His diaries, published in the early seventeenth century, were a compelling mix of travelogue and confession, inspiring travellers from all over Europe to visit Capri or settle there.
La Floridiana is a small, modern Mediterranean-style hotel close to the centre of Capri town near Via Camerelle, the main shopping street. The walks down the hillside to the beach are spellbinding, as are the nearby Gardens of Augustus and the deserted Carthusian monastery, the Certosa di San Giacomo. The hotel is spaciously and generously designed, shaded by pine trees and looking south over the bay towards the Marina Piccola and the Faraglioni rocks. There are 36 individually designed rooms, some having balconies or terraces overlooking the sea or the gardens. The wine bar serves light meals and drinks throughout the day and offers a more substantial and sophisticated menu in the evenings.
Suitable music for the iPod might include Debussy's prélude Les collines d'Anacapri. There is much holiday reading to choose from including The Lotus Eater by Somerset Maugham, an unsettling but inspiring story about a Bostonian who is so captivated by the island that he gives up his job and abandons himself to a life of leisure. Norman Douglas's South Wind is a fictionalised account of the island and its inhabitants.
Local sights in Capri inlcude La Piazzetta, Marina Grande, Marina Piccola, Via Krupp, Tragara, Monte Solaro, Migliera, Punta Carena, the Fortini (Blockhouses), The Blue Grotto, Villa San Michele, The Charterhouse of St. Giacomo,the Villa Jovis, Villa Damecuta and La Casa Rossa
La Floridiana - Via Campo di Teste 16 - Capri80073
Manager: Mr Valerio Paone
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