It’s that time of the year when Italy beckons!
Every year, on our anniversary, we somehow find ourselves in one of our favorite countries in the world. Each time, we try to explore and discover different little villages. I stumbled upon these photos that we took in Capri where we had an adventure of a lifetime. We challenged ourselves to go up the famed Phoenician Steps, a long and steep ancient stone stairway that connect the communities of Capri with that of Anacapri.
When you visit Capri, you absolutely cannot miss the Phoenician Steps. It dares the best of travelers to venture off the beaten path to climb about a thousand steps to reach the top. Your prize will be a continuous worthwhile view of the isle in all of its glory.
We started our hike from our hotel in Marina Grande and hiked all the way to the top only stopping a few times to take some snaps. The first steps were shallow and easy to climb. And then it became steeper as we made our way up. We noticed a series of crosses along the way which was commissioned by the Bishop of Capri to protect commuters from falling rocks in the past. We also encountered a chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Anacapri. We arrived at Villa San Michele, a stunning historic estate belonging to Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe.
A lover of birds, flora and fauna, Dr. Munthe’s estate is incredibly astonishing. Filled with beautiful oasis, romantic pathways, roman balconies with sensational views of the Gulf of Naples, I can’t imagine a single person who wouldn’t want to reside in such a stunning home. His mantra was, “My home shall be open for the sun and the wind and the voices of the sea – like a Greek temple – and light, light, light everywhere!”
It’s fascinating for me to learn how he has completely dedicated his life to building this home and its surrounding gardens. Bloom of camelia, hydrangea, beautiful rose bushes, and pine and Cyprus trees all sit unforgettably in the vicinity while rare birds chirp all day reveling in the fragrances of his blooms under the Mediterranean sun. Author Munthe tells the tale of his villa in his best-selling book, “The Story of San Michele.”
Reaching the villa via the Phoenician Steps from Marina Grande was sincerely the hike of our lifetime. Truly, moments that we share like this one made my husband and I’s anniversary incredibly special.
Villa San Michele | Viale Axel Munthe, 34, 80071 Anacapri NA, Italy
Monte Solaro | A Mountain on the Isle of Capri – Highest Peak