Not many people know that Capri’s "La Piazzetta", internationally known with the name of “The world’s sitting room”, entitled to Umberto I. Beating heart of the most elitist island of the Neapolitan district, the small square, no more than 600 square meters, is an inspiring and unparalleled open air salon.
Framing it, the Clock tower, the picturesque left side of the chiesa di S. Stefano, and a little on the side the terrace of the funicular, with calcareous wall remains dating back to V and IV century BC, which links the centre of the island to the Marina Grande port.
In the Piazzetta the tortuous little streets of the medieval part of town dominate, like via Le Botteghe, Via Longano, Via Acquaviva and via Vittorio Emanuele, full of local craft shops, prestigious boutiques, jewellers, hotels, night clubs.
Caprese life on the piazzetta has two uncontested rulers. One is shopping, with the temptation of a peculiar ethnic jewel in Raku ceramic and crystal, or in coral and semiprecious stones; or that of Capri sandals (the shape of which recall those Tiberius wore when he chose Capri as his abode) made to measure and on the spot in the workshop of unparalleled Antonio.
The other is stopping by at one of the four exclusive bars occupying the Salon of the world, where among a fanciful aperitif and a thirst quenching ice slush, politicians, industry chiefs, financers, show business VIPs as well as world jet set’s best names indulge and chat.
Those tables have seen the likes of, more or less in incognito, the duke of Windsor and Francesca Bertini; Brigitte Bardot and Pablo Neruda; Alberto Moravia and Filippo Tommaso Martinetti; Frank Sinatra and Emilio Pucci.
February.2003
Capri island
Michelin Guide
Capri events
