May 23 2020

Dream of Italy Capri Special Report

Laura Thayer
TRAVEL, WRITING

When you think of Italy, where do you dream of visiting? For so many travelers around the world, the Amalfi Coast and Capri are top of that list. It was exactly the same for me. Living here for more than a decade has only confirmed what I felt on that first visit. This place has a certain something that just makes you want to stay. Or, at the very least, come back as often as possible! Since traveling isn’t possible at the moment, it was a special experience to sit down at my desk and guest edit the Capri Special Report April/ May issue of Dream of Italy. I hope through the words and images this issue helps inspire you to keep dreaming about Italy now … and plan a trip back when it is safe to travel again. We hope it won’t be long!

Faraglioni Rocks

Why Capri? With so many tempting travel destinations in Campania, it wasn’t easy to pick just one with Dream of Italy founder Kathy McCabe. Yet we both thought of Capri straight away because it’s a place we love and know so many people dream of visiting. One of the main ideas was one to share a deeper look at the island that some travelers experience as perhaps too crowded or maybe skip entirely since they’ve heard it’s “touristy.” While I understand that not every destination is for everyone, there truly is no place in the world like Capri. So what we’ve done is crafted this Special Report to not only provide some dreamy travel moments, but to also inspire you to visit Capri and stay for longer. Sure do the day trip if that’s all the time you can squeeze in. Yet, if life has taught us something lately it’s that we need to slow down and savor what we experience. Capri will reward you over and over again if you slow down and savor its beauty.

The Certosa di San Giacomo – one of my favorite quiet spots on Capri

This Capri Special Report is packed with tips to help you discover the quieter side of Capri, experience the natural beauty in calm settings, spend a day at the beach below the Faraglioni rocks, and enjoy a relaxing meal at the best restaurants. On top of that, you’ll find out about Capri’s fashion history and where to find the local traditions vibrantly alive today. And that’s just the start! If you’d like to read the full report, visit the Dream of Italy website to find out more about Membership. There are some excellent bonuses for subscribing now, including the beautiful new book Always Italy by Frances Mayes.

Click here to become a member of Dream of Italy and read the Capri Special Report

Jan 26 2020

Discover the Art of Capri in Italia! Magazine

Laura Thayer
TRAVEL, WRITING

While Amalfi will always have my heart, the island of Capri has a very special place there as well. Recently, I had the chance to share some of my favorite things about Capri in the February 2020 issue of Italia! magazine. With an artistic bent, this article offers a small glimpse into some of the people, places, and experiences that for me really get at the true essence of the island’s magic.

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dream-of-italy-capri-walks
Aug 12 2017

Check Out My Favorite Capri Walks in Dream of Italy!

Laura Thayer
WRITING

ciao-amalfi-capri-walks-dream-of-italy

It’s been a quiet summer around here on Ciao Amalfi, but it certainly hasn’t been a quiet time. Summer is always a busy period, but this year seems especially hectic … and hot! We’ve had a heat wave on the Amalfi Coast, making usually hot August even stickier than normal. But I’ve had a lot of fun experiences this summer, including writing a feature piece in Dream of Italy’s June/ July newsletter on my favorite walks on Capri. It was a pleasure to explore the island, covering familiar pathways and discovering some new ones to me – all while taking notes and photographs for the article. I’ve shared a variety of walks, including some short and easy walks if you only have a limited time on Capri as well as some longer hikes if you’re staying for more than a day. However, all of them show you the way to discovering the natural beauty of Capri!

dream-of-italy-capri-walks

You can check out a sneak peek of one of the walks on the Dream of Italy blog with Capri Walk #2: Natural Beauty Up Close. To read about all the walks, check out the Dream of Italy June/ July 2017 issue here.

Amalfi Coast Travel May-2
May 01 2016

Buon Primo Maggio!

Laura Thayer
Amalfi Coast Seasons

Amalfi Coast Travel May-1

As I sit down to write this morning, rain is pouring down on the Amalfi Coast and low clouds have turned my view into nothing but white. Spring arrived early this year, but the last couple of weeks have been a most unwelcome return to winter. Yet the rains will clear and when the sun shines everything will be an even more brilliant shade of green. This truly is my favorite time of year watching the Amalfi Coast come to life!

Amalfi Coast Travel May-2

Spring has been busy this year in so many wonderful ways. I’ve been to Paris for work, Florence for fun and Rome and exploring the Amalfi Coast with some of my family – visiting Italy for the first time! So many happy memories and amazing experiences along the way. In Paris, I did a one-on-one mentoring day with the incomparable Carla Coulson, which was an incredible day from start to finish. Couldn’t possibly put into words how much that one day has changed everything, but I will soon try in a blog post all about it.

Florence in the Spring

Then I dashed off to Florence for a long weekend with Michelle from Bleeding Espresso and the cutest two year old in Italy. I spent the weekend being a My Little Pony (Miss Pommel to be precise) and it was so much fun! And having my family visit here and being able to show them this beautiful part of Italy that I am fortunate to call home has been a very special time. The weather was a bit finicky, but we had a great time!

Amalfi Coast Travel May-3

Behind the scenes, I’m also working on a complete redesign of Ciao Amalfi, which I am really impatient to share with all of you. (There’s just this pesky four page to do list before I can launch the new website …) Today may be the Festa del lavoro (Labor Day) in Italy, but there’s no rest for me as I want to launch the new website as soon as possible. So hang tight a little longer! In the meantime, I’m back to blogging and have so many fun things to share soon from this spring. Happy May Day!

Amalfi Coast Travel Faraglioni rocks from Monte Solaro
Apr 25 2015

Finding the Height of Beauty on Capri

Laura Thayer
WRITING
Amalfi Coast Travel Capri Monte Solaro View

– A view you can get lost in from the top of Monte Solaro on Capri

What started my passion for writing and sharing about the Amalfi Coast is my love for this remarkable place in Italy. There is so much to see and discover, and I want every traveler to experience the stunning natural beauty for themselves. It was a joy to have the chance to write about two of my favorite places on Capri for the Winter 2014 issue of the NIAF Ambassador magazine. I adore Capri and get a bit peeved when I hear people talk about it being too touristy. It takes no more than a few moments from any place that might feel a bit busy to find utter peace and stunning views. In the NIAF article I took readers to the two highest points on Capri to get a nice vantage point. Oh, and some of those stunning views, too!

NIAF Ambassador Capri Article by Laura Thayer

The first stop was Monte Solaro, the peak high above Anacapri, which you can reach by a fun chairlift. (You can also hike up or down or both ways if you’re up to the climb!) Anacapri slowly drifts away behind you as the chairlift glides to the top. The view waiting for you when you alight and climb a short staircase is one you will surely never forget.

Amalfi Coast Travel Capri Chairlift Monte Solaro Anacapri

– Riding the chairlift that goes from the center of Anacapri to Monte Solaro

Atop the viewing area at Monte Solaro you can look straight down to the sparkling sea, across to the village of Capri and feel a refreshing breeze off the sea. There are areas to explore and wander around, a bar with a tremendous view for drinks or a snacks and plenty of photos opportunities.

Amalfi Coast Travel Faraglioni rocks from Monte Solaro

– Looking down from Monte Solaro to the Faraglioni rocks

From Monte Solaro you can see the second highest point on Capri as well. All the way across the island on the top of another peak you’ll spot a large villa. You can even see it in the photo below. That was once the home of none other than the Roman Emperor Tiberius. The peak is still named after him and is called Monte Tiberio today, and you can visit the ruins of the one splendid Roman villa.

Amalfi Coast Travel View of Villa Jovis from Monte Solaro

It’s a bit of a hike, but an absolutely gorgeous one, to reach Villa Jovis from the center of Capri town. If you thought the only Roman ruins to be found in the area were at Pompeii and Herculaneum, then you’re in for a treat. There’s a lot more to discover on Capri than you might think!

Amalfi Coast Travel Villa Jovis Capri

– Exploring the ruins of Villa Jovis

Villa Jovis was the opulent home of Tiberius and was completed in 27 AD. Even today it seems to remote, and it’s hard to image that he ruled the Roman Empire for 10 years from this very spot. Well, he certainly knew how to pick a good view! From Villa Jovis you can see straight across to the very tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. To the right is the Amalfi Coast and to the left the Sorrento coastline.

Amalfi Coast Travel View of the Sorrento Peninsula from Villa Jovis

– Looking across to the Sorrento Peninsula from Villa Jovis on Capri

I hope the next time your travels take you to Capri that you’ll spend some time exploring, whether the high spots or the gorgeous coastline and beaches by boat, to see a different side of the island. Thank you to the NIAF Ambassador magazine for the chance to share two of my favorite spots on Capri!