(map) Capri
Telecommuting from Capri, who wouldn’t? But 2000 years ago?
That’s exactly what Emperor Tiberius did for ten years. Capri is a dry island so four large masonry water tanks were built at the heart of his villa. Procurement? Check! And signals passed in two stages from a beacon tower to the Roman fleet stationed at Capo Miseno. Communications? Check!
Except this is a long way from the Roman forum. Why govern from here? One answer is that on Capri, Tiberius felt safe from assassination attempts. And we thought telecommuting was to avoid traffic. Another possible reason is his reputation (right or wrong) for orgiastic excess; allegedly he hurled less than compliant servants to oblivion from the beautiful loggia. His pleasure, their suffering.
To reach the villa ruins you must climb to a height 345 metres above sea level. Access is on foot, but these days suffering precedes pleasure. The pathway with its amazing views of the sea is bordered with flowers, and part of the way up you’ll find a restaurant whose lemon confections will make you cry with happiness.
Mmm… now it all makes sense…
-- Written by Penny Ewles-Bergeron (see bio), writer, artist, (some paintings visible here), ... finding the many good things in Naples.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
…this story though factual and captivating interest, is written with heart..thank you for lightening my day’s load
June 5th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
can we have a recipe for that lucious looking lemon confection?
June 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Loved your piece on Capri. Also loved the photo of the delicious looking lemon dessert which looks very similar to something I have been served several times while visiting Sorrento and the surrounding areas. Any chance of getting the recipe? Thanks so much.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
What is the name of the restaurant on Capri with the lemon goodies?
June 5th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
What is the name of that incredible lemon dessert? I too was hoping for the recipe!
June 5th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
What a yummy looking dessert. Any way to get the recipe? –or at least the name of that heavenly confection.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
This brought back many memories of making the climb up (at least 5 times) to Villa Jovis and the divine views. It’s time to go back and I must stop at the restaurant mentioned. What is the name of it?
June 6th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Antecipare
such a good word…….
…you give everyone so much to look forward to and anticipate……….to travel mentally is at least as important as the actual arrival..
..Thanks or all your Adventuring and tall tales…you have a Great Job!!!
….look forward to many actual visits
se Dio Vuole……E
June 6th, 2009 at 4:49 am
I want to thank you for the wonderful article. How about the recipe for this lemon dessert? While in Sorrento, I to had something that
resembled this dessert. I cannot remember the name of it.
If you get a chance could you find the recipe and let all of us know.
Thanks again.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Thank you for this wonderful article. I was a Latin teacher in Pennsylvania and in 1999, my husband took a position at the American base in Naples. It was a dream come true for me; we could see Capri from our house in Pozzuoli, and visited many times. The Villa Jovis is a special place to me and I’ve stopped at that restaurant. Now we’re retired and living in Umbria, but I miss Napoli every day.
Thank you for helping me to relive some fantastic memories.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Dear Everybody, I read all your comments with pleasure. Whether it’s imagined or anticipated travel, or happy memories looking back, Capri always touches the heart. Alas, I have no recipe for the lemon pudding – but I’m pretty sure it was called Delizia di limone – dimly remembered through the haze of contentment caused by the food! However, the restaurant is La Savardina at Via Lo Capo, 8. They have a website at http://www.caprilasavardina.com/it.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I tried but their website was only in Italian! I made that walk and stumbled on Villa Jovis …I was lost…i think I covered the entire island that afternoon, but I didn’t see the restaurant…too bad!