Built upon ancient Roman ruins, the Gardens of Augustus were situated high atop a southerly facing cliff with a sheer drop to the sea. Owned and developed by German industrialist Friedrich Krupp during the early twentieth century, they were donated to the island. Later they were renamed after Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor who first visited Capri in 29BC and referred to it as “the island of sweet idleness”.

We walked upon gently sloping paths offering splendid panorama after panorama, and it was difficult to decide whether the best views were of the gardens themselves or of the many panoramic vistas of the Capri coastline and its jagged cliffs.

The Gardens overlook the sea and the steepest face of Mount Solaro, with scenic terraces offering spectacular views of the Capri coastline, including the Bay of Marina Piccola and the spectacular hairpin bends of Via Krupp.