ou don't set out for the islands of the Gulf of Naples for a change of scenery: you discover them to reconnect with a deeper dimension. From the heart of Naples's old town, in the neighborhood that preserves centuries of history and beauty, the Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel is the ideal starting point for exploring Capri, Ischia, and Procida with a different perspective: more intimate, more aware, more authentic. Thanks to our location, you can fully experience the UNESCO-listed historic city center and then, perhaps inspired by our spacious terrace, head to the spaces and places you most desire with our transfer service. Allow yourself the luxury of losing yourself in the alleys, discovering Naples from within, and then setting off with us toward new, intense emotions. In this article, we'll tell you about the three pearls of our Gulf: ready to learn more about Capri, Ischia, and Procida?
Capri: beyond the Piazzetta, between hidden silences and secret terraces
Capri is more than just an island: it’s an enchantment that changes with every glance. It was the kingdom of emperors, a refuge for artists, a stage for timeless passions. But the true Capri—the one that can only be discovered by those who want to go beyond the surface—is a secret, refined, spiritual, and irresistibly magnetic place.
To truly savor it, you must arrive early, when the island still breathes gently and the dawn light illuminates the outline of the rocks. It’s the perfect time to walk up to Villa Jovis, amidst the scents of Mediterranean scrub and the gentle sound of your own footsteps. At the top, you’ll be greeted by the view of an endless sea, Vesuvius on the horizon, and the feeling of touching history firsthand. An emotion that will stay with you.
At that point, to truly love Capri, keep walking and discover it. Beyond the glittering boutiques and the tourist crowds, you’ll enter a more intimate world, made of secret alleys and forgotten paths. It’s here that the island will reveal itself for what it truly is: a labyrinth of authentic beauty.
For example, you can discover the Philosophical Park of Anacapri. Still rarely seen on current itineraries, created by the visionary Gunnar Adler-Karlsson, it features quotes from philosophers from around the world engraved on colorful ceramics, capturing impressions and thoughts. Walking there is like walking through a lucid dream: a journey of reflection, even within oneself.
If you’re looking for the sea, the kind that needs no filters to be immortalized in a photo or narrated, let yourself be guided and reach Mesola beach, nestled beneath the Cerio Foundation villa. It’s a haven of pure peace.
Cala del Fico, reachable only by sea, is another gem hidden among the rocks: wild, authentic, and unknown to most.
These are places that speak to the heart, where nature seems to whisper ancient secrets to those brave enough to listen.
But Capri also knows how to seduce with its more worldly – yet always exclusive – side. La Zagara in Anacapri, with its enchanting garden and the scent of citrus in the air, is a moment of beauty where you can savor local cuisine in an authentic atmosphere. The restaurant da Tonino, just a short walk from the Natural Arch, welcomes you with understated elegance and a culinary offering that thoughtfully celebrates the flavors of the region. These are genuine places, untouched by passing trends – places that tell stories.
If you want to experience Capri at its most authentic, forget the large piers and rush hour. Depart from the small ports of Santa Lucia or Mergellina on a private boat and arrive at Marina Piccola in the late afternoon, when the sun begins to set and the island empties. It’s in that golden hour that Capri transforms. It becomes silent, profound, irresistible. And it captivates you. Forever.
Ischia: the healing island, between volcanoes, gardens, and designer districts
Ischia is an entire world enclosed in an island: six municipalities, each with its own soul, and a variety of landscapes ranging from the volcanic sea to chestnut forests, from extinct craters to terraced vineyards. It is the island of health, yes—but also of profound warmth.
Many come for its famous thermal parks, but few know about the free natural springs like Nitrodi, whose waters were used by the Greeks as a dermatological elixir and are now recognized by the Ministry of Health for their properties. The Cavascura spa, carved into the living rock and heated by natural springs, offers an ancestral experience: there are no frills, just you, stone, and steam.
But Ischia, it’s important to know, can also be aristocratic and cultured. In the La Mortella Gardens, commissioned by Lady Walton, you can stroll among water lilies, tropical plants, and works of art in a visual and olfactory crescendo. Forio, with its Moorish architecture and watchtowers, is home to the Church of Soccorso, one of the most poetic views of the Mediterranean: from here, the sunset is tinged with gold and cobalt.
To truly understand the soul of Ischia, you must be guided to its most iconic rock: the Aragonese Castle. It is not merely a fortress, but a fragment of time suspended above the sea. Its origins are steeped in legend—when the island was gifted to Hiero I, tyrant of Syracuse, as a reward for an ancient alliance. Later, the Romans fortified its strategic position, founding the colony of Aenaria, which disappeared following a volcanic eruption in the 2nd century AD, forever separating the islet from the rest of Ischia.
Centuries of conquest—by the Normans, Swabians, Angevins, and Aragonese—have shaped its walls. It was Alfonso I of Aragon, in 1441, who gave the castle its current form, inspired by Naples’ Maschio Angioino, transforming it from a military outpost into a royal residence: a place of courtly life, of art, of soul. Here, atop these sea-facing bastions, Vittoria Colonna married Ferrante d’Avalos, Marquis of Pescara, in an era when the island was a crossroads of nobles and poets.
For those seeking a dinner with a view and privacy: the restaurant at the San Montano Resort & Spa, suspended between sky and sea, is a terrace overlooking infinity. And then there’s the food and wine of the hinterland: Tenuta Piromallo in Serrara Fontana, a place where wine is born from the tuff and pairs with simple yet sublime dishes. Not far away, the village of Buonopane offers not only boundless views but also the chance to witness one of the few remaining authentic performances of the ‘ndrezzata, an ancient Ischian ritual dance.
Suggested location: The Maddalena forest, above Casamicciola, is one of the few places on the island where you can still walk for hours without encountering anyone, if you’re lucky, encountering centuries-old beech trees, rare plants, and finding peace in the sound of your own footsteps.
Procida: the whispered poetry that doesn't need to be understood, only experienced
Procida is the island that speaks in dialect, without translation. It is the smallest but also the most meaningful. It isn’t as scenic or impactful as the other two mentioned: Procida is emotional, ungrammatical, profoundly human. Its pastel-colored houses are not decoration but necessity: each color signifies a family of fishermen, an identity.
Walking on this island is like entering a novel written by the sea. The port of Marina Grande welcomes you, but it’s in Corricella that your heartbeat and breath slow with wonder. Here you can still smell the pure scent of salt, of laid nets, of homemade coffee. The boats move slowly, like the conversations between the elderly who meet there, cherishing the moments.
Some restaurants and places, like La Lampara (embedded in the rock and well-kept), allow you to stop and eat amidst one of the most beautiful views in Italy. But Il Maestrale, with its menu featuring the freshest seafood and tables overlooking the water, is also a place to remember.
Don Michele Ambrosino Library: a little gem in the House of Cultures, frequented by writers and locals. A place of silence and stories.
Terra Murata, with its fortified village and the walls that have protected the island for centuries, is a place of reflection: here are the former Bourbon prison and the Abbey of San Michele, built on a cliff overlooking the sea. The view embraces the Gulf, all the way to Naples. On clear days, you can even make out the profile of Vesuvius, as if it were a silent sentinel.
The real magic, however, lies on Vivara, connected by an iron bridge. It is a protected nature reserve, closed to mass tourism, home to rare species of birds and wild orchids. Visits are by reservation only, and it is a natural sanctuary for the select few.
Suggested experience:
Lose yourself in the timeless beauty of Il Postino, the iconic film that captures Procida’s dreamy, surreal charm. Then, walk the paths and visit the beaches that served as its cinematic backdrop—starting with the Postman’s Beach, one of the most breathtaking spots on the island. It’s where the love between Mario and Beatrice began.
Or, in the early morning, while the island is still asleep, start your day with a freshly squeezed lemon granita at Chiaro di Luna Gelateria, overlooking Marina Chiaiolella. Then hop aboard a traditional wooden boat and sail around the island, stopping for a swim in Carbonchio Bay, where the water is so crystal-clear it feels almost unreal.
Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel: the place to start, the place to return
Returning to the Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel, after one or more days spent on the islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida means finding a haven of calm, elegance, and authentic hospitality.
We are at your complete disposal to create tailor-made experiences: exclusive itineraries, carefully designed and organized down to the last detail, to meet your needs without leaving anything to chance.
After all, true wealth lies precisely in this: having the freedom to experience a place at your own pace, with respect, depth, and wonder.
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