The island of Capri

With the Blue Grotto, from emperors to the divas of today, it has always been the island of the VIP.
Located in front of the Sorrentine peninsula, almost an extension of embracing the Golf of Naples, this little island has been loved since ancient times and chosen by people in prominent positions, from Roman emperors to great painters and writers of the past two centuries to the great divas of today. Tzar Nicholas II, Emperor Francesco Giuseppe, and Queen Victoria of Sweden stayed in Palazzo Cerio, Gor'kij and other exiled Russians including Lenin stayed in the so-called "Casa Rossa".
The two towns of the island, Capri on the sea, which was once a marine and fishing town, and Anacapri on the mountain, which is a farming town, are today connected by a narrow street, full of curves and is continuously on the edge of a cliff. The local drivers speed on it, giving tourists chills. Until last century the towns were connected by a long stairway called the "scalinatella longa longa" from the song called, "Scala Fenicia" because it dated back to the Fenici era. Between the two towns there has always been a very strong rivalry, even if today the characteristic differences have faded.
In Capri there are stores of the most important names in fashion and jewelry. Here international and national meeting continually take place; the characteristic hotels, bars, and restaurants have the stars of world gossip as their guests; lives of the worldly elite unfold in luxurious villas.
Even if boats and hydrofoils disembark in every season with many tourists from around the world, who stop for a moment in the charming little square, they are then directed by guides that hold their colored umbrellas high towards shops where they can purchase "local" products. If the weather's nice perhaps they can visit the Blue Grotto.
But apart from the worldly life of Capri, or touristic life, there is still a charming Capri to be enjoyed by taking long walks on its well-maintained small streets and stairways or on its smooth paths which continually lead to the discovery of marvelous views; with places such as the remains of Tiberio Villa, Villa Damecuta, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Cetrella, the "Faraglioni", the majestic Natural Arch, and Matromania Cave, theater of ancient ceremonies, the "Punta Cannone", and many others. There is also all of Anacapri to enjoy, where on horse between the 18th and 19th centuries the Swedish doctor-writer-collector, Axel Munthe, constructed his very original home and here wrote "The History of St. Michael", one of the most read and translated books in the world and had the queen of Sweden as his guest, among others. To see are the Church of St. Michael, whose entire pavement in colored majolica tells the story of the creation of the world and Earthly Paradise, and the "Casa Rossa" (not that of Capri), which has recently been restored and has a valuable collection of paintings that have the island as their subject. Go up by means of the cable railway to Mount Solaro and, if you have time and the desire to walk, take a beautiful walk to the "Fortini" (forts) that go from the lighthouse to the Blue Grotto.
It is recommended spending at least three days here (a week is better) in any period except the summer months.
Ischia
The green island with its thermal baths, the Aragonese Castle, sea, well-being, and worldliness.
Located at the extreme northern portion of the Gulf of Naples, in correspondence with Pozzuoli, in front of Capri, which is to the extreme south, the two islands, together with other Flegree, seem to prolong the arms of the gulf, evident sign that at one time they were connected to the land. Called "The Green Island" for the characteristic color of the brittle volcanic rocks that make it up, Ischia has always been famous for its thermal baths: water, mud, fumaroles, used by the ancient Romans and today largely utilized in more or less luxurious hotels and establishments. After Sicily and Sardinia it is the most populated Italian island, even if Elba is larger and has many towns. The largest is Porto d'Ischia, linked to Ischia Ponte, which is dominated by Aragonese Castle, a monument of great fascination and interest enhanced by a clever restoration still in progress. The towns and cities underwent an excessive expansion during the second hald of the last century, which altered its original characteristics. Still, some places are still full of appeal, such as the castle, the town of Sant'Angelo, the very beautiful gardens called "la Mortella", where you'll find a collection of original plants from different countries, the Maddalena woods, Mount Epomeo, which is almost 800 meters high and overlooks the island.