Villa San Michele

Swedish physician Axel Munthe built it at the turn of the 20th century on the grounds of one of Tiberius's ancient villas. The gardens have stupendous views of the island, the Sorrentine Peninsula and Mount Vesuvius. The villa and its grounds sit on a ledge at the top of the so-called Phoenician Steps (Scala Fenicia in Italian), built between Anacapri and Capri very probably by the first Greek settlers (the stairs are very steep and not for everybody). The good doctor wrote a book about the building of the villa and it makes good reading (The Story of San Michele). You'll find the book in many languages at the villa gift store for about €10. The villa makes a very nice visit, and along the road to get here you'll find nice stores that sell limoncello that is quite good (especially cold).