Italy travel Archives - The Blonde Flamingo

Exploring Capri Island: A Chic Travel Guide

theblondeflamingo / June 10, 2022 / 1 Comment

I am finally back with the guide I’ve been promising you for a very long time. The chic guide to Capri, Italy- one of the most charming islands in the world. I know many of you are heading to this absolutely breathtaking island this summer and I decided to put all my favourite places together with the most iconic spots and practical information to make your upcoming holidays unforgettable and stress-free.

Where is Capri?

Capri is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples. The nearest airport is Naples Capodichino airport.

How do you get to the island?

The easiest is taking a taxi from the airport to Molo Beverello port (about 20 minutes drive) where you can catch a ferry to Capri. The ferry takes about 45 minutes and costs about 25 euros. You can check the ferry time schedule here.

How to move around the island?

There’s a few ways. You can move around either by taxis, buses or my favorite- by scooter or vespa! We have been renting a scooter at the same place for years and I thought it would be helpful to share. I recommend Noleggio scooter Capri by Alfano 1. You can rent at Marina Grande, Capri, and Anacapri. We normally rent from Anacapri.

Where to stay in Capri?

The island of Capri is divided into two municipalities: Capri and Anacapri. People often ask what is a better place to stay. If you’d like to experience the real ambience of Capri island- the luxury restaurants, world-class shopping, night clubs and the famous Piazzetta, the best place for you would be staying around Capri town. However, if you’d like to experience a little bit less busy, more intimate atmosphere, while still not being far from Capri Town, I would suggest Anacapri.

From my personal experience Capri Town gets very crowded during the summer, so I really enjoy slower and quieter mornings in Anacapri, and then enjoying evenings in Capri town, when the temperature is cooler. It’s about 15 minutes by taxi from Anacapri to Capri town. It’s very easy to move between both places.

Villa Solage in Anacapri

This year I had a chance to stay at Villa Solage located in the heart of Anacapri. It was a very special stay as it was my birthday trip. My girlfriends flew over from London. It was their first time in Capri, so I wanted to make sure to show them the best of Capri. Villa Solage was the perfect choice. It is a charming villa in a typical Caprese Style. I fell in love from the moment I stepped into its lush green gardens, full of tropical plants, lemon trees , and olive groves. What an Italian dream!

This location required a special outfit!

The villa is located about 1.4 kilometers from the center of Anacapri. There are a few steps to take, but the breathtaking views and the tranquility are worth it. Solage offers accommodation for up to 12 guests. The villa is distributed on two levels. There are three bedrooms upstairs with the gorgeous balconies overlooking the greenery and the sea, and 2 bedrooms downstairs. Moreover, there is a gorgeous open-space kitchen and living room. Personally my favorite area in the villa. I found this space so inspiring. I loved the cozy fire place, the traditional ceramics, and coral decoration.

What’s also special about Villa Solage is the huge private pool and the terrace over-looking the lush greenery and the sea. For my birthday celebration the girls and I decided to throw a little pool party followed up by a magical aperitif on the terrace. We witnessed the most beautiful sunset! It was honestly spectacular! Felt so lucky to be with my closest friends on my beloved island. Couldn’t have imagined a better way to celebrate my birthday!

For villa bookings and availability please click here

What to do in Capri?

Capri has it all! From iconic beach clubs, chic restaurants, fancy bars, to high-end boutiques, breathtaking landscapes and stunning beaches. I have been to the island about 10 times now and you can find my perfect Capri itinerary below.

Morning boat tour with Gianni

One of my beloved activities when in Capri- a private island tour with a skipper. There’s no better way to see the island! I really enjoyed admiring the absolutely spectacular views, swimming in the crystal clear waters, discovering magical caves while having fun, and catching some rays! PS. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat to avoid sunburn! For bookings click here.

Lunch at the Camerelle restaurant

You cannot miss lunch at the iconic and super-chic Le Camerelle Restaurant located at Via Camerrelle 81, in the heart of Capri. It’s only a short walk from the main Piazzetta. It’s a perfect place to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine under the Capri sun. I personally love sitting at their stylish outdoor tables and admiring the beautiful views. It’s also a perfect place for a people watch! The service and food are absolutely outstanding. If you area seafood lover like myself, highly recommend trying the seafood salad as a starter and seafood spaghetti as a main course. Alternatively, I also recommend the classic Gnocchi alla Sorrentina! So simple and so delicious!

Admire the views from Augustus Gardens

For the best views of Capri’s iconic Faraglioni rocks and Marina Piccola, you must visit the absolutely spectacular Augustus Gardens. I highly recommend visiting in the morning so you can experience the beauty of this place without the heat and crowds. I have been here so many times and I can’t get enough. Being there feels kind of therapeutic to me. Sitting on a gorgeous ceramic bench, in a shade, surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers and listening to the birds chipping. Did I make you dream already? Then check out these views! Truly unforgettable experience!

Soak up the sun at the Fontelina Capri Beach Club

There’s nowhere I was dreaming of visiting as much as the iconic La Fontelina Capri. I have seen the photos of this stylish beach club and finally this year I made it here! It is probably one of the most famous and prestigious beach clubs in the world, loved by the international jet set and many big celebrities. It is always fully booked, so please book in advance. What makes it so special? It is the only beach club where you can sun bath right opposite the iconic Faraglioni rocks. Imagine having a swim beneath the Capri’s pearl- Faraglioni. What a dream!

How to get there? You can either take a walk from the Piazetta on foot, via a little path that starts next to the Tragara viewing point and walk all the way down. It takes around 30 minutes from the main Piazzetta and it is quite tiring in the heat to be honest; however the views on the way down are spectacular. Instead, you can take the beach club’s shuttle boat from Marina Piccola ( about 7 euros per person, May 2022, price). What we did, we walked to the beach club on the way in, and took a boat shuttle on the way back. It was such a fabulous experience! We were sun bathing with my girlfriends on the stylish striped sun-lounger, sipping Aperol Spritz, followed up by a delicious lunch at their famous restaurant. Loved the experience. It’s expensive but super worth it!

Sunset cocktails at Capri Palace

If you’re looking for a chic and tranquil place for a sunset cocktail, I highly recommend a visit to Capri Palace Jumeirah in Anacapri. It is the best luxury 5-star hotel in Capri. I visited Bistro Ragù- their gorgeous panoramic terrace overlooking the spectacular Gulf of Naples, for a sunset aperitif and it was perfect! They serve some lovely canapés and the most delicious cocktails. I recommend trying their signature Limoncello Spritz!

Luxury Shopping experience

I believe there is nowhere as special to shop like Capri. The surroundings are just stunning! You can find the major luxury boutiques at Via Camerelle. Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Dior, LV, Fendi, Miu Miu, Valentino, Gucci and many more. Some of those brands also sell exclusive Capri collections. I am sure you have seen Dior Capri! So beautiful! But there’s so much more to shop at Capri apart from those famous brands. You can also shop Capri’s local products such as their famous handmade leather sandals decorated with colourful stones, unique ceramics (definitely recommend to have a look at Ricciocaprese boutique in Capri as well as Eureka in Anacapri), gorgeous Caprese style homeware ( I love Capri shop Art Work at Anacapri), perfumes at the iconic Carthusia, or the famous Capri Watch.

Golden hour aperitif at Il Riccio Anacapri

What’s more magical than a delicious cocktail or a chilled glass of wine with a view in a beautiful setting? I am personally obsessed with finding unique and luxurious spots for a drink and I found quite a few in Capri. My personal favourite is Il Riccio Anacapri. It’s a super chic beach club that overlooks the Blue Grotto from its absolutely spectacular terrace. It’s accessible either by taxi or a boat. What makes it so special apart from the breathtaking views? I love the design, furniture, stylish parasols, fantastic music, outstanding service, the eye to detail. Everything is served absolutely beautifully. And my favourite part? This beach club has been home to Dior who set up their amazing Dior pop-up store here! Yes, you can get a pic of a chic Dior Vespa! Oh my! I want one!

Alternatively, you can book a sun bed here or a romantic dinner. For more information and bookings click here.

Dine at Da Paolino Capri

I am sure you all heard about this absolutely gorgeous restaurant! This is where you can dine under the beautiful lemon trees – the symbol of Capri. It is located nearby Marina Grande- the main port. I can guarantee you will fall in love with this place from the moment you step in. The setting is just absolutely magical- both at day and night time. The food here is spectacular too! I recommend trying everything lemon infused – Tagliolini al Limone, Ravioli Capresi al Limone and my favourite Lemon Sorbet! Oh, take me there right now!

Watch the sunset at Lido del Faro

Dreaming of witnessing the incredible sunset in a beautiful setting? You can’t miss a visit to Lido del Faro. It is located just in front of Capri’s lighthouse. I absolutely loved watching the sun go down here. It’s such a relaxing spot on the island with such a great vibe. The music is fantastic too! And the sunsets here- wow. I was speechless!

I hope my Chic Guide to Capri will make your trip to Capri unforgettable! It is truly one of my favourite places in the world. I hope my recommendations will help you to fall in love with this magical island too!

Dominika

48 hours in Alberobello guide

theblondeflamingo / August 4, 2020 / Leave a comment

Ah so excited to write this guide for you! I’ve dreamt of visiting Alberobello since I can remember! I am so happy I finally made it! This little town in Apulia’s region was love at first sight. I hope this little guide will inspire you to visit this fairytale destination.

Where is Alberobello?

Alberobello is a small village in the Itria Valley in Puglia, Southern Italy. This small town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unusual districts of trulli, the characteristic white-washed, conical-roofed houses of the area.

How to get there?

The best airports for Alberobello are Bari and Brindisi, both served by budget airlines from the United Kingdom. From Bari airport you can simply catch a shuttle bus to Bari railway station then take a little train run by FSE (Ferrovie Sud Est) to Alberobello. The journey take about 2 hours. Alternatively you can also rent a car and drive there.

Where to stay?

During my stay in Alberobello I was very lucky to stay in the most glorious place – La Linea dell’Orizzonte which means ” Beyond the Horizon”. It’s a B&B resort located few minutes drive from the main square in Alberobello. I fall in love from the moment I got to this property. It was surrounded by fields and trees. What a wonderful smell and sounds of the nature! I truly loved it. We also got there right before the golden hour so it was just so magical and peaceful! I also got to meet the wonderful owners, who made us feel home. I just loved how warm and loving were people in this region! We were greeted with the most dreamy aperitif by their gorgeous pool. It was a perfect way to start our Alberobello adventure!

Best thing about this B&B? You will get to stay in Trullo! I was so excited as it was honestly my dream experience! When we got the keys to our trullo I couldn’t believe my eyes. I absolutely loved the traditional decor! It was so cosy!

La Linea dell’Orizzonte also has its private wellness center, called “La rosa dei venti” that includes a Finnish sauna and a Turkish bath, a tropical and nebulized emotional shower, a hydromassage pool and a relax area with herbal tea.

I only stayed here for a night but I can truly recommend it. Each unit is fitted with patio, a fully-equipped kitchen and a private bathroom. I think it’s a perfect place for both couples and families with children. There is a great children playground and a lovely pool. If you’re not planning to rent a car, the property offers a bike rental. We’ve done it and it was super fun to explore the area on the bikes ( and a great morning work out too!). PS Their Italian breakfasts are lovely! We actually decided to do a little picnic style breakfast under the olive trees and it was just perfect!

What to do in Alberobello?

Alberobello is a small town. In my opinion one day is more than enough to explore it. What I loved the most was getting lost between the lovely alleys and admire the gorgeous trulli. It felt like being in a fairytale. It was so magical exploring Alberobello without crazy crowds. I highly recommend strolling in the morning as it less crowded and less hot. The heat in the afternoon is insane! What you can also do here is shop! There are many pretty local boutiques where you can find everything from clothing, accessories to local wine and pasta. I highly recommend getting some orrechiete- a typical pasta from this region. Here’s some Alberobello snaps! Look how pretty are these streets!

Alberobello is also very special to visit at night, that’s way I think staying here over the night is a great idea as you can sleep in a trullo and explore the town with the colourful city lights. These views are truly unforgettable! Such a magical experience!

Where to eat?

Alberobello is full of little restaurants and cafes, however I was looking something more particular. I was looking for a place with a terrace so I could enjoy the views. I was so happy when I found Ristorante il Pinnacolo, located inside traditional trullo with a prettiest little terrace. As it was a very hot day, we decided to have seafood- Octopus Salad, White Fish Carpaccio. We’ve also shared the famous Orecchiete with cime di rapa- traditional pasta with broccoli rabe and it was so tasty! The views from here are wonderful! I highly recommend this place! PS. It’s super affordable too.

Where to drink?

You may want to write the name of place down- Senso Unico. I discovered this place by total accident as I had to wait for my bus back to Naples on my own in the rain. I saw this place and it seemed so cosy that I didn’t hesitate and got a table for one. I sat down and ordered a glass of local red wine. When it arrived to the table I was shocked! The glass was HUGE and the price of it was 1.50 euros! I was already so happy with the place but it got even better! Around 10pm I was the only person sitting there and I noticed they are slowly starting to close down. I had a little chat with a waiter and I asked him where could I go as I have 1.5 hours more until my bus arrived. He informed the owner and he kindly kept the place opened and stayed with me! I was shocked! We had such a lovely chat! He told me he needs to make sure I am getting on the bus safely. Honestly never experienced such a kindness before! Gotta love people in Southern Italy! I will never ever forget that! If you ever visit this place, please give the owner a massive hug from me! I will come back for sure!

I hope you enjoyed this little guide and I hope you’re ready to explore this magical little town soon!

Kisses,

The Blonde Flamingo

Melrose Relais – a magical place to stay on the Sorrento Peninsula

theblondeflamingo / July 20, 2020 / Leave a comment

Hi everyone!

As most of you probably seen on Instagram, after months in the UK, I have finally made it to my beloved country – Italy, where I am planning to stay for a while. Last week I had a chance to stay in an absolutely beautiful place that I decided to blog about straight away. I felt like I just had to let you know about this magical site. I know traveling is not possible right now, but we can always keep dreaming and planning our future escapes, right? I hope this post will inspire your future trips!

LOCATION

Melrose Relais is located a few steps from the sea, in the splendid scene of Massa Lubrense. It’s surrounded by the typical olive trees of the Sorrento peninsula and the Mediterranean Scrub, and it’s placed only 300 meters away from the famous beach Marina di Puolo. The view from this property is absolutely stunning. It’s overseeing Mount Vesuvius on one side and Island of Capri on the other.

HOW TO GET THERE

The nearest airport is Naples International, 57 km from MelRose Relais. There are few ways to get there : either by Circumvesuviana train from Naples station, by Curreri bus or by car – From the A3 Napoli – Salerno highway.

The property also offers a paid airport shuttle service. You can read more here. We got there by car from Naples and the views on our way were incredible! The trip took us less than an hour.

ACCOMMODATION

Melrose Relais offers few different room types : Classic, Deluxe, Superior 2+2 – perfect for families ,and Junior Suite. All rooms are bright, modern with a little Mediterranean touch. I stayed at Junior Suite and it was a perfect choice for us as a couple as we had our own private terrace with the most magical views over Bay of Naples and island of Capri. We enjoyed them every morning while having breakfast. It was a perfect way to start our day. What a dream! I already miss it. I also absolutely loved the typical Sorrento majolica tiles everywhere on the terrace and also in the bathroom- so beautiful! Could I please move in?

DINING

Our day would start with breakfast on our private terrace. It was perfect! Then we were having lunch by the pool – super chilled but chic at the same time- they serve everything so beautifully and the food was absolutely delicious! As the owner said- everything from her grandma’s recipes.

At night we would dine at their beautiful restaurant under olive trees, facing the sea and the most incredible sunsets. It was such a magical and romantic experience. I absolutely loved the laterns, candles, and flowers everywhere. It was honestly so special. Not even mentioning how incredible the food was. I felt like the chef was reading my mind. What I won’t ever forget is the tuna tartare I had there – one of the most delicious ones I ever tried! I will surely go back to Melrose for dinner!

Recently Melrose opened the most gorgeous Bistrot – I absolutely loved the design, colors and decor. The Bistrot is available for both- hotel and non-hotel guests. I highly recommend booking it!

THINGS TO DO

There’s a lot to do around. You should definitely explore the beautiful Massa Lubrense and head to the magical Cala di Puolo Beach which is only 13 minutes walk. You should also explore Sorrento- I promise you’ll fall in love at first sight! My love started from the moment I ate this huge croissaint, haha!

Apart from that, Melrose offers tours by boat (both private or in group) to Capri, Positano, Li Galli, Baia di Jeranto, Amalfi. We took a Capri tour and I absolutely loved it. It was such a beautiful day on the sea, with the loveliest crew, great music, stunning views ,and even homemade limoncello! During the tour we also stopped at Capri for a few hours so we could hang around the island. Ah, no place like Capri! I have seen it so many times and I can’t get enough! Just look at it!

To sum up, I had the best stay at Melrose Relais and I can recommend this place with all my heart due to its stunning location and incredible family who put all their hearts to create this place and it’s magic.

They kindly offer 10% off your stay when using the code blondeflamingo10 when booking. The code also gives you free parking. I really hope you’ll book it and fall in love with this magical property and the most wonderful hospitality. You can book your stay here.

Post in collaboration with Melrose Relays