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The Island of Capri’s Blue Grotto

Contrary to what I guess is popular belief, Capri’s Blue Grotto isn’t the “only” grotto in and around Greek Islands that sports crystal blue waters! The Blue Grotto just happens to be on the island of Capri and Capri just happens to be one of those “in” places that tourists and Italians alike clamor to in hopes of seeing-meeting-or-being-mistaken-for the very rich and/or famous.

Personally I don’t think Capri is the most happening of Greek islands (I prefer the island of Procida) nor do I feel theBlue Grotto is the be-all-end-all of cool caves with pristine blue water. But if you’re going to visit Capri then check out the Blue Grotto while you’re there!

So what makes the Blue Grotto so special? Good question and I’ve asked myself that many times over the years. Apart from its size and transparent waters, the Blue Grotto is not much different from other submerged caves that dot the rocky coastline. But is a cool place to kill a few hours.

Visitors can reach the Blue Grotto by bus or taxi from center of the Island; or by boat from Marina Grande in one of the tour boats which stop at the entrance of the cave during the trip around the island.

The Nitty Gritty

The entrance to the Blue Grotto is formed by a small natural crevice in the rocky wall, about 6 feet wide and 5 feet high. You’ll need to exercise some patience if you want t visit the Blue Grotto: small row-boats take even smaller groups of passengers (two to three maximum) through the narrow mouth of the cave. And when the ocean is choppy you can’t get into the Grotto as entrance under those conditions is impossible. (Word of advice: tour operators won’t tell you that though, so try to get a bead on weather conditions before you pay).

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According to Capri.net, the roof of the entrance is situated approximately 1 meter above the level of the sea and, for this reason; passengers are obliged to lie down in the boat whilst passing in to the cave. The boatman sets down his oars and maneuvers the boat inside with the aid of a chain attached to the vault of the entrance — known locally as the Duomo Azzurro – and sports an average height of 7 meters rising to 14 towards the back of cave.

Weird Science

You will gasp at the incredible blue palette of the water. In one of those chemical-physical-biological principals that I can’t even hint at understanding the blue coloring of the Grotta Azzurra is created by the daylight which enters via an underwater opening located immediately below the entrance to the cave. According to xCapri.net, the light is then filtered by the water which absorbs the red tones, leaving only the blue ones to pass into the cave. A second phenomenon creates the silver appearance of the objects immersed in the water: given that the index of refraction of the bubbles of air which adhere to the surface of the objects is different to that of the water, the light is allowed to egress.

In layman’s terms it creates to something very impressive and after you’ve experienced it you’ll understand why there is a long line of row-boats outside the Grotto entrance waiting to get in.

The actual cave is some 60 meters long and up to 25 meters wide – just big enough for the row boats to maneuver.

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If memory serves me you can take photos but can’t use a flash (the flash can cause potential damage to the natural interior) so I’m not sure how your photos will come out. Plenty of postcards and whatnot is available to kind-of-capture the moment.

Capri or Not Capri…that is the question

Capri is expensive. EX-PEN-SIVE! And caters to tourists (see paragraph 1). You won’t find some hidden mom-and-pop restaurant where you pay little and eat a lot. And for that reason I recommend you visit the island of Capri as a “day trip”. You can catch a boat from the Port of Pozzuoli outside of Naples and get around on foot for most of the -seeing. Or rent some bikes in Pozzuoli and bring those along. However you plan it, make the Blue Grotto a stop on your itinerary!