Situated along the rugged northwestern shoreline of the island of Capri, in the Gulf of Naples, the Blue Grotto is a sea cave roughly 60 metres long and 25 metres wide. Access is only possible by small wooden rowboat through an entrance just over a metre high, meaning passengers must lie flat as the boatman pulls a chain to guide the vessel inside. The cave sits within Italy's Campania region, making it an easy day trip from Naples, Sorrento, or Positano for travellers exploring the Amalfi Coast.
The cave's history stretches back to ancient Rome. Emperor Tiberius, who ruled from Capri between AD 27 and 37, reportedly used it as a private bathing nymph-eum, and Roman marble statues were discovered on the sea floor here in the twentieth century. After centuries of neglect and local superstition — fishermen believed it was haunted — the grotto was 'rediscovered' by German writer August Kopisch and painter Ernst Fries in 1826, sparking a wave of Romantic-era fascination that turned Capri into an international destination.
Inside, the water appears to glow with an intense, luminescent blue that ranges from sapphire to turquoise depending on the time of day. The effect occurs because sunlight enters through a submerged opening below the boat entrance, refracts through the water, and reflects off the white sandy bottom. Your rowboat guide will typically sing a short Neapolitan song, adding a theatrical charm to the five or so minutes you spend inside. The total excursion — including the boat ride from Marina Grande and waiting time — commonly takes two to three hours.
