The Blue Grotto or Grotta Azzurra, Capri

Capri is a place I was not familiar with before I signed up for the Southern Italy/Greece tour. The familiar places that I knew in Italy are Sicily, Tuscany and Florence.

Capri, off the coast of Sorrento is a tiny island of just 11 Sq. Km - that's 1/70th of the size of Singapore and 1/9th the size of Labuan. The local population is about 13,000 while the peak daily tourists can be as high as 16,000. Not surprisingly, tourism is the major economic activity of this island.

Blue Grotto is one of the major attractions in Capri. It's located at the northwest of Capri. It was said that the Blue Grotto was known as far back during the reign of Emperor Tiberius from 42 BC - AD 37. Coincidentally, Jesus was crucified during the reign of Tiberius. 

Story has it that Tiberius had used the grotto as his private swimming pool when he moved his court to Capri in AD27. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the grotto fell into obscurity and became feared by the locals. The locals believed that it was inhabited by spirits and demons.

It was only during 1826 when it was rediscovered by German writer and painter, August Kopisch and his friend, Ernst Fries. After hearing rumors about the cave, they convinced a fisherman to take them to the cave. Once inside the cave, they were stunned by the magical blue light that filled the cave. The blue light is caused by reflection of sunlight through the water. Kopisch later wrote a book about the Blue Grotto in Capri, which helped popularize the grotto.

Map downloaded from website.

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Our ferry departed from Sorrento Ferry Jetty for Capri at 8.00am in the morning of 07.10.2024. By the time we reached the Blue Grotto at around 9.30am, many small boats were busy ferrying people in and out of the cave through a tiny hole. Before our turn to enter, there were still a number of boats with multiples visitors waiting for their turn.

Besides people waiting in the ferries and boats, long line of people were seen queuing along staircase on hill slope for their turns. Unlike us, these people came by car on land and descended from the carpark at the top of the hill.

People who came by cars waited for their turn standing along
hill side staircase. 

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After more than an hour wait, it's our turn to go in. Of the 17 people in our group, we were ferried into the cave by 4 boats - 4 each in the first three boats and the last 5 in the 4th boat.

Before our turn, I was observing the procedure the boatmen adopted to enter the cave entrance. Once all the visitors lying flat on the boat - normally three in front and one at the read, the boatman moved his boat and waited at the cave entrance while holding tightly a guide chain anchored on one side of the hole. Once the tide dropped to its lowest level, he pulled vigorously and charged forward while bending his body down and backward quickly as he guided the boat in. That lasted not more than 5 seconds.

By the time for our group to enter, the tide had risen much higher making entry through the cave entrance more tricky and difficult.

Later on, we were told that the front two passengers of the 4th boat (Monica and Yuan) of our group were drenched wet by the pounding rising waves immediately when the front part of the boat went through the entrance. We were told that all subsequent entries into the cave were suspended by the operator because it was considered too risky to attempt into the cave.

Indeed, we were very fortunate to be the very last group allowed into the cave!

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Left photo: Monica and Yuan were drenched at the time of entry into the cave!

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Once inside, it was indeed a very different ambience - ceiling was pitch black, the water surface was less turbulent, quiet and echo of noise was easily heard. The water illuminated with colour of crystal blue! This is caused by the reflection of sunlight through the sea water.

Getting ready to exit the cave!

Safely out!

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When I came out of the cave, I was thinking to myself: Why can't the operator think of way to make the entry much more easier and less risky? My solution would be to chisel off part of the ceiling of the cave entrance to make it large enough for the boat and the occupants inside to safely enter even at the highest tide level. This will ensure all visitors both local and overseas who turn up will not leave disappointed because entry has been suspended due to risky high tide.

But then, this is just wishful thinking. It is precisely because of the risk and the unpredictability associated with this that draw thrill seekers to make such attempt!

The next question is: Will I try this for a second time? Definitely No. The waiting time is simply too long and the chance of getting inside is not guaranteed!