CAPRI (the ancient Caprea), a charming island in the Mediterranean, at the entrance of the bay of Naples, about 3 m. from cape Campanella, and 20 m. s. of the city of Naples. On its small area of about 11 in. in circumference, it displays a rich variety of beautiful scenery, ruins of antiquity, and points of historical interest, and contains a pop. of about 6,000 souls. The island is composed of two mountain masses, sepa rated from each other by a depression like the seat of a saddle. That on the w., called monte Solaro, which is the highest and largest, has an elevation of about 1900 feet. The eastern part does not attain a height of more than 860 ft. above the sea. At the base of the eastern mountain is situated the town of C., built on a shelving rock, and guarded by walls, gates, and draw-bridges, with a cathedral, and a pop., including the district, of about 4,000. It commands a beautiful prospect, and communicates with the little town of Anacapri, on the western table-land, by a flight of 535 rude steps, cut in the face of the rock. There are only two safe landing-places on the island, and these are at C. and near it. C. was a celebrated place, in the times of Augustus and Tiberius. Ruins are still found of Roman baths and aqueducts, and of the 12 grand villas or palaces built in honor of the 12 chief deities by the emperor Tiberius, who passed the last 10 years of his life here in the practice of the grossest licentiousness and cruelty.
The inhabitants now consist of fishermen, sailors, and a few traders, with vine-dressers and cultivators of olives in Anacapri. Wherever a tree can be planted, the hopeful and industrious people have prepared for it a soil by persevering toil in terrace-culture. Delicious quails, which in vast numbers alight on the island during their migrations to and from Africa, in spring and autumn, are taken in nets, and form an important item in the resources of Capri. To the w. of the town of C. is situated the Grotta Azzurra (blue grotto), a remarkable cavern, entered from the sea by a narrow opening not more than 3 ft. high. Inside, however, it is found to be of magnificent proportions, and of marvelous beauty, the gorgeous coloring being said to be produced by the reflection and refraction of the sun's rays through the water. Elliptical in form, it has a length of 165 ft., a breadth of 100 in the widest part, and a height of 40 in the loftiest, with 48 ft. of water beneath.