Capri La Piazzetta - Capri

Piazza Umberto I, better known as the Piazzetta, is a surprisingly small little square enclosed within ancient edifices and dominated by the profile of the island's Monte Solaro. In the past, the Piazzetta was home to a lively fish and fruit market - that was until 1938 when the young islander, Raffaele Vuotto, opened a bar here and arranged a few small tables and chairs outside, where customers could relax over a cup of coffee or glass of wine. A number of his fellow citizens soon followed suit, and from that moment on, the Piazzetta became the heart of Capri's social life, so much so that, in no time at all, the square earned itself the label of "salotto del mondo" (the world's sitting room).

Today, locals and holidaymakers vie for seats outside the Piazzetta's historic bars, to partake in a leisurely breakfast, a lunch time snack, or an aperitif after a day on the beach and, of course, to indulge in a little people-watching. In addition to its elegant pavement cafés and jewelry shops, the Piazzetta is home to Capri's municipal offices, located in the former bishop's residence.

The panoramic terrace in front of the island's funicular railway, which connects the center of Capri with Marina Grande, is located just around the corner form the square, on the other side of the Torre del Orologio. The main terminal for buses running between Capri and Anacapri, Marina Piccola and Marina Grande is situated just a few meters away from the Piazzetta.

From the Piazzetta, an impressive flight of steps leads up to the 17th century Church of Santo Stefano, once Capri's cathedral and principal house of worship, and the Cerio Museum, housed within the 13th century Palazzo Arcucci.

The most emblematic work of architecture in the Piazzetta is, without doubt, the 17th century Torre del Orologio, believed to be the old bell tower of the cathedral, which sports a splendid clock, decorated in majolica. On display in the courtyard of the Municipal offices there are fragments of an old marble column and pedestal, discovered in the 1920's during the construction of the port, and which scholars have attributed to the Ancient Roman villa of Palazzo a Mare.