Turquoise, electric blue water shimmering off the caves walls seems like you must be in a dream, but this is what you can expect when you visit the Blue Grotto.
Located on the island of Capri, the Blue Grotto has glowing blue water in a small dark cave created by the sunlight coming through the underwater cave entrance.
Lorenzo, a man that works rowing boats for the Blue Grotto was born and raised in Capri.
“Everything you see here is naturally made,” Lorenzo said. “Nothing here has been altered by man.”
The Italian name for Blue Grotto is Grotta Azzurra. The Blue Grotto is located on the island of Capri off the coast of southern Italy and has an interesting history.
During the Roman times, the grotto was used solely for a swimming hole of the Emperor Tiberius.
Emperor Tiberius moved from the capitol of the Roman Empire to Capri in 27 AD to escape from the city. He was well known for tossing people off the top of a thousand foot drop to the Mediterranean if he was not pleased with them.
The grotto was re-discovered by the outside world in 1926 by August Kopisch. August Kopisch was a German poet who wrote about the Blue Grotto in his book.
The discovery of the grotto from August Kopisch’s book spread quickly and it became a part of the Victorian era Grand Tour.
The Victorian era Grand Tour was back in the 18th and 19th century. It was mostly for 20-something female and male wealthy students to study abroad for a couple years.
These young students were able to travel the country for so long because they acquired so much wealth from their families. They would bring along their own tutors as they traveled the world.
“There used be statues that used to stand around this cave back in the Roman times when the Romans used this as a swimming hole,” Lorenzo said.
Many articles confirm what Lorenzo said was true.
There were statues discovered on the bottom of the cave. Three statues of the Roman sea gods were on the discovered in 1964. They found Neptune and Triton and they are now placed in the museum in Anacapri.
In 2009, seven bases of statues were recovered from the bottom, but they are not sure what these statues were supposed to be.
Swimming in the grotto is not allowed now because it is very dangerous with boats and people coming in and out of the grotto. Another reason you cannot swim in the Blue Grotto is because they need to preserve the beautiful blue waters.
“There used to be a local legend that this grotto was evil, and locals never swam in it, but no one believes in that today,” Lorenzo said.
People do try to come after hours to swim, but it is highly prohibited to do so.
Today, if visitors want to take a larger boat or walk the path to the grotto, then they get on a small row boat that can fit four to five people. The row boat is directed by men that work for the grotto.
If you decide to take a larger boat to get to the Blue Grotto, you may experience the beautiful rocks that stand tall in the water on the way.
You can expect to see iconic stack of rocks that Capri is known for. They are called Faraglioni, the rocks that shoot up from the sea and stand tall for the visitors to see.
If you take a boat through the arch of one of the rocks, you are granted a wish, according to the locals.
Once you get to the entrance of the Blue Grotto, or the end of the walking path, you will get into small little row boats.
Being able to get in the Blue Grotto is sometimes a hit or miss. You need to go on a day that the tide is not too high and the weather makes the water calm. Make sure to not go when there is an overcast because the water will not be as vibrant as a sunny day.
During the tourist season, make sure you are aware that the wait time from your boat to the row boat could take an hour or more before you get into the Blue Grotto.
So, be advised to bring sunscreen and snacks for the wait. If you get seasick, make sure to take motion sickness medicine before getting on the boat.
Just make sure to be prepared to wait in the heat, and bring a swimsuit if you want to jump in while waiting to cool off.
Tickets cost 13 euros from a boat ticket office by the entrance of the grotto. If you break it down, it is 9 euros for the row boat and 4 euros for the entrance fee.
Click here for the website for tickets.
If you go the first Sunday of each month, the entrance fee is free, but you just need to pay for the boat ride over to the grotto or do the walking path.
The best time to go is during the middle of the day when the sun is the brightest. When it is cloudy out, then the water will not be as blue as it is on days when the sun is shining.
If it is storming, sometimes the Blue Grotto is not open, or the illuminating blue does not show up.
According to WonderMondo, the Blue Grotto gets about 250,000 visitors every year.
Make sure to get your tickets to experience a once in a life time experience and see the most brilliant blue water of your life. And do not forget to check out that weather for that day so nothing interferes with your awesome experience at the Blue Grotto.
David, a study abroad student from Ohio, was getting off a boat at the pier after visiting the Blue Grotto and was asked his opinion about his visit.
“It was a magical place and honestly just seemed unreal,” David said. “I have never seen water light up that blue and make the cave look like we were floating on nothing.”
