On the West coast of the island is an extraordinarily beautiful and long route which is rich in the intense smells and colours of Mediterranean shrubland.
Set amid seemingly sculpted rocky promontories and strikingly deep inlets filled with crystal clear water are the "Fortini" (blockhouses) from where the Via gets its name.
Built at the time of the Saracen invasions, they were transformed into short range artillery "redoubts" by the English and French during the Napoleonic wars.
Today, in the place of the thunder of cannons, there is only the voice of the wind and sea.
The words of the poet Rainer M. Rilke, who was enamoured with Anacapri, resound endlessly: "Timeless sea breezes, that for aeons have, blown ancient rocks, youare purest space, coming from afar...".
To sit on the lacework-like rocks and contemplate the changing colours around you as time slowly passes is source of great inner peace and a change to truly get in touch with one's inner-self.
The great history and landscape led the Municipality of Anacapri to carry out European Union funded restoration work on the nlockhouses and paths in 1998.
(Tullia G. Rizzotti, "Il respiro del vento" (page 47) from "Capri in fiore" Copyright 2003 - Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori, all right reserved.
Published by Azienda di Soggiorno e Turismo Isola di Capri).
The path starts from Punta Carena (or Punta dell'Arcera) and winds along the western coast of the island until it ends near Punta dell’Arcera, below the road that leads from Anacapri to Grotta Azzurra. From here, one can return to Anacapri with the service bus or by taxi (tel. 081 8371175). Along the path, in the fascinating colours of the Mediterranean flora, set among the little promontories of wild beauty and bays of turquoise water, one finds the small forts of Pino, Mèsola and "rrico, dating from the period of the Saracen raids.
Total length: 5,2 km.
Change in altitude: 120 m.
Minumum time: 4 to 5 hours.
The itinerary can be broken up into several sections by making use of the various roads that cross the route.
