Tragara is the most famous and best liked walking passage in Capri: along it there are many elegant villas. It ends with a panoramic terrace facing the Faraglioni, the view of Capri known the world over. From Tragara's terrace you can enjoy also a wide view over island's southern side, featuring Marina Piccola, underneath the steep face of Mount Solaro, in the middle of which is found the enormous cavity of Grotta delle Felci (Grotto of the Ferns). The whole area called Tragara extends from Mount Tuoro's western slope to the plain of Occhio Marino (Sea Eye), situated behind the Charterhouse.

According to the Roman writer Tacitus, at Tragara was built one of 12 Roman imperial villas in Capri, connected to the landing point of Tragara's port lying below, in the small sheltered cove behind the Faraglioni. In 1875 some ruins of this villa were still visible, as related by Spanish diplomat E.CastelÓr in memoirs of his journeys. Today remains nothing from this magnificent villa, except for a marble roofing now situated into the Rosary chapel at St. Stephen's church, aside the Piazzetta (Capri's main square). The construction of the imperial villa of Tragara was begun under the reign of Octavian Augustus: as reported by Suetonius, while excavating for its foundations builders found giant bones and weapons of stone. Augustus ordered those pre-historic remains to be displayed inside his main residence, the Palazzo a Mare (Sea Palace) at Marina Grande.

Name of Tragara is derived from ancient Greek "tragos" which means 'goat'. Also the name of Capri is derived from Greek "kapros" which indicates 'boar' (and not from Latin "caprae", meaning 'goats'). These place names seem to indicate a wide presence of wild animals. Gregorovius, in the middle of 19th century, described Valley of Tragara as wholly planted with olive trees and vineyards, mostly property of Chartusian monks. The "nice walk" (as he called it) stretched through olive grove and was since then the favourite walk by early tourists and old islanders.  [ More...]