The permanent centre of gravity of the social and religious life of Capri, the Piazzetta was defined by the writer Edwin Cerio as “Salotto del Mondo”; a magical kaleidoscope that opens on to a “teatrino” where a cosmopolitan joyful, eccentric humanity plays life. Since the Augustan-Tiberian period, we find a Forum built close to the ancient Greek walls just after the ancient gate, still existing. After the year thousand it became a large rustic courtyard when the population, due to the continuous Saracen incursions, moved from the lower town, the ancient Nimfisia, city of springs, current Marina Grande, to the historic districts of Longano and Li Curti. Originally closed by three quadrangular turrets, with the construction at the end of the seventeenth century of the Cathedral of St. Stephen and the Bishop’s Palace (now town hall), it became a religious space, the natural churchyard of the church. After the discovery of the Blue Grotto, in 1826, the square, for the locals “A Chiazza”, begins to take on a commercial-tourist character with the opening of craft shops, an inn and a pharmacy. With the demolition of the wall, the opening of the Via Nuova (Via Roma), the enlargement of Vico Strettola (current Via Vittorio Emanuele), at the end of the nineteenth century, the Piazzetta takes its present appearance. The transformation of Capri from a winter tourist resort (the German poets called it Winterfelsen, winter rock) to a summer resort, makes the Piazzetta, with the opening of Caffè all’aperto, a natural place for recreation, colorfulFlanerie. After the Second World War, together with Via Veneto, is the icon of Dolce Vita. American actors sip coffee with existentialist writers, while noble dandys invent new eccentric fashions. La Piazzetta is thus transformed into an ideal film set, where everyone becomes for a day protagonists actors. Forum and living room, decides the fate, time, the rhythm of life caprese. In winter, the “chiazzieri” live the square as a privileged place to make economic and political agreements, privileged point of the island gossip. In summer, the capresi the glimpse only in the very early hours of the morning, then the Piazzetta becomes the stage of the world and the Jet-society. With its historic bell tower, it marks the hour of Capri. But, on the island, there is also an inner time, which makes you magically happy, makes you regain your joy of living. Living the “Capri Diem” in Piazzetta or in many places of the soul of the island, your mind understands that you must live the present and not be anchored to the memories of the past or the anxieties of the future. In the belly of the world you taste happiness.
curated byRenato Esposito
