The chairlift from Anacapri to Monte Solaro (589m) is a singular experience — a slow-moving single-seat chair ascending through fragrant macchia to the island's summit, with views of Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Then: Villa San Michele, Axel Munthe's extraordinary garden villa.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
The Monte Solaro chairlift from Anacapri is a memorable rides in Italy — a single-seat open chairlift ascending slowly through fragrant Mediterranean macchia (myrtle, rosemary, wild orchids) for 12 minutes to the island's 589m summit. At the top, the panorama is extraordinary: Vesuvius and the entire Bay of Naples to the north, the Amalfi Coast and Salerno beyond to the southeast, Ischia and Procida to the northwest. On a clear day it is one of the great views in southern Italy. Villa San Michele in Anacapri (built 1896 by Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe) is a 10-minute walk from the chairlift base — an extraordinary garden villa built around a Roman loggia, housing a significant collection of Roman and Etruscan sculpture, and a beautifully positioned gardens in Italy. Both together make a perfect half-day.
What Stands Out
- Monte Solaro — 589m, the island’s highest point
- Single-seat chairlift through fragrant Mediterranean macchia
- Panoramic views: Vesuvius, Amalfi Coast, and Ischia
- One of the great viewpoints in southern Italy
- ~12-minute ascent
- Villa San Michele ~10 minutes from the base
- Axel Munthe’s garden — Roman and Etruscan sculptures
- One of the most beautifully positioned gardens in Italy
- Perfect for a half-day outing