Friday, June 30, 2006


CAPRI
After a pizza you must get an ice cream from this typical kiosk, right in the center of Capri on the Via Vittorio Emanuele, near to the luxury, Quisisana hotel. After the second world war, Costanzo Spataro could often be found along the lanes of Capri behind the wheel of his famous barrow, from which he sold the most delicious ice creams and crushed ice drinks to the tourists strolling leisurely around. The success of this enterprise inspired him to convert an old wood store into a small bar. Thus in 1952 the Bar Scialapopolo was born, Scialapopolo means, "come and have fun". Today the crushed ice drinks or granite, panini with the famous salsetta dressing, coconut and warm bread rolls, not to mention the exquisite mulberries all have one characteristic in common: the authenticity of the ingredients.

CAPRI
The Best Pizza in Capri can be found at Ristorante Da Gemma. The oven photographed above dates back to 1300 and it's the oldest bread oven on Island, incorporated above it is a tile depicting Sant' Antonio Abate known as the "Lord of Fire". When you walk in turn left and head straight for the "oven room", it's where to sit, don't be distracted and ask for a table on the veranda. Here you can watch Silvio at work, he has been making pizzas for thirty five years. His specialty is the Sfilatino a stuffed bundle of cheeses and ham and it's so delicious. This was the favorite restaurant of Britain's greatest novelist, Graham Greene, who had a house in Anacapri called Il Rosaio, you can read all about his life on the island in Shirley Hazzard's memoir called Graham Greene on Capri. Before you leave Da Gemma, it is also fun to look at the photo gallery in the main room of all the other film stars and Vips who have been there since the 1950's.

CAPRI
Lunch at Peter and Mariella # 3. Peter Van Schalkwyk is very British and after many years of living and working in Italy, as an art director in the best advertising agencies, he still has a charming strong very English accent when he talks Italian. His passion has always been painting and he loves to paint on Capri. Mariella describes his style "Peter is a true artist. Now that he is retired he is painting full time. His work is Turner-esque, modernized and revisited." Peter paints beautiful landscapes, interiors and figurative paintings. He is very fond of the Glasgow School and painters like Samuel John Peploe and Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell. Mariella adds "Capri has united us, not only in matrimony, but also because of painting. We speak the same language. In Capri everything is art and food." Their collective exhibition called Ospiti e Capri can be seen at La Conchiglia bookstore in Anacapri until July 10th and in November in Milan at Mauro Brucoli.
http://www.capritourism.com www.laconchigliacapri.com Mauro Brucoli- Via Della Spiga 17 - Milan
CAPRI
Lunch at Peter and Mariella # 2. Peter and Mariella Van Schalkwyk live six months of the year in Capri and six months of the year in Milan. They both paint. Mariella DeNatale as she signs her works, studied painting at the Brera Academy in Milan before becoming a fashion editor at Vogue Italia. I asked Peter to tell me about Mariella's art "First she signs the paper - MDN - and she paints like "pizza", does it in 5 minutes and she only paints in Capri. She is a "wild girl" and I would describe her style as post impressionist." Mariella adds " If I can't get a painting right in one hour I throw it out." A collective exhibition of their work can be seen until July 10th at the La Conchiglia bookstore in Anacapri and in November at Mauro Brucoli in Milan.

CAPRI
Lunch at Peter and Mariella # 1. "This sophisticated, romantic island has a long tradition of parties, special occasions and dinners past and present, punctuated by lively intellectual debates, strong passions and fatal attractions. The tradition lives on to this day, through the people who are keeping alive the Art of Entertaining and preserving one of Capri's great attractions." writes Mariella Gardella in her book Ospiti a Capri (Idearte). The table prepared on one of the three terraces of their tiny weeny house looks just like a glossy picture from her book. It is not surprising that the table is so elegant, Mariella worked for many years at Vogue Italia, in fact, the cushions were bought during a fashion shot in Marrakech, the terracotta plates were made by Solimene in Vietri in the 1970's and the bamboo cutlery is from Gucci. And, as you can imagine, the menu was perfect and yes, we did have, besides other delicious food, an Insalata Caprese - tomato and mozzarella di buffala.

Thursday, June 29, 2006


CAPRI
Shopping for local products#2 At the Profumeria Della Monica, just off the Piazzetta you can get these divine glitzy, bling bling bathroom accessories. They are designed by Grazia Della Monica and made on island, only for their two profumerie (the other one is in Anacapri). Faux diamond rubies, emeralds and sapphires adorn hair brushes, combs, mirrors, soap and toothbrush containers, etc. They make the best glamorous presents and you can't find them anywhere else.
www.capritourism.com dellamonicacapri@inwind.it

CAPRI
Shopping for local products #1 Since Roman times, Capri has been famous for it's handmade sandals. It was the emperor Tiberio who first introduced them to the Island he chose as his residence and from there governed the know world. Since 1946, the chic-est ones can be found at the Canfora boutique. Where an amazing variety of original sandals with hundreds of styles and an infinity of colors greet you as you walk in. They are all handmade in leather and have fabulous applications of costume jewelry. Many famous customers have appreciated Canfora's creations, among these the unforgettable Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. More than once late at night Amedeo Canfora opened the shop just for the first lady, letting her choose her favorite sandals, he even made one exclusively for her called "K". Other members of the jet set who have shopped there are; Grace Kelly, Princess Margaret, Princess Caroline, Soraya, Maria Callas, Oona Chaplin, Sofia Loren, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Dawn Addams, Anita Ekberg, Naomi Campbell and many others.... If you can't go to Capri this summer, don't worry, you can order them on the internet......happy shopping.
www.canfora.com www.capritourism.com

Wednesday, June 28, 2006


CAPRI
Here is the heart of Capri, La Piazzetta, the little square, it is the place where you come to see and be seen. Since the '50's it has been the favorite destination for film stars, such as Audrey Hepburn, Lana Turner, King Faruk, Birgit Bardot, Monica Bellucci, Isabella Rossellini and the most famous Vip associated with Capri, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The piazzetta is where you will find the papparazzi ready to capture a famous face and a budding love affair. It was here that Capri pants and sandals were launched. There are four bars in the small square so watch out where you sit. Let me help you decide, the Caffe Caso is for tourists, the Piccolo Bar is for breakfast as they make the best croissants, the Gran Caffe Vuotto is for the international set and the Bar Tiberio, is the trendy place for people to be seen. At the Bar Tiberio the cashier will receive packages for you, take messages etc., great service and very useful. It is so much fun and a must to sit and sip an aperitivo in the piazzetta before dinner.

CAPRI
On Susanne Thun's zebra skin ottoman, from L'Oro dei Farlocchi in Milan, is part of her straw hat collection. Susanne explains "I have collected hats over the years. They give me a certain feeling of holidays. Like sunglasses, I never leave the house without one. Hats are the best summer accessory."
www.capritourism.com www.lorodeifarlocchi.com

photograph by Susanne Thun
CAPRI.
Here is Jackie, Susanne Thun's shadow and faithful Parson Jack Russell Terrier. She is just as beautiful as her mother and just as glamorous. She is cooling off inside, as it is too hot outside. Next to her is a Anya Hindmash stylish handbag with bamboo handles and a photo of Capri printed on the sides. Jackie loves Capri, just like another Jackie who used to come to the blue island in the '60's. Jackie Thun is very greedy and one day when we couldn't find her, the "naughty" dog was stuck inside the refrigerator! Jackie OH...........!

photograph by Susanne Thun
CAPRI
Here I am at last on the Blue Island, as it is also known, and I can't stop looking at the view from the house of Susanne and Matteo Thun, where I'm staying. Every room and every terrace looks onto this famous Caprian landmark, the Faraglioni. The three rocks rise up, majestic and solitary, from the sea to the south-east of the island. The largest rock, is known as Stella (star) while the other two are named, Faraglione di mezzo (middle stack) and Scopolo (rock). The only inhabitants of the Faraglioni are a colony of blue lizards, an extremely rare variety of blue reptiles. Along with the spectacular marine Blue Grotto, the Faraglioni are the most sought after tourist attraction.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006


NAPOLI
With an hour and a half delay, I have just landed in Naples and as I'm in a rush, I have just enough time to jump in a cab and go directly to the port to catch the Aliscafo to Capri. However, I have to stop for this photo opportunity. Napoli is the city of pizza especially, alla Napoletana or alla Margherita (named after the Queen of Italy), it's the city of Pulcinella, it's the city where 13 is a lucky number and the city where you"cuckold" your enemy and where the "horn" (which has to be given to you) is kept near by for good luck. Welcome to Napoli!

VENEZIA - Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Bisazza's 50th Anniversary. In the true spirit of international stars, Marcel Wanders was the last famous designer to arrive, by motoscafo, at the 18th Century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Other designers present to meet the international press and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of mosaic tile makers, Bisazza were Aldo Cibic, Isao Hosoe, Alessandro Mendini, Fabio Novembre and Patricia Urquiola.

VENEZIA - Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Bisazza's 50th Anniversary. At the Bisazza dinner, on the roof terrace of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, overlooking the Gran Canal, Alberto Zontone loving looks on while his famous Spanish designer wife, Patricia Urquiola explains her design philosphy - head and heart - classic and informal - intimate and versatile, these are the secrets behind her new design for living.

VENEZIA - Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Bisazza's 50th Anniversary. Rossella Bisazza hosted the Bisazza, makers of high quality mosaic tiles, 50th Anniversary party at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. She is sitting with German AD's, talented editor in chief, Margit J. Mayer under a Mario Mertz neon, entitled, Se La Forma Scompare La Sua Radice E' Eterna, 1982/89, in the garden on a throne assembled by Peggy herself from Byzantine stones. The International press and the Bisazza designers were treated to a private view of the Lucio Fontana exhibition by it's curator Luca Massimo Barbero and to drinks in the Sculpture Garden and then dinner on the roof terrace, with it's breath taking view of the Gran Canal.

Friday, June 02, 2006


photograph courtesy Dr. Jack & Mr. Russell
JACK RUSSELL TERRIER MEETING- Italy
11th June - Save the Date. Jack Russell Terriers, are my favorite breed of dogs. I could not live without one, because; they are tough, curious, foolishly brave and fiercely loyal. While varying in type due to a broad genetic background, they are all born with an indominatable spirit that holds the hearts of those that love them. It is this spirit that is the true essence of the JRT.* In, Northern Italy, the Jack Russell Terrier meeting is being held this year on June 11th at the Centro Ippico Etrea in Borsano near Busto Arsizio. Ten years ago, Maria Carolina Zanetti and Andrea Crosta di Moncalvo heroically started Dr. Jack & Mr. Russell, a club for JRT's. The meeting, or shall we call it a party, is an excuse to spend a fun day in the country together with other Jacks and their owners. There will be a cake and a hat competition, as well as, the exciting JRT racing competition, called coursing in Italy. So, don't miss it.
* taken from the JRT Calendar - JasperPublications, Inc. - www.jack-russell.com