You’ve seen the photos. That white-marble statue of a Roman Emperor pointing out over a sea so blue it looks fake. It’s usually the first thing that pops up when you search for the Caesar Augustus Hotel Capri, and honestly, it’s a bit of a cliché by now. But here is the thing: most people think this place is just another high-end tourist trap where you pay €1,000 a night for a view you could get from a public lookout point.
They’re wrong.
The real magic of Caesar Augustus isn't just the height—though being 300 meters above the Bay of Naples helps—it’s the fact that it shouldn't really be a hotel at all. It feels like someone’s eccentric, insanely wealthy uncle left you the keys to his clifftop villa and told the staff to treat you like blood.
Why the Location in Anacapri Changes Everything
Capri is a madness of day-trippers and designer shopping bags. If you stay down by the Piazzetta, you’re in the thick of it. But Caesar Augustus is up in Anacapri. It’s quieter.
Windier.
Basically, it’s where the locals actually breathe.
The hotel sits right on the edge of a precipice. When you stand on the terrace, you aren't just looking at the water; you’re looking down at the birds. It’s a vertical world. This specific spot was once home to Villa Bitter, owned by a German gentleman in the 1800s, before it became a Russian Prince’s playground.
The Russian Prince and the Statue Mystery
Most guests ask why there is a statue of Caesar Augustus here. They assume it's because the Emperor lived on this exact patch of dirt. Actually, Prince Emmanuel Bulhak, who bought the place around 1900, put it there.
He was a bit of a history nerd.
He didn't care that Tiberius was the one who actually built the famous Villa Jovis nearby. Bulhak believed Augustus was the one who truly put Capri on the map. So, he commissioned a copy of the Augustus of Prima Porta and positioned it so the finger points directly toward Tiberius's old ruins across the island. It’s a 120-year-old flex.
The Signorini family took over in the 1940s and turned it into the 5-star legend it is today. They recently sold it to Gruppo Statuto for a staggering €180 million—that's about €3.2 million per room—but for decades, it was their personal project. You can still feel that. The lobby isn't a corporate "check-in zone." It’s filled with antiques the family picked up at markets over half a century.
The Room You Actually Want (And the One You Don't)
There are 55 rooms, but they are not created equal.
If you book a "Garden View," you’re missing the point. You came here for the abyss.
The Farouk Suite is the one with the history. King Farouk of Egypt used to rent it out for the entire year, even when he wasn't there. He wanted to know that if he suddenly felt like seeing a Mediterranean sunset, his bed would be ready. It still has the original furniture.
- Pro Tip: Go for the "Premium Sea View" on Level -1.
- Why? Because the hotel is built into a cliff.
- The Secret: Floor -1 is actually closer to the edge. There is nothing—no trees, no railings of other balconies—between your window and the sea 1,000 feet below. It feels like you’re floating in a glass box.
Dining at La Terrazza di Lucullo
Let’s talk about the food. Usually, "hotel restaurants with a view" serve overpriced pasta that tastes like cardboard because they know you'll pay for the scenery anyway.
La Terrazza di Lucullo is different.
They have a massive organic kitchen garden right on the grounds. In a place like Capri, where everything is rock and steep cliffs, having a flat garden is a massive luxury. They grow their own lavender, lemons, and tomatoes. Chef Eduardo Vuolo runs a "zero-mile" kitchen. If you order the truffle pasta with scampi tartare, those herbs were likely picked that morning.
It's expensive. Obviously. But sitting there at 8:00 PM when the sky turns a weird shade of violet-orange and the lights of Sorrento start flickering across the water? It’s one of those "I might never do this again" moments that actually justifies the bill.
The Infinity Pool Illusion
The pool is a double-level infinity situation.
From certain angles, the water seems to pour directly into the Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s heated in the shoulder seasons (April and October), which is crucial because Anacapri gets chilly. Most people spend their whole day there, but the real "expert move" is hitting the outdoor gym.
It’s just a treadmill and some weights tucked under a canopy of lemon trees. But running while looking at Mount Vesuvius is a bizarrely effective way to forget you’re doing cardio.
What Nobody Tells You About the Logistics
Getting there is a bit of a climb. If you’re coming from the Marina Grande, don’t try to be a hero with your luggage. Take the hotel shuttle or a convertible taxi.
Also, the hotel doesn't take kids under ten.
This isn't a "family fun" resort. It’s a place for hushed conversations, linen shirts, and people who want to read a book for four hours without hearing a cannonball splash.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
If you’re planning to stay at the Caesar Augustus Hotel Capri, keep these points in mind:
- Book the Blue Grotto Early: The hotel is only ten minutes from the Grotto, but the lines are legendary. Ask the concierge to book a private boat at 8:30 AM before the mainland ferries arrive.
- The Phoenician Steps: These ancient stairs start right near the hotel. It’s 921 stone steps down to the harbor. Do it for the photos, but take the bus back up. Your knees will thank you.
- The Sunset Ritual: Don’t be late for the piano bar on the terrace. It starts around 7:00 PM. It sounds cheesy, but when the pianist hits the right notes as the sun hits the horizon, even the most cynical travelers get a bit misty-eyed.
- Check the Season: They usually open in mid-April and close in October. If you go in May or late September, you get the same views with 40% less crowds.
Staying here isn't just about a bed; it's about occupying a specific piece of Italian history that has been preserved by one family for nearly eighty years. Whether you're there for the Prince's statue or the Chef's tomatoes, just make sure you look down at least once. It’s a long way to the water.
