Villa Jovis

Capri

KnownHistory & archaeology

Villa Jovis, Capri
No machine-readable author provided. Buckeye~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The story

On the highest, loneliest point of the island, the ruins of the villa from which Tiberius ruled the empire for ten years, among cisterns, terraces and the emptiness of the sea all around.

Access

🎟️ combined ticket, 45 min on foot from the Piazzetta

The story

Villa Jovis, on the top of Monte Tiberio in Capri, was the largest of the villas of the emperor Tiberius, who from AD 27 withdrew there, governing the empire from the island. At three hundred and fifty-four metres above the sea, at the eastern tip of Capri, it dominated a panorama that goes from Ischia to the gulfs of Naples and Salerno.

What to see

The imposing remains of the imperial palace — residential spaces, the great water cisterns, the terracings — and the famous 'Tiberius's Leap' (Salto di Tiberio), the sheer precipice tied to the legends about the emperor. One of the most spectacular views on the island.

How to get there

  • Hydrofoil
  • Ferry

Tips

Villa Jovis is reached only on foot from the centre of Capri, with an uphill walk of about forty minutes along little streets and stairways: comfortable shoes and water. The site is run by the State, with its own entrance and hours: check on the official channels.

Frequently asked questions

What is Villa Jovis?

The largest villa of the emperor Tiberius in Capri, on Monte Tiberio, where he withdrew from AD 27, governing the empire from the island.

How do you reach Villa Jovis?

Only on foot from the centre of Capri, with a climb of about forty minutes among alleys and stairways; the site has its own entrance and hours.

What is Tiberius's Leap?

The sheer precipice near Villa Jovis, tied to the legends about the emperor Tiberius.

More gems in Capri

More gems: History & archaeology