History of the Gardens

In the early 1900s, German industrialist Alfred Friedrich Krupp bought a large plot of land extending from the Castiglione hill area and San Giacomo Charterhouse, in order to build the homonymous Via Krupp.

Actually, he wanted to use that area as a park and a tennis court space for the entertainment of foreign residents. For the construction of the park, banker Ugo Andreas, who in turn had just had his own villa built in Tragara, advised Krupp to rely on the work of gardener-brothers Luigi and Domenico Ruggiero.

The latter used his skill and enthusiasm in favour of the whole project, which was highly appreciated by his wealthy client, who had already been fascinated by Capri and its sea. As a matter of fact, it was on the Blue Island that Krupp managed to cultivate his naturalistic studies and in particular marine biology, far from the sterile and oppressive work environment of his native country.

In addition, since he was a generous man, he offered a substantial reward to Capri Municipality for the construction of the road, planned to connect Marina Piccola with the Charterhouse (i.e. la Certosa), thus creating a comfortable walk for all the foreigners staying on the island.

In the year 1900, the offer was accepted and to start the building project right away, municipal engineer Emilio Mayer was entrusted the work for the construction of the road, which was completed in only two years.

The road, an authentic masterpiece of human ingenuity carved into the rock, together with the park area above, were generously donated by Alfred Krupp to the Municipality of Capri for the benefit of the local people and of the tourists who were starting to appreciate the island as an ideal destination for their stay in Italy.

Later on, during the 1930s, Krupp’s park was named Gardens of Augustus, when cantilevered terraces were built over a breathtaking panorama embracing the whole area from Tuoro hill in Tragara to San Giacomo Charterhouse and its views of the Faraglioni Rocks, to finally culminating, on the other side, onto the Bay of Marina Piccola, with the Mermaids’ Rock and Punta Mulo.

Today The Gardens house The Four Seasons, fine sculptures nestled in a luxuriant explosion of flowers, plants and essences typical of Capri flora.