Marina Piccola, Capri. One of the Smallest Beaches in Italy

Many of us love the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento Peninsula for their rugged cliffs and pastel-colored villages, from iconic Positano to lively Sorrento. However, a short ferry ride away is another stunning summer destination: the island of Capri. This island has held a magnetic appeal for explorers, aristocrats, and celebrities since ancient times. Among its most interesting places to visit is Marina Piccola, literally “small port,” one of the smallest beaches in Italy. Located on the sun-kissed southern side of the island, this intimate bay offers postcard views, crystal clear waters, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of Capri Town.

Marina Piccola, a Small but Beautiful Beach

You find Marina Piccola just below Capri Town. From the Piazzetta, just walk along Via Roma to reach Due Golfi and then go down the steps on Via Mulo. It takes about 15 minutes.

Carved out of a steep rock wall that shields it from sea winds, it may be not easy to reach, since you have to descend winding roads and ancient stone staircases like the famed Via Krupp. However, once there, you are welcome by a lovely landscape and calm turquoise water, good for swimming even in early spring and late autumn.

The beach itself is no more than a slender ribbon of pebbles and stone, but its size is part of its charm. It’s not the place for volleyball matches or long seaside walks. It’s a place to relax, sunbathe, float in the crystalline water, or gaze at the horizon. However, if you need some activity, you can rent a kayak or small boat and weave your way through the hidden sea caves nearby.

If you arrive early in the morning you might find it almost empty. In the afternoon, you’ll share it with locals, children diving off rocks, and the occasional curious traveler who wandered too far from the tour groups.

Despite the presence of a few beach clubs, Marina Piccola is still a place where fishermen tie up their boats, where locals come to swim, where the simplicity of the island resists the gloss of modern tourism.

Moreover, it carries echoes of ancient legends. According to mythology, it was off these shores that Ulysses was lured by the songs of the Sirens.

What to See in Capri Beyond the Beach

We suggest you to spend your morning at Marina Piccola and then climb back toward the center of the island and explore Capri Town or Anacapri. You can visit the Giardini di Augusto and enjoy the view of the Faraglioni, or hike to Villa Jovis, the imperial palace of Emperor Tiberius, who ruled Rome from this island retreat. A ride on the chairlift to Monte Solaro, the highest point of the island, offers another chance to take a look at the panorama as far as the Amalfi Coast and even Vesuvius. And no visit to Capri is complete without a boat tour to the Blue Grotto, where sunlight filters through an underwater cavity, turning the sea a supernatural shade of blue.

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