Capri museums show Blue Grotto exhibition until 18 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 01:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The Blue Grotto exhibition Il Mito di Capri runs at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri until 18 October 2026.
- The exhibition marks 200 years since the Blue Grotto was rediscovered by August Kopisch and Ernst Fries in 1826.
- The Blue Grotto forms part of an ancient Roman nymphaeum below the Villa di Gradola on Capri's north-western slope.
- The Blue Grotto is accessible by boat, while sculptures once found inside are displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Capri.
The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is at the centre of Il Mito di Capri, an anniversary exhibition running at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri until 18 October 2026. The show marks 200 years since the cave's rediscovery by August Kopisch and Ernst Fries in 1826, linking the sea cave to the island's rise as a destination for European artists and travellers.
Il Mito di Capri runs until 18 October 2026
The exhibition opened on 3 July 2026 and remains available at the Certosa di San Giacomo through 18 October 2026. Its subject is not a new installation inside the sea cave, but the cultural history that grew around its rediscovery and the changing image of Capri.
Paintings, drawings, books, archaeological finds and period testimony trace how Capri moved from a relatively secluded place in the Gulf of Naples towards an internationally recognised cultural destination. The exhibition also considers the 1826 rediscovery as the point at which the cave began to shape the island's modern reputation. The regional event listing gives the exhibition dates and its Capri venue.
The Blue Grotto connects a Roman nymphaeum with Capri's museums
The cave lies below the remains of the Villa di Gradola on Capri's north-western slope. The archaeological complex is arranged on terraces, with ancient pavements, substructures, cisterns and walls still visible above the grotto.
The cave was an ancient nymphaeum forming part of the imperial residence. It is known for the intense blue produced by light reflected from the seabed, while Roman sculptures once housed inside are now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Capri at the Certosa di San Giacomo. That connection gives the exhibition a physical link to the place it interprets: visitors can encounter the cave's archaeological context and its recovered objects within the same museum complex. The museum's Blue Grotto overview describes the site, its Roman role and its boat access.
Capri museums also held a study day on 5 October
The wider anniversary programme included a study day at the Certosa di San Giacomo on 5 October 2026. Organised by Elena Cera and Luca Di Franco, it examined how the discovery of the cave influenced artists, writers and travellers.
That programme places the exhibition within a broader cultural discussion rather than treating the anniversary as a simple historical calculation. The date also falls inside the exhibition period, so visitors in early October can find both the long-running display and the recently held research programme represented in the site's current cultural activity.
Visiting Blue Grotto: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Il Mito di Capri runs from 3 July to 18 October 2026 at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri.
- The exhibition concerns the Blue Grotto, but the cave itself is a separate coastal site and is not the venue of the display.
- The grotto is on Capri's north-western slope, below the Villa di Gradola, and is accessible by boat.
- Entry into the cave requires a small boat because access is through the sea entrance; rough conditions can affect whether the grotto can be reached.
- The Roman sculptures recovered from the cave are displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Capri at the Certosa di San Giacomo.
- Capri is in Italy, where Italian is the official language and the euro is the national currency.
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Frequently asked questions about Blue Grotto
When does Il Mito di Capri take place at the Blue Grotto?
The exhibition runs at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri from 3 July to 18 October 2026. It interprets the history and cultural impact of the cave rather than taking place inside it.
Where is the Blue Grotto and how do you get there?
The cave is below the Villa di Gradola on Capri's north-western slope. The grotto is accessible by boat, while the exhibition venue is the Certosa di San Giacomo.
What is the Blue Grotto?
It is a sea cave that formed part of an ancient Roman nymphaeum connected with the Villa di Gradola. Its blue appearance comes from light reflected from the seabed, and Roman sculptures from the site are displayed at the Certosa museum.
