Blue Grotto exhibition closes at Capri on 18 October

The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is the subject of The Myth of Capri, an exhibition at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri that closes on 18 October 2026. The exhibition marks 200 years since the cave was rediscovered and connects the site with the island’s cultural history.

The Myth of Capri closes at the Certosa on 18 October

The exhibition runs from 3 July to 18 October 2026 at the Certosa di San Giacomo. It is organised by the Museums and Archaeological Parks of Capri and curated by Massimo Osanna and Luca Di Franco, as confirmed by the exhibition announcement.

Its subject is the transformation of Capri from a difficult-to-reach place in the Gulf of Naples into a destination for artists, writers and travellers. Works of art, documents, archaeological finds and literary sources follow that development from antiquarian accounts and Bourbon-era excavations to the island’s later place in European culture.

The exhibition also includes an augmented reality experience. Visitors can explore a reconstruction of the Blue Grotto in its Imperial-era and contemporary forms, while an interactive digital audio guide is available through the Musei Italiani app. The Goethe-Institut lists the exhibition for the same period and venue in its event listing for Capri.

The Blue Grotto story reaches back to 17 August 1826

The exhibition is tied to the rediscovery of the Blue Grotto on 17 August 1826. The German painter and poet August Kopisch entered the cave with the painter Ernst Fries, accompanied by the boatman Angelo Ferraro, known as Riccio, and Giuseppe Pagano.

That episode gives the final day of the exhibition a direct connection with the landmark itself. Rather than presenting only a natural attraction, the display examines how the cave became part of Capri’s artistic, literary and travel identity across two centuries.

The Certosa di San Giacomo therefore serves as the historical setting for an exhibition about a site elsewhere on the island. The presentation links the cave’s physical presence to paintings, records, archaeological evidence and digital interpretation, giving the closing date a clear place-specific context.

Visiting Blue Grotto: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Myth of Capri is on display at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri until 18 October 2026.
• The exhibition concerns the Blue Grotto, but it is held at the Certosa rather than inside the sea cave itself.
• The Blue Grotto lies on Capri and can be approached by boat from Marina Grande or by bus from Anacapri. The final approach to the cave entrance involves steps down towards the sea.
• Entry into the cave itself requires a small rowboat to pass through a low opening. Access depends on calm sea conditions, and rough seas or strong winds can suspend visits.
• The exhibition’s augmented reality section provides a reconstruction of the Blue Grotto, offering an indoor interpretation of the cave when the actual sea approach is not available.

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Frequently asked questions about Blue Grotto

When does The Myth of Capri take place at Blue Grotto?

The exhibition takes place at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri from 3 July to 18 October 2026. It explores the Blue Grotto rather than occupying the cave.

What is the Blue Grotto?

It is a sea cave on Capri whose 1826 rediscovery is the central historical subject of the exhibition. The actual cave is entered by small rowboats through a low opening.

Where is Blue Grotto and how do you get there?

The cave is on Capri and can be reached towards the sea from Marina Grande by boat or from Anacapri by bus followed by a descent on foot. The exhibition venue is the Certosa di San Giacomo.