Capri and Sorrento Italy and Vegan Travels
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Capri is a charming and captivating island off the coast of Italy near Naples. In my opinion no trip to southern Italy is complete without making the 45 minute journey to this upbeat cross between old world traditions and modern extravagance. Capri is an endless photo-op of clinging hillside towns, groves of fragrant lemons, and the breathtaking views of white limestone cliffs rising from the azure Mediterranean Sea.
As for Vegan dining opportunities Capri is much like the rest of the Mediterranean in that it pays to plan ahead and bring directions to the eateries you wish to patronize. There are a few eateries that offer vegetarian entrees that you can personalize to your vegan requirements, but remember that in Italy it is sometimes frowned upon to ask for changes from the menu.
Caffe Augusto is walking distance from the boat drop-off at the marina. It isn't 100% vegetarian but they do offer several options that would suit a vegan diet including pastries, one flavor of soia (soy) gelato, and general snack bar items. Direction: From the boat drop-off at Marina Grande, follow the pier until it dead-ends, then make a left. Caffe Augusto is on the right at Via Cristoforo Colombo 20 Capri. Type of Food: Lacto - very inexpensive.
Tip: Before leaving Capri I recommend going into one of the many candy shoppes to buy their world famous lemon candies. The lemon drops are the best I have ever tasted. Each candy store is owned by a different family who makes their own candy. The families are very competitive and guard their secret recipes with pride. Choose your own favorite by buying something from all of them. You will pucker with delight.
If you are planning to spend more than a day in Capri do your research and find a hotel with a restaurant that will cater to your dietary needs. Capri has many such hotels which if given advance requests will gladly cater to your vegan desires. You may need to make a list of lesser known forbidden foods such as honey and butter.
When in southern Italy I like to spend the day on Capri and plan to eat dinner in Sorrento which has larger vegan friendly eateries. The views of Capri from your table is a nice way to reflect on your day trip to Capri while eating a healthy, vegan meal.
Bio Forneria e Gastronomia is a 15 minute walk from centre of Sorrento at Via degli Aranci, 146. They serve Ovo, Lacto, Vegan-friendly, Organic cuisine in a moderate price range. They also sell vegan foods in their adjoining shop. They are open only during the day so plan your main meal for the afternoon.
Labels: Italy, restaurants, Vegan, Vegetarian
