Ancient site · Italy · Still standing

Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is a sea cave on the coast of the island of Capri where sunlight passing through a submerged opening makes the water inside glow bright blue. The cave penetrates the cliff for about 50 metres with a sandy floor, a narrow low arched entrance at sea level, and several internal passages leading to a small chamber called the Sala dei Nomi.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

AD 27

Today

Still standing

As it stood in AD 27

The shape it held in its prime.

A low, arched sea-cave cut into a cliff, roughly 25 metres across and 50 metres deep at the surface, with a narrow 2-metre-wide, 1-metre-high entrance at low tide. The chamber has rough, shadowed rock walls and a flat sandy floor; a band of rock 1–2 metres high separates an upper opening from a larger submerged aperture below. Light from the lower opening floods the seawater, turning the surface an intense electric blue that illuminates the cavern interior.

Step inside

10 places to explore in AD 27.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Blue Grotto — including 8 interiors: central main chamber with rowboat, view looking out through the arched entrance, lower submerged opening and water glow and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Exterior approach from small rowboatUpper arched entrance looking inwardCentral main chamber with rowboatView looking out through the arched entranceLower submerged opening and water glowSandy floor with statue basesEdge with resting areas and statuesEntrance to the Sala dei Nomi (Room of Names)Narrow connecting passageOarsman guiding the boat by chain

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