Villa Jovis is the best-preserved of the twelve imperial villas that Augustus and Tiberius built on Capri, and the only one open to visitors. It sits at the eastern tip of the island at 334 metres, a 45-minute walk from Capri town through lemon groves and quiet lanes. Tiberius governed the Roman Empire from here from 27 CE until his death in 37 CE — a decade during which, according to ancient sources, he never returned to Rome.
What remains are the foundations and walls of the water cisterns, servants' quarters, baths, and the imperial apartments — enough to understand the scale and ambition of the building. The views from the terrace are exceptional: the Bay of Naples, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, and on a clear day the outline of Rome itself in the far distance. A small museum at the entrance provides context. Allow two hours return from Capri town including the walk.