Caprera

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, off the N. coast of Sardinia. Length, 5 miles. This island is famous as the home of the Italian patriot, General Garibaldi. CAPRI (kä'pre) the Roman Capreæ, a rocky but beautiful island in the Mediterranean, situated under the same meridian as the city of Naples, from which it is 20 miles distant. It is composed of hard calcareous rocks, which are disposed in two masses, with a considerable hollow between them. The highest of these two masses is called Anacapri, with a little town of the same name. The town of Capri (pop. about 5,000) stands much lower, on a sheltering rock toward the E. extremity of the island. By great industry the islanders have retained and secured patches of good soil on steep hillsides, and in the midst of rocks and cliffs; the cultivable parts produce most kinds of vegetables and fruits, a small quantity of excellent oil, and a considerable quantity of a light but generous wine. This wine, which is much used at Naples, is of two sorts, Capri rosso and Capri bianco, or red and white Capri. Extensive ruins of the villa of Tiberius, who resided a long time at Capreæ, are still shown near a bold perpendicular cliff at the E. end of the island. CAPRICORNUS (Lat. caper, "a goat," and cornua, "a horn"), "the Goat," one of the 12 signs of the Zodiac, between Sagittarius and Aquarius; also the corresponding zodiacal constellation, one of Ptolemy's original 48. One of its brightest stars, Alpha , is a wide double, easily separated by the naked eye by anyone with good eyesight. Capricornus is surrounded ded by Aquila, Aquarius, Piscis Austrinus, Microscopium, and Sagittarius.