Asterisk

I put an asterisk by Hotel Molaro in the text below and I will tell you why. (Isn't the
asterisk a lovely old-fashioned way of cross-referencing btw? I hadn't thought about its meaning, little star in latin: asteriscum).

When I first visited Capri 4-5 years ago I had brought an image of a private palace where Ulla Bjerne had stayed in the 1920's. Some good friends of her, an Italian family, had lent her the place, it was empty so she could use it however long she wanted.

I also had a copy of a postcard with a Hotel Molaro on it, hoping to be able to detect the same on the island. In vain, I thought, since I hadn't been able to find a hotel with that name.

When arriving in Anacapri for a two day visit from Sorrento I didn't know where to stay so I used my Naples guide book (Första klass – 1 kl – Reseguider), which had only one hotel to recommend in the village: the Hotel San Michele (as opposed to some ten in Capri town).

Hotel San Michele sounded like a nice place with great views of the sea and close to San Michele, which was an advantage since the museum was my main objective of the Anacapri visit. The guide book said: ”A hotel from the late 19th century with an appealing, old-fashioned atmosphere.”

As I approached the hotel I realized, which you may already have guessed, the Hotel San Michele was formerly called Hotel Molaro and in addition, the Hotel Molaro was identical to the private palace that Ulla stayed in as the only guest.

I like to think that she had the picture above taken right on the terrace that the room I stayed in looked out on.

Now I will add to the fantasy that Italo Tavolato took the picture.