Around what remains of the mighty walls of the Castle, on the offshoot of the Monte Solaro massif, spring brings an explosion of intense yellow with orange reflections.
All the more evident in the contrast with the intense blue of the sky and the sea, down at the bottom of the overhang of over 400 metres. Among the many characteristic essences of the Mediterranean maquis, to color the ruins and rocks around the ruins of the ancient fortress, it is the spiny broom (Chamaecytisus spinescens) which bears a characteristic red spot on the largest petal of its golden flowers. A botanical rarity of the island of Capri, where it is present only in that restricted area. Therefore legend has it that in 1535, when the pirate Barbarossa, Khair el Din, conquered the fortress that defended Anacapri, setting it on fire and slaughtering those who were there, even the broom put thorns in defense, while its flowers remained stained by the blood of the defeated. And the broom that accompanied the walks of the Roman emperors populates every corner of the island, from the ancient ruins to the most inaccessible areas, where the rock is shaped by the wind. And where the fragrant broom (Spartium junceum) spreads its honey scent, whose flowers make up the carpets of the May 14 flower festival, in honor of the patron saint of Capri, San Costanzo, to whom it is dedicated as the "flower of San Costanzo" . While in Anacapri, they call it the "flower of Sant'Antonio", because it flowers there later, just in time for the patron saint's day on June 13th.
