Celebrating Sant'Antonio

Once Upon A Time At The Villa San Michele di Axel Munthe…

On Friday, June 9, Annarita, our friend, talented guide to Capri, and local Anacaprese, invited us to a special event at the Villa San Michele.  Axel Munthe constructed this villa on the former site where Tiberio once had his villa.  And each spring for the festival of Saint Anthony, Munthe opened up his garden and villa to all the Anacaprese.  There would be wine, desserts and dancing.  Annarita and the small art partons at CapriInArt, a cultural association, hosted an elegant party that recreated what Munthe has done many years ago.  Pacchianelle, traditional women dressed in Neapolitan custom, fried up Panzarelle & Ravioli Caprese fritte, while chocolate wheels of Torta Caprese and wine from Tiberio Cantina were passed to all.

Pages from Munthe's Villa San Michele were read aloud and the group moved through the gardens and an old fashioned black and white picture show was displayed on the inside cappella of the church.  

Today, June 13 marks the feast day of St. Anthony, the patron saint of Anacapri.  It is a much anticipated festival in the small town of AnaCapri.  An ancient statue of St. Anthony is carried on the shoulders of devotee through the narrow streets of the town. Shadowing behind is a procession of children dressed in long tunics reminiscent of Franciscan monks. Bread is blessed, called, pane di Sant’ Antonio and given to all, followed by handfuls of genistra, broom flowers, bougainville and hydrangeas thrown in the air. Locals have decorated their homes and balconies with flowers and trays called guantiere. Once the statue reaches the town’s center it is placed on an altar where he will remain for two weeks.

Visitors and locals can partake in an entire week of festivities scheduled in honor of the saint. The Villa San Michele de Axel Munthe is open free of charge and in the evening, musical events are held on the Piazza Victoria, and fireworks shoot of in the wee hours.

E per la gran devozione - si deve fare un buon boccone! ~ And for the great devotion - you must make a tasty morsel           

- poet, Francesco Alberio

Try making your own buon boccone using our very own Chef Maria’s recipe for Savory Brioche

Brioche Salata~ Savory Brioche

For the Dough: 3 ¼ cup Flour ‘00’ 4 Fresh Eggs 7 tbsp Butter 5 ¼ tbsp Brewer’s Yeast ½ cup Milk A pinch of Salt

For the Filling: ½ cup Baked Smoked Ham, diced ½ cup Salami, diced ½ cup Fontina cheese, diced

Place the flour on the pastry board, preferably wooden, and create a hole in the center. Break the eggs and butter in to the hole along with the brewers yeast, the milk and the salt. Mix together until you have a uniform dough.

When the mix is well combined put the baked smoked ham, salami and the fontina cheese inside and mix all with your hands.

Put the mixture into a baking pan, lined with butter and flour, and place in the oven for 45 minutes at 180°C (350°F).