- UNESCO
Photo: Norberto Chavez-Tapia, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Abbey / Monastery, 1371
Certosa di San Giacomo
Building complex on Capri island
At a glance
- Type
- Abbey / Monastery
- Period
- Middle Ages, 1371
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 40°32′52″ N, 14°14′43″ E
- Address
- Via Certosa, 10
History and description
The Charterhouse of St. James (Italian: Certosa di San Giacomo) was a Carthusian charterhouse founded in 1363 by Giacomo Arcucci on the island of Capri, in southern Italy. It is now a museum and is used for cultural events.
The buildings that formed the charterhouse have three main areas: the pharmacy and women's church, the buildings for monks, and those for guests. The Great Cloister (Chiostro Grande) is of a late Renaissance design, while the Small Cloister (Chiostro Piccolo) features Roman marble columns.
History
Count Giacomo Arcucci, a secretary to Joan I of Naples, established the charterhouse in 1371. He later became a monk himself in 1386.
In 1553 the monastery was restored and fortified and a tower was erected which collapsed in the 18th century.
There was often conflict between the islanders and the monks, who owned land as well as grazing and hunting rights. During the 1656 plague in Capri, the monks sealed themselves off, whereupon the islanders threw their corpses over the wall of the monastery in retribution.
Since 1974 the charterhouse houses the Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach museum among others and is used for cultural events. A high school is also on the premises.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Certosa di San Giacomo».
Timeline
- 1371Built
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Address
Via Certosa, 10
Port1.0 km
Aeroporto di Napoli Capodichino37.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
Loading map…
Nearby
See on the mapMore abbeys and monasteries in Campania
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Certosa di San Giacomo?
Certosa di San Giacomo is in Capri, in the province of Napoli (Campania), Italy. Address: Via Certosa, 10. GPS coordinates: 40.54779, 14.24521.
Can I visit Certosa di San Giacomo for free?
Yes: entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, under the Italian “Domenica al museo” scheme.
How old is Certosa di San Giacomo?
Wikidata dates it to 1371.
What else is there to see near Certosa di San Giacomo?
Nearby you’ll find: Spazio Cerio (Capri, Italy) (100 m away), Palazzo a Mare (1.5 km away), Villa Lysis (1.8 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Certosa di San Giacomo, Capri — Norberto Chavez-Tapia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Certosa di San Giacomo (Capri) WLM 001 — MentNFG, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Certosa di San Giacomo (Capri) WLM25 001 — MentNFG, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Certosa di San Giacomo din Capri — Cezar Suceveanu, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chiostro Grande - Certosa di San Giacomo (Capri) WLM25 001 — MentNFG, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Franz Ludwig Catel - Kloster Certosa, 1823 (Spencer Museum of Art) — Franz Ludwig Catel, Public domain
- 2016 Capri 16 — Nemo bis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Capri 20230627 19 — Argo Navis, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capri BW 2013-05-14 10-09-11 — Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences