Capri
AA-2026-EA7949
On the image
The hydrofoil, a triumph of engineering in its day, promised to shrink distances with a simple belief: faster travel equals better travel. These sleek, finned vessels, like the Alispan Primo, skimmed the water, implying that the usual plodding ferry was for the hopelessly old-fashioned. They were modern marvels for a public that expected continuous progress.
Yet here it sits, tied to a dock with ropes, surrounded by stacked crates of "YOMO" yoghurt, waiting for a queue of holidaymakers to shuffle aboard. The future of swift transit, it turns out, still involves a lot of standing around in the hot Italian sun, much like the past.
The ancient cliffs of Capri loom in the background, entirely unimpressed by this marvel of 1970s ingenuity. They have seen empires rise and fall, and countless modes of transport come and go, each promising to conquer time and distance, only to be reduced to another scheduled departure.
The historian's note
This photograph depicts the hydrofoil Alispan Primo docked at Marina Grande in Capri, Italy, during the 1970s. The vessel, operated by Alilauro, was part of a fleet providing high-speed passenger service between Naples and the islands of the Bay of Naples, primarily Capri and Ischia.
Hydrofoils represented a significant advancement in maritime passenger transport during this period, offering significantly reduced travel times compared to conventional ferries. Their ability to lift the hull out of the water reduced drag, allowing for higher speeds and a smoother ride in certain sea conditions.
The scene captures the typical summer tourist activity in a popular Mediterranean destination, showcasing both the cutting-edge transport technology of the era and the timeless appeal of Capri as a vacation spot.
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Alispan Primo Hydrofoil Docked in Capri Harbor, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-EA7949. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/alispan-primo-hydrofoil-docked-in-capri-harbor-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026EA7949,
title = {Alispan Primo Hydrofoil Docked in Capri Harbor, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-EA7949},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/alispan-primo-hydrofoil-docked-in-capri-harbor-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Alispan Primo Hydrofoil Docked in Capri Harbor, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-EA7949 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/alispan-primo-hydrofoil-docked-in-capri-harbor-1970s ER -
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