June 1962. In Rome, Joseph L. Mankiewicz directs the epic movie. Liz Taylor portrays Cleopatra, the mesmerizing last queen of Egypt; Rex Harrison plays Julius Caesar, and Richard Burton takes on the role of Mark Antony. During the filming of Cleopatra, which would later win four Academy Awards, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton began a whirlwind romance that captured the paparazzi’s attention and created a scandal. Their affair became one of the most iconic in Hollywood history and helped sustain interest in the movie, even extending to Capri, which has always been a backdrop for the world’s greatest love stories.
An iconic love story
Liz and Richard were both married at the time—to Eddie Fisher and Sybil Williams, respectively. On set, their characters’ love became real off-screen. A secret relationship began, but the pair didn’t hide their feelings for long. International press went into a frenzy, and paparazzi trailed them everywhere. During a break from filming in Ischia, Capri entered the scene. As guests of Gracie Fields, the owner of the beach club La Canzone del Mare, Liz Taylor and Burton arrived in Capri by motorboat. They strolled hand-in-hand through the island’s streets, allowing photographers and onlookers to capture their romance, publicly confirming their relationship.
The many marriages of Liz Taylor
Their love story culminated in marriage—twice: first in 1964 and then in 1975, followed by two divorces. Their love was as dramatic as their quarrels, complete with grand gestures like Burton’s gift of a famous 70-carat diamond. To Taylor, he once declared, “First, you must know that I adore you. Second, at the risk of repeating myself, you must know that I love you. Third, I cannot live without you… There is no life without you.” Upon Burton’s death, Taylor chose to be buried with his love letters.
The Dolce Vita in Capri
Liz and Richard’s Capri escapade solidified the island’s reputation as a glamorous and romantic destination, beloved by international stars and emblematic of Italy’s Dolce Vita. La Canzone del Mare terraces often hosted this piece of history, thanks to the vision of English singer Gracie Fields. In 1933, she purchased the property overlooking the Faraglioni cliffs for 400,000 lire and transformed it into a beach club. Opened in 1950, it quickly became a hub for the international jet set. Guests included Rudy Crespi, Dado Ruspoli, Pietro Capuano of Chantecler, Totò, King Farouk of Egypt, Kirk Douglas, Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, and Noel Coward, to name just a few. To this day, the allure remains, with suites dedicated to past divas, including one named after Liz Taylor herself.
