A beta-cyclodextrin labeled with seven naphthoyloxy chromophores was studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in order to get information on the dynamics of energy hopping between chromophores. The steady-state fluorescence anisotropy was recorded as a function of excitation wavelength in a mixture of methanol and ethanol at 110 K (rigid glass). The fluorescence anisotropy decay was obtained under the same conditions by the multifrequency phase-modulation technique upon excitation at 290 nm. The data were analyzed and interpreted on the basis of a theoretical model involving a unique rate constant for energy hopping between nearest neighbors. In particular, this model predicts a long-time leveling-off of the emission anisotropy at 1/7th of the fundamental anisotropy, which is confirmed by both steady-state and time-resolved data and thus indicates that there is no preferred mutual orientation between the chromophores. As regards the rate of energy hopping, an average value of 2 x 10(9) s(-1) can be deduced from the comparison between the theoretical and experimental decays. This value is shown to be consistent with a dipole-dipole mechanism of energy transfer.