PROCIDA
Between Capri and Ischia, there is the hidden paradise of Procida.
Procida is the less famous island of its sisters but no less charming though.
Known for its colourful houses by the deep blue sea, Procida has been nominated as the Italian Capital of Culture 2022. This is a big chance for the island to show off all its beauties to domestic and international tourists. Procida is definitely the protagonist of summer 2022 and so many events on land and sea have been organised, including a delicious taste of the flavours of the Mediterranean cuisine.
Procida has very old origins and it was formed by four different volcanos, not active today and under the sea. The ancient romans and greeks used to love the island for a holiday destination and that’s why you can still see ruins of their old houses and villas.
When you arrive at the port, you are welcomed by the typical colourful architecture. All the houses have their facades painted with lovely pastel colours. According to this tradition, there isn’t a house with the same colour nearby.
This unique characteristic of the island has its origins in the fact that fishermen could recognise their own homes from the sea.
The beauty of the island charmed many writers during the centuries. In modern times it became famous to be the protagonist of the book L’isola di Arturo (Arturo’s Island) by Italian author Elsa Morante. It’s the story of a young boy named Arturo who lives on the island reading about the heroes of the past and dreaming about many adventures.
Not only in literature, but also on the big screen, Procida was the backdrop of many movies, such as Il Postino (The Postman) and The Talented Mr Ripley with Matt Damon and Jude Law.
Of course Capri is chic, Ischia is cool, but trust me there’s no other place like Procida and this is the year to visit, in order to discover a charming, wild and picturesque little gem of an island in the Gulf of Napoli.
The typical houses of Procida from the sea.
HOW TO GET TO PROCIDA
You can get to Procida from both of the two ports of Napoli:
from Molo Beverello, there are the Medmar and Caremar ferries which will take you to the island in approx. 1hour;
or by Snav and Caremar hydrofoils from Calata di Massa port and the journey is approx. 45 minutes.
During the summer (June/July/August), it is also possible to get to Procida from Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
