Procida

The island of Procida is the smallest of the three islands in the Gulf of Naples, the most hidden and secret, outside the classic tourist itineraries of those who generally prefer Capri or Ischia.

Procida can be discovered walking on foot, by moped or using the many electric bicycles and stopping in its suggestive panoramic points.

It is an evocative stretch of sea, often used as a location for advertising and cinema: Massimo Troisi and Michael Radford chose it to shoot the scenes of “The Postman”; as Anthony Minghella set the film “Mr Ripley’s Talent” starring Matt Damon.

Up the hills towards the countryside, the island has lonely lanes enclosed between ancient walls, beyond which orchards and vineyards stretch like imperial gardens. It has various beaches with light and delicate sand, and other smaller shores, covered with pebbles and shells, and hidden among the great cliffs.

On 18 January 2021, Procida was designated by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism as the Italian Capital of Culture for the year 2022.

Attractions

Marina Grande

Marina Grande is the main port of Procida. It is the first postcard that welcomes tourists who have just arrived on the island and offers an extraordinary view of incomparable beauty.

The houses, in typical pastel colors, fan out onto the northern ridge and present typical features of the local architecture.

The fishermen’s houses that overlook its seafront, Palazzo Montefusco, recognizable from the ferry for its pink color and the typical battlements that adorn its terrace, the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà, with its characteristic baroque bell tower, are just a few of the attractions that this Procidan port offers.

Near the port, there is also the Beach of the Caves, so called because of the many tuff caves, now used as simple warehouses, dug centuries ago in order to shelter the boats during the bad season.

Terra Murata

When in Procida, visiting the fortified center of Terra Murata, a place of extreme beauty built on the highest point of the island, is a must-see.

Historic and cultural center of the island, literally overlooking the sea, Terra Murata can only be reached via a steep climb from which you can admire a breathtaking view over the entire Gulf of Naples. What makes this place special are not only the medieval fortifications and the scenic views, but also the two long-range cannons dating back to the Neapolitan Republic of 1799.

After reaching the top, it’s impossible to forget to visit Palazzo d’Avalos, which was built in the 1500s together with the walls by the D’Avalos family, governors of the island until the 1700s. In 1830, the building was transformed into a prison and was closed definitively only in 1988.

The prison was divided into five sections, one part follows the cubicular system with one inmate per cell, while the rest is multiple with a variable number of inmates inside, even up to forty per room. The double doors, the internal gate and the external wooden door with a peephole for any nighttime needs are still visible.

It is the historic core of Procida and is in the center of the island, almost 90 meters above sea level.

La Lingua Beach

Among the most beautiful beaches of Procida, maybe the most amazing one is the small but panoramic La Lingua Beach.

Located in the tourist port of Marina Grande, it is a pebble beach, unlike the other beaches on the island, which are characterized by thick and dark sand. Despite being very close to the port, it has not lost its naturalistic and somewhat “wild” charm, thanks to the rocky ridge covered with vegetation that encloses it.

The sea water that bathes this beach is very clean, even if a little rough, and its color is an intense blue due to the very high seabed.

The Lingua Beach directly overlooks the bay of the island of Procida, practically right in front of the promontory of Monte di Procida, which represents a hub and passage point for sea traffic coming from the mainland.

The transparent sea is cobalt blue and deserves to be crossed perhaps by swimming to take a bath in complete relaxation and in total tranquility.

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