Procida

Procida is about four square kilometres, the smallest of the bay's three main islands and the least developed for tourism, with a working fishing fleet and around ten thousand residents. Marina Corricella, the old fishing harbour, is a tight arc of houses in ochre, pink and blue with external staircases and vaulted ground floors, built without cars and still reachable only on foot. The village of Terra Murata sits above with the abbey and a former prison in the Palazzo d'Avalos. The island was Italian Capital of Culture in 2022 and has been used as a location for several films.

History

The name comes from the Latin Prochyta, perhaps from a Greek word for "poured out". Mycenaean Greek objects of the 16th to 15th centuries BC have been found here, the first recorded Greek settlers came from the Aegean in the 8th century BC, and in Roman times the island, which Juvenal called barren, became a favourite resort of Rome's patricians (Wikipedia, Procida).

What's there

• Marina Corricella - a car-free arc of pastel fishermen's houses.
• Terra Murata - the walled upper village with abbey and former prison.
• The working fleet - fishing boats rather than tourist charters.
• The lemon groves - terraces producing large local lemons.

When to go

May to September; August is busy with Neapolitan holidaymakers. Ferries are cancelled in rough weather. Winter is very quiet with limited services.

Things to know

The island is small with narrow roads and cars are restricted for visitors in summer. Corricella is reached only on foot down steps. Beaches are small and stony in places.

Nearby

Ischia lies west; Naples is across the water.