Welcome to the italian capital of culture 2022
Just an hour from Naples and half an hour from Pozzuoli, you find yourself on a peaceful islet of just under 4 km ², among the lemon trees, the Sun, the sea and the fresh fish on the table.
The pastel coloured houses, bundled up on top of each other, moving vessels, winding streets, beaches and the sea always blue welcome tourists and kidnap the gaze.
None of those who have understood the spirit, wild and welcoming at the same time of this island of navigators who explored the world, is then able to part with it completely. A piece of them still lives between these bays, still dreams these coves, breathing the fresh air of the sea in Procida.
Not far from the ports of Naples and Pozzuoli and close to the islands of Capri and Ischia, Procida island is amazing, forged by the force of nature that here expressed at its best. The charm of this place is so strong that soon, without even noticing, you get sick of Procida and when you leave you can’t wait to come back and when you come back you feel like you never left … Only in a place so beautiful could arise our hotel dominated by the imposing ruins of “Castello D’avalos”, located in the historical centre, a few minutes from the sea and the port of Marina Grande. The island was already described, in classical times, among others, by Juvenal, Statius and Virgil.
In the Vernacular literature, Procida became the scene of the sixth novella of the fifth day of the Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio, where against the backdrop of the war of the Vespers, it is said Gian’s da Procida love, grandson of Giovanni da Procida, for young Restituta.
Even more recent is the novel “Graziella” written by Alphonse de Lamartine, (which was adapted into a film in 1955), came to Procida from Burgundy during the first half of the 19th century.
In the 20th century is instead celebrated “l’isola di Arturo” (1957), one of the major works of Elsa Morante, a writer to whom is dedicated a literary prize, awarded in the island for several years.
Going to the movies, Procida has been chosen as a film set for a large number of films, mainly for its views and its typical Mediterranean architecture: Among these can be mentioned, as examples, “The Postman”, with Philippe Noiret and Massimo Troisi, “The talented Mr. Ripley”, with Matt Damon. “Francesco e Nunziata” with Sophia loren, Giancarlo Giannini, Raul bova, directed by Lina Wertmuller. Furthermore “Castello D’Avalos” instead provides the setting for the film’s dramatic prison “Detenuto in attesa di giudizio” with Alberto Sordi.
Procida, with an area of about 4 square kilometres, is the third in size of the parthenopean Islands. Once you come for the first time, you will return always willingly.
Today as yesterday, Procida is full of colorful houses, ancient palaces, breathtaking views, vineyards, lemon groves, and then sandy beaches, creeks, trails, lanes, nature, blue sea, seagulls, perfumes, colours and flavours.
Is not an island, it is not a rock, is a jewel resting on the sea.