Procida is one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy, lying between Cape Miseno and Ischia Island.
Procida is one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy. The island lies between Cape Miseno and Ischia Island. With the tiny satellite island of Vivara, it is a commune of the metropolitan city of Naples, in the Campania region.
1. Terra Murata
The walled village of Terra Murata occupies the highest point on the island, offering stunning views of the area and coastline. Steep, twisting lanes lead to intriguing historical sites, including a medieval building that has served as both a palace and a prison. Nearby neighborhood homes sport arched entryways and laundry hanging from clotheslines, reflecting Terra Murata’s down-to-earth atmosphere. Outside the town, numerous archaeological sites date back to the Bronze Age inhabitants of the island—who lived over 5,000 years ago.
2. Former Prison Procida – Palazzo D’ Avalos
The main building of Terra Murata is Palazzo d’Avalos, built in 1500 together with the walls of the d’Avalos family, the island governors up until 1700. In 1830 the building was converted into a prison that was closed in 1988. Currently, the Palazzo d’Avalos can be visited only by booking the ticket in advance.
3. Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo
The religious and cultural heart of the village of Terra Murata is the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo, a Benedictine foundation dating back to the XI century, destroyed and rebuilt over the centuries, whose current architecture dates back to 1500. The imposing abbey complex testifies the role it had in the past as a religious and cultural center of the island. From the architectural point of view, it is a system made up of multiple layers and transformations made over the centuries; the oldest part of the building dates back to the XV century; however, there are historical records of 1026 indicating the existence of a monastery in this place.
4. Museum Casa di Graziella
On the second floor of the Palazzo della Cultura (Formerly – Conservatorio delle Orfane ) of Terra Murata, from June 19th, 2011 it is possible to visit the reconstructed historical facility of the house of Graziella. In September of 1811 the French poet and writer Alphonse De Lamartine arrived in Italy when he was merely 21 years old and was the main character in Grand Tour. According to the tale of Graziella, Lamartine resided in Procida from April 1st, 1812 until the end of May of 1813 and, during this 14 month stay, the writer fell in love with a young local orphan named Graziella, who, at that time, was living with her grandmother, grandfather Andrea and her brothers, among who we remember only Beppo.
5. Vivara Island
Those who choose to spend their holidays in Procida cannot lose the opportunity to visit the island of Vivara, a small oasis, the wildlife of which is protected since 1974 and by the State Nature Reserve since 2002. Small, wild and unspoiled, this beautiful crescent-shaped island lying on the sea is able to captivate even the least sensitive with its charms of nature. In addition to its rare plants, wild rabbits and various water and migratory birds, it is the site of important archaeological findings from the Mycenaean era. The sea, spectacular and rich in marine plants, is also an attraction for all fishing lovers.