Description of the attraction
Procida is one of the Phlegrean Islands, lying off the coast of Naples in the Italian region of Campania. The island is located between Capo Miseno and Ischia. Together with another tiny island, Vivara, it has the status of a commune, and its population is about 10 thousand people.
The name Procida comes from the Latin word "prochita", which means "near Kuma" (Kuma was an ancient Greek settlement near Naples). According to another version, the name of the island comes from the Greek verb "prokeitai" - "to lie further."
Procida was formed as a result of the eruption of four volcanoes, which today are considered dormant and are under water. The total area of the island is less than 4 km2, and its very indented coastline is 16 km long. The highest point of the island is the Terra Murata hill - 91 meters.
Procida was part of the Mycenaean civilization in the 16-15th centuries BC, then, in the 8th century BC, the first ancient Greek settlers appeared on the island, which were replaced by other ancient Greeks who came from Kuma. In the era of ancient Rome, Procida became a popular resort, where patricians and aristocrats loved to rest. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine conquest, the island fell under the rule of the Duchy of Naples. Constant raids from the first by the Vandals and Goths, and then by the Saracens, forced the inhabitants of the island to build fortified settlements characteristic of the Middle Ages. The cape, surrounded on all sides by mountains, served as a natural shelter. During the same period, watchtowers were built on the coast, which became the symbol of Procida.
After the Norman conquest of southern Italy, the island became a feudal possession of the Da Procida family, who held it for over two centuries. The most famous member of this family was John III Procida, adviser to Emperor Frederick II and leader of the popular uprising known as the Sicilian Vespers.
In 1339, Procida became the property of the Cossa family, devoted to the Anjou dynasty, which at that time ruled in the Kingdom of Naples. At the same time, a period of deep economic transformation of the island began - agriculture was abandoned, and fishing, on the contrary, received a powerful impetus in development.
In 1744, King Charles III turned Procida into a royal hunting ground. During that period, the island's own fleet reached the peak of its heyday, including due to the flourishing shipbuilding. The population of the island has increased to 16 thousand people. And in 1860, after the end of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the island became part of Italy.
With the advent of the 20th century, the economy of Procida began to decline, as local shipbuilders could no longer compete with the industrial giants. In 1907, Procida lost its mainland territories, which were turned into the independent commune of Monte di Procida. And in 1957, the first underwater aqueduct in Europe was built on the island. In recent decades, the island's population has begun to slowly grow again, not least due to the development of tourism, which, along with sailing, is an important source of income for local residents.
Renowned for its colorful landscapes and typical Mediterranean architecture, Procida has hosted several films, including the Hollywood thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley.
