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Procida

The origins of the island's name are lost between reality and legend. One of the most suggestive hypotheses is that the name Procida derives from the Greek 'proketai', meaning lies; in fact, if you look closely at the morphology of the island, you will realise that it appears to be lying down in the sea. Procida, with an area of about 4 square kilometres, is the third largest of the Neapolitan islands. Having come the first time, one always willingly returns. Today, as in the past, Procida is a succession of colourful houses, ancient palaces, breathtaking views, vineyards, lemon groves, sandy beaches and a splendid blue sea. Procida is a true open-air film set, and has been chosen as a location by various directors for more than 35 major films, especially for its panoramas and typical Mediterranean architecture: examples include Il postino (The Postman), starring Philippe Noiret and Massimo Troisi, The Talented Mr. Ripley, with Matt Damon. Francesco and Nunziata with Sophia Loren, Giancarlo Giannini, Raul Bova, directed by Lina Wertmuller.

In addition, Castello D'Avalos provides the setting for the prison for the drama film Detenuto in attesa di giudizio, starring Alberto Sordi. Just an hour from Naples and half an hour from Pozzuoli, you find yourself on a quiet little island of just under 4 km², among the lemons, sun, sea and fresh fish on the table. Pastel-coloured houses packed on top of each other, moving ships, winding streets, beaches and the ever-blue sea welcome tourists and enrapture the eye. None of those who have understood the spirit, wild and welcoming at the same time, of this island of navigators who have explored the world, are therefore able to separate themselves from it completely. A piece of them still lives among these bays, still dreams of these caves, breathing the fresh sea air on Procida. Not far from the ports of Naples and Pozzuoli and close to the islands of Capri and Ischia, the island of Procida is amazing, forged by the force of nature at its best here. The charm of this place is so strong that soon, without even realising it, you fall in love with Procida and when you leave you can't wait to come back, and when you return you feel as if you had never left... Only in such a beautiful place could our hotel, dominated by the imposing ruins of the 'Castello D'Avalos', rise, located in the historic centre, just a few minutes from the sea and the port of Marina Grande. The island was already described in classical times by, among others, Juvenal, Statius and Virgil. In vernacular literature, Procida became the scene of the sixth novella of the fifth day of Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron, where, against the backdrop of the War of the Vespers, the love story of Gian da Procida, grandson of Giovanni da Procida, is narrated in 'Giovane Restituta'. Even more recent is the novel 'Graziella' written by Alphonse de Lamartine, (which was adapted into a film in 1955), who came to Procida from Burgundy during the first half of the 19th century. In the 20th century, 'L'isola di Arturo' (1957), one of the main works of Elsa Morante, a writer to whom a literary prize, awarded on the island for several years, is dedicated. Going to the cinema, Procida has been chosen as a film set for a large number of films, mainly for its views and typical Mediterranean architecture: examples include 'Il postino', 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. In addition, the 'Castello D'Avalos' provides the setting for the dramatic prison in the film 'Prisoner awaiting trial' with Alberto Sordi. Procida, with an area of about 4 square kilometres, is the third largest of the Neapolitan islands. Once you come for the first time, you will always willingly return. Today as yesterday, Procida is full of colourful houses, ancient palaces, breathtaking views, vineyards, lemon groves, and then sandy beaches, inlets, paths, nature, blue sea, seagulls, scents, colours and flavours.

It is not an island, it is not a rock, it is a jewel resting on the sea.

Events and festivities

Singing, dancing, music, events, festivals, exhibitions, theatre, conventions are the backdrop to the island of Procida

The island's religious calendar for EASTER WEEK is full of events, each corresponding to a specific day.

Procession of the Apostles Hatched

On Maundy Thursday in the late evening, there is the evocative PROCESSION OF THE APOSTLES HATCHED organised by the Confraternity of the Whites or of the Blessed Sacrament founded in 1583 by Cardinal Innico D'Avalos of Aragon. The Apostles personified by twelve confraternity members of the Bianchi, dressed in their confraternity robes, go to the splendid Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo to participate in the Holy Mass at which the priest proceeds to the traditional washing of the feet.

At the end of the religious function, the Apostles are hooded and with a cross on their shoulders and a crown of thorns on their heads, they proceed in procession, escorted by the 'centurion', the master of ceremonies, the remaining members of the confraternity and other men from other confraternities, who parade holding candles. The procession stops at all the churches on the island, and ends at a predetermined church for the Last Supper ritual; a large table is prepared for the occasion, at which the Apostles sit, to eat a frugal meal of legumes, roasted fish, lamb, unleavened bread and wine. The night from Thursday evening to Friday morning is consecrated to prayer and the vigil of Christ. At first light in the morning of Good Friday, a procession of religious floats representing scenes from the Bible rises from the village of Terra Murata, dubbed the PROCESSION OF THE MYSTERIES organised by the Confraternity of the Turchins or of the Immaculate Conception, founded in 1629 by the Jesuit fathers.

The MYSTERIES

The MYSTERIES, created and carried through the streets of the island by young Procidans dressed in white robes and a blue cloak, gather in the small square in front of the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo, where they are summoned by the sound of a trumpet and three strokes of the drum played by the oldest Turchini brother, in memory of the rhythm that accompanied those condemned to death in ancient Rome. The order of march is as follows: the flag with the inscription SPQR; the chains, symbolising the capture of Christ; the flags representing the different confraternities; the Mysteries; the maidens with flowers; the children dressed in black; the children dressed as angels led by the hands of their fathers; the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows; and finally, the statue of the Dead Christ, the work of Carmine Lantriceni, preceded by a pallium or funeral canopy, held up by representatives of the Procidan Navy. The procession ends in Piazza Marina Grande, while the statues of Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows are taken back to the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo where, in the early afternoon, the religious service of the Agony is celebrated. Holy Week ends with a picnic on Monday in Albis, attended not only by Procidans, but also by the many tourists who flock to the island.

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