A Trip to Procida, the Island of Arturo

We spent 2 days with a single night in Naples, but, as always when we go to this city, we also try to visit something in the surroundings. It seemed we were too tight on time to set foot on the much-praised Capri, so we opted for Procida, an island we liked very much, also because it is off the mass tourist circuits. It can be reached both by ferries and hydrofoils, from Molo Beverello or from Mergellina. We took a hydrofoil from Beverello, which took about fifty minutes anyway, then ending its route at Ischia. We arrived in the mid-morning and immediately climbed up to the upper part, in search of Terra Murata, an ancient village from which you see a wonderful panorama, over Naples, Ischia and Capri.

By chance we found directions to the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo, where, for 3 € per person, a group of very well-prepared volunteers accompanies visitors through the Church and the underground areas, managing in less than an hour to convey both the love for their island, with all its traditions, and a tide of very interesting information about what is preserved in this treasure chest. Having left the Church, we went down towards the marina of Chiaiolella: a miniature bay, with fishermen's houses in all pastel colours, many little restaurants facing the sea, where many wooden boats are moored and not the usual modern and expensive motorboats. A true idyll.

We chose the place that convinced us most and ate excellent fish for little money: quite unusual on an island! Unfortunately I am not sure of the name, although I think the owner and cook was called Giovanna; anyway it was family-run. After a good limoncello, we headed to the port to take the return ferry, after buying along the way bread and buffalo mozzarella to take back to Rome, everything always cheap and, above all, excellent! Undoubtedly it was too short a trip, but at least we got a first idea of this modest yet fascinating other island of the Gulf. So: to be repeated!