The abbey of St. Michael the Archangel is certainly one of the main attractions of Procida. This is the oldest building on the island, built in the 7th century by four Benedictine monks. Rebuilt in the 11th and 16th centuries, the monastery still towers over the island on the cliff of Terra Murata. Surrounded by powerful rocks, the abbey sheltered within its walls the local fishermen from pirate raids for many years. Today, the monastery still amazes with its monumentality and thoroughness, more resembling a real fortress than the abode of the spirit.
Procida is the tiny island of volcanic origin, the smallest in the Bay of Naples. The island is home to about 10,000 people. Procida features amazing atmosphere of national color, as locals …
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In the main temple of the abbey you can see a magnificent marble statue of St. Michael and bronze sculptures of St. Margaret and St. Benedict. Here you can also find pictures of famous masters Nicolas Rousseau and Luca Giordano and carved panels that have been preserved since the 15th century. In the local library there are almost 8 thousand unique ancient manuscripts, and in the catacombs, you can find ancient frescoes.
Near the monastery there is the quarter-fortress of Terra Murata. Built in the Middle Ages, the quarter for many years served to defend the island from the pirates. Small window-loopholes, the lack of unnecessary streets and doors, solid buildings – in short, the ancient architects have done everything to turn this area into a real fortress. It should be admitted that they succeeded. It is interesting that people live here to this day, as they were hundreds of years ago. Also on the territory of Terra Murata, you can see a fairly large park of miniatures, telling about the life of the island in the Middle Ages and accessible for tourists. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Procida, like most small Italian islands, can not boast of entertaining children's centers or noisy water parks. Despite this, here you can have quite a comfortable holiday with the child. A …
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The fans of antiquity will like the walks through the small town of Sancho Catolico, the main port of Procida. Formed in the far 16th century, Sancho Catolico did not change much and almost did not grow in size – you can completely get around the settlement in half an hour. In addition to the beautiful old houses, here you can see Palazzo Montefusco, once a residence of the royal family, a chapel of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, built in 1616, and the church of St. Leonard, constructed in the late 16th century. You can walk along the square of Mercy, where the patriots who joined the Neapolitan Republic were hanged in the 18th century.
Another ancient structure that attracts the attention of travelers is the castle d'Avalos. This monumental structure was built in the 11th century, and since then little has changed. Time almost did not touch the fortress in large part due to the fact that until very recently, the castle was actively used for its intended purpose. In the beginning, before 1800, there was a royal residence, and later – a prison for the most dangerous criminals closed only in 1986. Now, even though there are no more prisoners in d'Avalos, the castle is still closed to visitors. You can admire the view and power of the ancient walls only from the outside. Unfortunately, you can only guess what is inside.
Of course, the most important ingredient in most dishes of the Procida cuisine is fish. It is not surprising: every day dozens of fishing vessels unload their fish to the shore, from which …
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Visit the village of Coricella. It was here that some scenes of such famous films as "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "The Postman" were shot. However, the settlement was founded a long time ago and in itself is a monument of history. The Church of San Rocco, built in the 15th century, can be called one of the most ancient local buildings. Here you can find many mansions of the Italian nobility, built in the 18th-19th centuries. Romeo, Miramare, Scotto di Pagliara, Scotty Lakianka, Mamozio – representatives of these ancient and respected clans built their residences in Procida, and now any tourist can see these magnificent houses.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Procida Island and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.
City tours, excursions and tickets in Procida Island and surroundings
Procida Island - guide chapters
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