Procida Island

This tour of Procida by boat, aboard the comfortable Ippocampo, will get you acquainted with the geological configuration of the island, and give you spectacular vistas of the nearby islands of Ischia and Capri, as well of the three Procidan harbors of Chiaiolella, Marina Grande, and Ciricella. The latter is one of the most famous harbors of the Mediterranean, due to its superb position (looking out towards Capri) and its extraordinary architecture. Connected by bridge to the main island, Vivara is a satellite islet of Procida, and the crescent-shaped remnant ridge of an ancient volcanic crater. This small island was occupied by Greek sailors in the Mycenean period (around 1350 BCE). In modern times it was prevalently used for hunting, but since 2002 it has been transformed into a nature reserve, due to the great number of bird species that rest on this island during their migratory journeys between Africa and Europe. Our visit will focus on both the historic and natural wonders of the islet. Undoubtedly the best-known and most picturesque place on the island, the harbor of Corricella is also an important historic site. Its colorful architecture bears the marks of both maritime engineering and a fertile exchange between Arabs and Procidans. In fact, this harbor tells the history of the fascinating relationship between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages and early modern period. Our guided tour will reveal to you the mysteries of the "Scala Scura" (the dark stairway that constituted one of the only three entrances to the harbor from land), the Vascello (a group of ten houses enclosing a courtyard), and the many other unique characteristics of this one-of-a-kind fishing village.