Procida

Procida

Province of Napoli, Region Campania, Italy

Procida is one of the Flegree Islands about 5 km off the coast of Naples, between Cape Miseno and the island of Ischia, and a commune that covers the whole territory including also the nearby little island called Vivara, connected to Procida with a bridge. The island has a surface of less than 4 square km (1 and a half square mile). Its coastlines, very jagged, are 16 km long. In 1957 the first underwater aqueduct in Europe was built from the mainland to supply the island with freshwater.

INFO: * Population: ca. 10,000 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 80079 Phone Area Code: 081 -- patron Saint: St. Michael celebrated on September 29 -- Frazioni & Località: Vivara

HISTORY: Geologically, the island was created by the eruption of four volcanoes, now dormant and submerged. Its history is very ancient, and began with the occupation of the Micenei between the 16th and 15th centuries BC. Later on Greek settlers came to this island were from Cuma. Under the Romans rule, Procida became a fashionable resort for the patrician class.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the island was first taken by the Goths, then reconquered by the Byzantine in the 6th century AD. Because of the many raids of the Vandals and Goths first, and later the Saracens, the population settled in a fortified citadel on the promontory called Terra, which later changed name into Terramurata. With the Norman conquest of Southern Italy, Procida with a mainland part called today Mount of Procida, came under to the family of Da Procida, that controlled the island for over two centuries. In 1339, the fiefdod was handed to the Cossa family, of French origin, loyal follower of the Angevine dynasty then reigning in Naples.
Under Charles V, in the 16th century, the island was granted to the D'Avalos family. In 1744 King Charles III made Procida a royal game reserve, and greatly developed the shipbuilding activity. The population rose to approximately 16,000. The Napoleonic Wars brought heavy devastations, because of the island's strategic position in the sea war between the French and English.
The economy remains in great part tied to fishing and shipbuilding, although the tourist industry is also growing. It is traditionally divided into nine contrade called grancìe: Terra Murata (the oldest settlement), Corricella (a fishing hamlet), Sent'cò with the commercial port of Marina Grande, San Leonardo, Santissima Annunziata (also called Madonna della Libera), Sant'Antuono, Sant'Antonio and Chiaiolella (with a tourist port).

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