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A tiny island spanning just 1.5 miles with its pastel-hued fishing harbours attracts far fewer crowds than its more renowned neighbours. Life on relaxed Procida remains genuine and peaceful, offering a complete contrast to the chaos of overcrowded tourist destinations.
Situated off Naples' coastline in southern Italy, it's frequently overshadowed by nearby destinations such as Positano, Amalfi and Capri. Procida, Italy's most vibrant island, has stayed largely untouched by mass tourism, with the settlement's pastel buildings creating a cheerful and refreshingly authentic atmosphere.
Just one hour's ferry journey from Naples, the island features magnificent golden sandy shores that aren't crammed with holidaymakers and sun loungers.
Unlike its more celebrated neighbours, Procida is "not a tourist trap," says Guardian reader Bernie G, instead providing a taste of "unhurried Italian life."
Its narrow, peaceful lanes are filled with family-owned eateries, and the island maintains a flourishing fishing community, reports the Express.
Unlike the tourist-dominated Capri and Amalfi, Procida remains reasonably priced, with costs aimed at residents rather than visitors. A pizza starts from as little as £8.60, whilst a bottle of beer might cost just £4.30.
In Capri, a pint costs over £2 more at £6.90.
In Capri, visitor numbers occasionally surge so dramatically that they surpass the local population, resulting in overcrowding and pressured infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Procida maintains a neighbourhood atmosphere, featuring family-owned restaurants, tranquil streets, and a thriving fishing community. "As people still fish for a living, there's no shortage of wonderfully fresh seafood in the restaurants. A local delicacy is lemon salad, made from the enormous, thick-skinned lemons unique to Procida", says Bernie G.
La Marina di Corricella, Procida's most ancient fishing village, is essential viewing. This seventeenth-century harbour is renowned for its lines of vibrant buildings hewn from the clifftop, each painted in distinctive hues.
This picture-perfect location houses a blend of seafood eateries, pubs and lodging.