Formed thousands of years ago by volcano eruptions, different rock formations and sands abound. Touring around, you see lots of flowers and vegetation as well as two delicacies grown in Procida – lemons and artichokes. Attached to Procida by a small bridge, you will find an uninhabited island nature reserve, Vivara.

Even though the island is tiny, the coastline is so jagged that it runs for around 16 kilometers (10 miles) and is full of beaches to visit. We began with the most famous – La spiaggia di Pozzo Vecchio, better known as La Spiaggia del Postino. Over a lunch of fresh fish and calamari at the bar where the movie’s main characters meet, we imagined what the beach was like during filming. 

After lunch, it was time to explore the districts, which amazingly all have their own character despite being so close to each other. In the oldest village and highest point on the island, Terra Murata, we pondered what life must have been like as a prisoner in the ex-palace and prison Palazzo d’Avalos that stands guard over the island. In Sent’cò,  we visited the Marina Grande. There were various churches to visit across the other districts – the majority of which are named after saints: San Leonardo, Santissima Annunziata, Sant’Antuono, Sant’Antonio. 

Ending the day in the colorful fishing port of Corricella, we admired the hard work and spirit of the Procidians, many who dedicate their lives to the ocean, fishing and seafaring. 

Getting back on the ferry to Amalfi, we were sad to leave Procida behind us. We’d just had the privilege to taste a life that wasn’t ours and experience the magic of it. 

When Procida was declared Italian Capital of Culture in 2022, something strange happened – I began learning that many people I know had also been to Procida. None of us had ever talked about it before. It was as if we’d all had the same reaction: our experiences there had almost been too memorable and special to share. We had kept Procida for ourselves, maybe hoping it could really be a place that would never change.