This tiny island (1.6 sq. mi.) is located in the Bay of Naples off the southern coast of Italy. It is home to only 10,000 people. It’s tourist population, which is small consists largely of Italians from the mainland. The mainland is only a 40 minute high-speed ferry away. It is a very romantic place which may explain why it was the location for the 1994 Academy Award winning movie Il Postino (The Postman). The sea surrounding this island is a deep crystalline blue.
The view toward mainland Italy. Although this island is a relatively short ferry, it is a world and time apart. At times it seemed to me that I had been transported back in time to a much simpler and innocent world. This fact was so refreshing that I could well imagine spending more time here.The old walled city. Which contains a palazzo, museum, and several bars. The area I am shooting from has many oceanfront restaurants and bars.View from the walled city. This is without a doubt the most photographed view on the island. Just check Google Images of Procida to confirm. Front street of the ferry port. The entire island is “walk friendly” unless you consider the extreme narrowness and no sidewalks on some of the streets. The other pedestrian hazards are the scooters and motorcycles. Although it appears as that the few stop signs on the island are merely suggestions, and that few other driving rules exist, I did not witness one traffic incident in the 6 days I spent here. Hard to imagine any level of intoxicated driving could end well.Typical street on the island. Notice the ample sidewalks. The other very stark contrast to Naples is the litter free streets here. While Naples had more than its share of litter and overflowing dumpsters, Procida had none.These ebikes are the best way to get around on the island. This was my choice for transportation. The extra wide tires and extended battery packs were completely necessary for both the cobblestone roads and the hills on the island.A typical beach on the island. I had a great swim and soak in the water before I took note that no one else was in the water beyond their ankles. That was because of jellyfish in the water this day. Cala del Pozzo Vecchio, the beach featured in il Postino is very romantic indeed. Besides the beauty, I enjoyed the fact that while I was in the water I wasn’t worried about my cameras and gear on the beach being ripped-off. The primary beachgoers are young local families. Another shot of this very beautiful beach. It is not hard to imagine that this romantic spot plays host to numerous marriage proposals. Just check out this young couple. I shot this image with a 400mm zoom. It appeared as though she was proposing to him, and judging by their smiles he was saying yes in Italian.
More adventures for you to regale Deb and I with when you return 👊🍷