After time in Rome and Cinque Terre, our next stop was Procida, a 1.6 square mile island packed with 10,000 people.
I was drawn to it for several reasons:
1. It’s not in many of the guidebooks.
2. Very few people have heard of it or visit there.
3. It’s an island which means you have to ferry there – big fun for a Midwestern girl!
As the ferry pulled in to Marina di Procida, we had big smiles – the island was immediately charming.
A typical street in Procida – packed with scooters.
Procida is small, crowded, and romantic. There aren’t many tourists and most people didn’t speak English which made for quiet an adventure.
Taking in the view from our place.
Our apartment, located in Terra Murata, was amazing. Our rooftop deck was the highest point on the island and offered 360* views of the sea. I can’t overstate how much we loved it there. We had to drag our bodies from it and the view.
View from our deck. In the forefront you can see the old Procida Jail (it was a castle until being converted in 1815) which is no longer in use but has housed anti-fascists, fascists, and big-time mafiosos. 
Our row of shops, including a small bodega, bakery and wine store.
We enjoyed having a full kitchen and shopping close by. We hiked down to the several small nearby stores and bought goods at the bodega, bakery, and wine shop. Then Nick cooked for me and we dined on the roof.
Nick perfected his Pasta Carbonara recipe.
Our time in Procida was lovely. I would go back in a heartbeat.
After Procida we traveled back up to Rome for 2 nights before flying home. My time in Italy was everything I had hoped it would be. I felt relaxed, free, and enjoyed every moment. It inspired me to bring that mindset back to my everyday life.
I’d love to hear from you.
Have you been to Italy? What was your favorite city? Are you dreaming of going? Where would you like to visit? Leave a comment below.
Great post, Stina! We loved centering our visit to Italy in Rome, but have to say the highlight was our private tour of the cantinas (small family wineries) in Umbria, the unsung hero of wine regions, our guide said. And olive oil tasting! This Iowa boy never knew the difference in olive oils but we tasted them just like the wonderful wines. Thank you!
Corey – that sounds lovely! We ended up cutting Umbria out of our trip, but I would love to go back and visit the region. There’s also a chocolate factory I wouldn’t mind hitting up 🙂 Thanks for sharing!