Procida might be Italy’s greatest anomaly. A tiny islet off the coast of Naples, its pastel-painted fisherman’s cottages and quiet bays of black sand have somehow managed to stay off the radar for most tourists.
Unlike other parts of the region, such as Capri or Amalfi Coast, Procida doesn’t depend on tourism for its cash. The maritime industries of fishing and sailing still dominate the local economy. Outside the summer months, when nearby Neapolitans descend on the island to escape the heat of the city, it’s remarkably quiet.
All that could change this year. With Procida named this year’s Italian Capital of Culture – the first island ever to take the crown – increased visitor numbers are a certainty. In a country notorious for overtourism, the rest of Italy will no doubt look on with intrigue. Can this little island, no more than two miles across, find a balance while walking the tightrope between healthy tourism and local life?
Fishing is the backbone of Procida’s economy
(Getty Images)
According to Agostino Riitano, the man behind Procida’s historic Italian Capital of Culture win, it can. Procida 2022 will not become a “Disneyland”, he says.
“We have not planned any marketing campaign to enter the circuits of mass tourism,” he adds, emphasising that preserving the island’s authenticity is vital to the year’s events. “We want to generate a ‘return tourism’. The relationship with Procida does not end with the journey, but stimulates long-term relationships.”
Spend a few days on Procida, and you’ll soon see why the island’s preservation is just as important as its promotion. There’s nothing polished or put on about it. With a population of around 11,000, there’s a genuine sense of community here. Procida is a living, working place; it’s a beautiful island, no doubt, but the real charm lies in its authenticity.
Procida is a living, working place; it’s a beautiful island, no doubt, but the real charm lies in its authenticity
I visit the Procida Sud Festival, a street market and a food festival promoting products from the South of Italy, and one of the first events from the Capital of Culture calendar.
With sustainability in mind, there’s not a piece of plastic in sight. The decision to only host vendors from southern Italy is also an environmental one, explains Antonio Visaggio, a Procidani and the organizer of the festival. The more the south can supply its own food, the less impact production and transport…
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