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Nisida

 A volcanic islet part of the Fle-grean Islands archipelago,Nisida is just a few miles off thetip of Cape Posillipo, North of Naples. Its name comes from theGreek for "islet" (small island),for which the Latinized accusa-tive was Nesida. Almost circular,with a flooded crater formingthe bay of Porto Paone on thesouthwest coast, it is connectedto the mainland by a stonebridge.

Lucius Licinius Lucullus andMarcus Iunius Brutus had theirvillas there. Cicero's lettersrecord him visiting Brutus there,and it was in that island thatBrutus's wife Porcia, the daugh-ter of Cato Uticensis, committedsuicide. In fact, some claim that

some of archaeological remainson Nisida are, indeed, those of the villa of Brutus.

In the 19th century, Nisidawas the site of an infamous

prison that gained notorietywhen William Ewart Gladstonewrote his Two Letters to theEarl of Aberdeen on the StateProsecutions of the Neapolitan

Government, exposing its harshconditions. In those letters,Gladstone coined the now fa-mous description of the King-dom of Two Sicilies as "thenegation of God erected into asystem of Government."

During the World War II, theisland was occupied by British

 Army and again used as a prisonfacility.The connections be-tween the island and Britainmay begin in the 7th centurywith Hadrian or Adrian of Can-terbury, abbot of Christchurch,Canterbury. Bede records thathe was a Greek-speaking Berberfrom North Africa, who wasabbot of a monastery nearNaples. The name of themonastery varies with different

textual traditions betweenmonasterium Niridanum andHiridanum.

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The islands above Capri

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ProcidaProcida, the smallest and least

known of Neapolitan islands,has kept its Mediterranean iden-tity unaltered and is an idealdestination for those seeking an

out-of-the-way holiday, far fromthe mass tourism routes.The rich vegetation that acts

as backdrop for the Mediter-ranean architecture, the pristineand splendid sea and the beauti-ful boulders of the coast, allmake for unusual and excitingscenery.

Compared to Ischia and Capri,Procida still today is fascinatingfor its quiet streets, the vivid col-ors of the ancient buildings andthe villages clinging to the rocksabove the little ports. Its name

probably derives from the Latinname Prochyta, which comesfrom Prima Cyme, meaning'near Cuma'. According to an-other theory, Prochyta comesfrom the Greek verb prokeitai,meaning 'it lies forth', because of the appearance of the islandseen from the sea.

Procida, the Castle

by amalficoasting.org

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PROCIDA1 Marina Grande,2 Castello3 Belvedere4 Marina di Chiaiolella,5 Procida Lido

6 Pozzo Vecchio,7 Vivara,8 Abbazia di San Michele Arcan-gelo

ISCHIA

1 Castello Aragonese2 Cattedrale di Santa Maria As-sunta3 Museo Archeologico di Pithe-cusa4 Chiesa di Santa Restituita5 Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soc-corso6 Museo Civico del Torrione7 Citara

8 Villa La Mortella9 Sant'Angelo,10 Panza11 Serrara Fontana12 Barano d'lschia13 Monte Epomeo14 Eremo di San Nicola

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visiting is the  Abbazia di SanMichele Arcangelo, (8), or Abbeyof San Michele Arcangelo, whichhad a central role in Procida's re-ligious and cultural history.

Ischia

The largest island in the Gulf of Naples and a very populardestination, Ischia is visited inall seasons, thanks to its partic-ularly mild climate.

 Apart from the attraction of its beautiful scenery, due to a

breathtaking landscape of val-leys, hills, cliffs, woods andbeaches, the island is known forits thermal baths. The thermalwealth of the island is in fact im-mense: there are 29 basins andhundreds of mineral springs.

Ischia was the first Greek set-tlement in the Tyrrhenian Sea,founded in the 8th century B.C.,with the name of Pithekousa (is-land of the 'pithoi', or clay vases).The Castello Aragonese (#1), or

 Aragonese Castle, built by Hieroof Syracuse in 474 B.C. in IschiaPonte, is the most visited mon-ument on the island.

Once atop, be sure not to missthe Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (#2) where, in 1509, Fer-rante d’Avalos and VittoriaColonna exchanged their vows.Inside is a crypt holding frescoes

by the Giotto school painters.The collection of the Museo

 Archeologico di Pinthacusa(#3), or Archaelogical Museumof Pithecusa, located in Villa Ar-busto, includes the famousCoppa di Nestore or Nestor's

Ischia

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The Port of Sancio Cattolico,also known as Marina Grande(#1 on the map of Procida), iswhere the boats that arrivefrom Naples and Pozzuolidock. The brightly colored

houses that face the sea are thefirst images that welcome thevisitor.

This fishing village is domi-nated by the Castello (#2), orCastle that sits on the top of asheer cliff overlooking the sea,on the inside of the highestpart of the island, Terra Mu-rata, heart of the island.

The town, which enclosesmedieval houses with court-yards and gardens, churches,buildings and a castle, has re-mained more or less intact forthree hundred years.

The view of the Belvedere (#3)is enchanting while the smallport of Corricella is very charac-teristic, with its delightful archi-

tecture of intricate little houses

one upon the other. Its inter-twining alleys make it seem likea natural stage setting.

Marina di Chiaiolella (#4), alovely semicircular inlet closed

by the old Santa Margheritapromontory, is the best place forswimming, while the ProcidaLido (#5) is much busier withbathers. Another beach worthvisiting is the one at Pozzo Vec-chio (#6), seen in scenes fromthe movie “Il Postino”.

 A long bridge connects la Chi-

aiolella with the islet of  Vivara(#7), a WWF-protected oasisthat can visited only with a per-mit from the town. Also worth

Procida, port of Corricella

Procida, beach of Pozzo Vecchio

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Cup.From the crypt of the nearby

Chiesa di Santa Restituita (#4),one enters the excavations of apaleo-Christian basilica. Themuseum's relics tell the story of the island from the time of theGreeks to the first Christians.

The hamlet of Forio holds onto its strong tradition of a muchless visited fisherman's village.Here, on a rocky outcrop, theChiesa Santa Maria del Soc-corso (#5) stands out, with itstradition of local architecture in-tact. Sunset here, with the re-

flected red light of the blazingsun burning the white walls of the church, is a unique experi-ence. A 5th century tower dom-inates the center of town and ishome to the Museo Civico delTorrione (#6), or Civic Museum.

The renown beach of Citara(#7) is one of the most beautiful

on the island. Near Forio is thespectacular garden of  Villa LaMortella (#8), home of the com-poser Sir William Walton. Onthe southern part of the island isSant'Angelo (#9), a tiny, en-chanting former fishing villagethat became an elegant touristcenter.

Inland are Panza (#10), in alovely panoramic position, Ser-rara Fontana (#11), from whichexcursions to Mount Epomeodepart, and Barano d'lschia(#12), on the hills that descendto the wide beach of Maronti.

Mount Epomeo (#13), whichgives the island its unmistakableshape, dominates the coastbelow offerings breathtakingviews over the Gulf of Naples.Once on the summit, a visit tothe 15th centuryHermitage of San Nicola (#14), entirely carvedinto tufa rock, is recommended.

Ischia, chiesa del Soccorso