img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}Italy is and always will be one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations for its captivating culture, ancient sites, incredible food, and yes, even stunning postcard-worthy beaches.
The latter has travelers worldwide flocking to the Amalfi Coast year after year, resulting in unavoidable crowds that many tourists justify, given the pristine beauty and social media flex.
While there are still tons to be discovered across Italy, one such place somehow goes relatively unnoticed, even with claims of a new report that it’s ‘better than Capri’, another popular Italian paradise.
We at Travel Off Path have revealed numerous under-the-radar gems over the years, especially those hidden in the vast shadow of Rome and the aforementioned Amalfi.
This map-dot island near Naples has us extra excited to hoist it to center stage, as there’s really no bad time to indulge Italy’s delights.
With fall around the corner, this lesser-known island makes for fantastic day trips from major cities, full-fledged weekend getaways packed with as much adventure or downtime as you wish, or some of the prettiest backdrops across the nation, whether it be the pastel cityscape or vibrant shores.
Proceed To Procida If You Want An Authentic Italian Vacation
Less footprints, open bar seats, cheaper hotel rooms — You can’t say that about Amalfi.
Procida has ticked off all those boxes and more as it’s been largely skipped by tourists, even as worldwide overtourism concerns have driven travelers to seek out new destinations.
Set en route to the trendy island of Ischia (pronounced “EE-skya” – not that that weird eBaums World guy back in the day), it’s still overlooked by the masses despite touching elbows with popular neighbors.
Quiet, calm, and seemingly untouched for the most part, Procida is as crowd-free as it gets for one of Europe’s most popular countries.
Though small in size, don’t be fooled, it doesn’t pack a punch, no matter if you’re a nature enthusiast, beach lover, culture seeker, or hoping to score cheap (and authentic) Italian cuisine.
Here, culture and nature practically go hand in hand. Knock out both on your wishlist for an unforgettable experience hiking (or convenient bus ride) to Procida’s tallest peak, Terra Murata.
You’ll find Procida’s oldest fortified village of historic homes oozing Medieval charm. It’s perfect for photo-ops, and since it’s elevated, the views here are unmatched anywhere else, yet somehow most travelers don’t know about this place!
Vibrant Beaches & Pastel Harbours: Procida Is Picture-Perfect
If you’ve been to Italy before and hit up the usual go-to hotspots, chances are you’ve encountered blood-boiling moments of “CAN’T YOU SEE I’M TRYING TO TAKE A PICTURE HERE?!”.
Or maybe that’s just me?
The point being, Italy’s renowned cities are flooded with tourists there for the same reasons you are, so you’re going to have to use your iPhone’s scrub feature to remove strangers’ heads on just about every photo.
In Procida, though? Not the case at all.
You can take as many photos as you want of Marina Coricella’s pastel fishing harbour and cozy alleyways lined with cozy cafes. Unfortunately, you can’t capture the aromas of pizzas baking to perfection.
One day…
What you can capture are Procida’s shimmering golden beaches, reminiscent of Italy’s household names, with far fewer footprints.
This island is far from a tourist trap, so expect to be able to snag a spot seaside no matter which beach you choose.
If it were me, I’d opt for Chiaia Beach, a tranquil swimming spot and home to perhaps the island’s top restaurant La Conchiglia, or black-sand Ciraccio Beach for something otherworldly.
Procida Is Very Affordable
According to travel experts at the Daily Express, you can score a perfectly crafted pizza under $10. I can barely get that at the Domino’s across the street from without scouring the interwebs for promo codes…
As September and October still see temps well into the 70s and 80s, a cold beer is a must at some point.
Expect to only fork over $2 – $3 for a local brew. One local staple you have to find is lemon, well, anything — limoncello, lemon gelato, or granita. You can’t go wrong.
Even hotels won’t break the bank either. Hotel Villa Mazzella, with nearly a perfect Google rating, is going for $69 this fall.
Now you’re probably wondering how to get to such a place you’ve never heard of. It has to be a challenge, right?
Wrong.
If you’re here to pig out on Italian food, make sure to save room when leaving Naples. It’s tough, I know…
Naples is on the grittier side of the spectrum and often a pass-through destination rather than a mainstay, and that’s likely the case for you if Procida piques your interest.
There are multiple ferry operators for the Naples – Procida route and vice versa. You can view them here to book your ride.
Rates vary for each operator. The cheapest I found was with Caremar for $19.
Sam SearsSam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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