Italy's Culture Minister has declared Procida the Italian Culture Capital for 2022. The smallest island in the Bay of Naples, Procida beat out nine other destinations for the title.
Often overshadowed by nearby Capri and Ischia, Procida comprises just two square miles on which a stack of compact, colorful homes conceals narrow, serpentine lanes that zigzag sharply toward the crystal clear coastline. Marina Corricella, the harbor flanking the island’s oldest fishing village, plays host to dozens of lively quayside restaurants that overlook the bay while the Terra Murata, a fortified Medieval village, looms over the sea from the island's highest point.
As 2022 is less than a year away, it’s never too early to dream about hopping on a ferry from Naples to bask on the shores of the quaint Tyrrhenian island featured in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Il Postino (The Postman). And since eating is of course compulsory, here are some of Procida’s signature dishes.
Spaghetti alla pescatora povera
Spaghetti alla pescatora povera
This “poor” version of seafood spaghetti contains just anchovies, cherry tomatoes, and a dusting of pecorino cheese.
Luveri al sale
The waters of Procida abound with pagello fish, which locals call luvero. The most popular way to cook this sea bream is in a salt crust (al sale) with some herbs.
Coniglio alla Procidana
In addition to the sea, locals have also sourced food from the island’s terroir. Procida, like Ischia, has a signature rabbit dish, usually prepared with cherry tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, olive oil, and white wine.
Calamari ripieni
Recipes vary, but the Procidani usually slip anchovies into their filling for stuffed squid.
Pizza di Procida
As Procida is just a 40-minute ferry ride from Naples, it should come as no surprise that the island's pizzaioli emulate the wood-fired style of the world's pizza capital.
Tortano con i carciofi
Especially popular around Easter, this savory bread is stuffed with artichokes and, at times, sausage.
Spaghetti ai ricci di mare
Creamy and briny, sea urchin has a particular taste, one that fuses nicely with spaghetti when sautéed with olive oil, garlic, parsley, and a hint of lemon.
Lingue di Procida
Procida is famous for its lemons, which are larger and sweeter than other varieties. The Procidani prepare them in dozens of sweet and savory recipes, and a signature dolce is the Lingue di Procida, or tongues of Procida, lemon-flavored, cream-filled pastries.
L’insalata di limone
Speaking of lemons, the lemon salad with mint, garlic, crushed red chili pepper, garlic and olive oil makes for an airy, refreshing start to any meal.
The other cities in the running for the 2022 Italian Culture Capital title were Ancona, the capital of Le Marche, located on the Adriatic Sea; Bari, a port city in Puglia; Cerveteri, a town 35 miles northwest of Rome; L'Aquila, the Abruzzese capital; Pieve di Soligo, a charming commune in the Veneto with a population of just over 12,000; Taranto, a coastal city in Puglia; Trapani, a city in Western Sicily; Verbania, a Piedmontese town on the shore of Lake Maggiore; and Volterra, a Medieval hilltop town in Tuscany.
Parma, a city in Emilia-Romagna northwest of Bologna, holds the honor of Italian Culture Capital for 2020 and 2021, while Bergamo and Brescia in Lombardy, both located east of Milan, will take the title in 2023.