Procida
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frazioni = Vivara| telephone = 081| postalcode = 80079| gentilic = Procidani| saint =St. Michael| day = September 29| mayor = Gerardo Lubrano Lavadera | website = www.comune.procida.na.it |
}} Image:Capri and Ischia map.png Image:Procida1.jpg Image:Procida.jpg Procida is one of the Flegree Islands off the coast of Naples, Italy. It is also a town, that covers the whole territory and, in addition, the near little island called Vivara, between Cape Miseno and the island of Ischia, with a population of 10,000.
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Etymology of the name
The island name is due to the Latin name Prochyta. According to another theory, this name comes from Prima Cyme, that means 'near Cuma'. Another theory says that 'Procida' comes from the Greek verb prochetai, meaning 'lays', because of the appearance of the island seen from the sea.
Geography
Procida is located between Capo Miseno and the island of Ischia. It is less than 4 km² (1½ mi²). Its coastlines, very jagged, are 16 km (10 miles). The Terra Murata hill is the most high point of the island (91 m).
The island creation
From the geologic point of view, this island has been created by the eruption of four volcanoes, now dormant and submerged.
History
Ancient history
Procida was held by Micenei in the period between the 16th and 15th centuries BC. During the 8th century BC the first Greek settlers to this island were immediately replaced by other Greek people coming from Cuma.
During Roman rule, Procida became a renowned resort for the patrician class of Rome.
Middle Ages
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine reconquest with the Gothic Wars (6th century)), Procida remained under the jurisdiction of the Duke of Naples. The continuous devastations brought by Vandals and Goths first, and later by the Saracen, pushed the population to resettle in a fortified village typical of the Medieval times. The population was sheltered on the cape of the Earth, naturally defended from walls to peak on the sea and later on more times fortified, changing therefore the name in Earth Bulwark.
Testimonies from this period are from those who manned the watchtowers on the sea, which become the symbol of the island. With the Norman conquest of Southern Italy, Procida experienced also the feudal dominion; the island, with annexed a mainland part, the future Mount of Procida, came under to the family of Da Procida, that controlled the island for more than two centuries. The most famous exponent of the family was Giovanni Da Procida III, councilman of Frederick II of Sicily and leader of the revolt of the Sicilian Vespri.
In the 1339, the fief, together with the Island of Ischia, was handed over to the Cossa family, of French origin, loyal follower of the Angevine dynasty then reigning in Naples. Baldassarre Cossa was elected Antipope in 1410 with the name of John XXIII. In this age a deep economic transformation of the island began, as agriculture was slowly abandoned in favour of fishing.
Modern age
During the domination of Charles V the island was granted in to the D'Avalos family. The raids of the pirates continued in this age. Particularly cruent was that one of 1534, led by the famous Turk admiral Khair ad Din, better known as Barbarossa.
In 1744 King Charles III made Procida a royal game reserve. In this period the Procidana fleet reched its period of highest splendor, backed by a flourishing shipbuilding activity. The population rose to approximately 16,000. In 1799, Procida took part part to the revolts that led to the proclamation of the Neapolitan Republic. With the return of the Bourbon, a few months later, 12 Procidani were beheaded.
The Napoleonic Wars saw several heavy devastations, because of the island's strategic position in the sea war between French and English. In 1860, after the fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the island become part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.
The 20th century
The 20th century saw a crisis in Procidana shipbuilding, due to the competition with industrial conglomerates. In 1907, Procida lost its mainland territory, which became independent and is commonly called Mount of Procida.
In 1957, the first underwater aqueduct in Europe was built in Procida.
In the last few decades, the population has slowly began to grow. The economy remains in great part tied to the marine industry, although the tourist industry has also grown.
Novels and movies about Procida
Several writers have set their novels in Procida. On of the most notable is the novel Graziella written by Alphonse de Lamartine, who came to Procida at the beginning of the 19th century while in the French army. Another celebrated novel is L'isola di Arturo (1957), one of the greater works of Elsa Morante.
Procida has been chosen like film set for a numuerous movies, mainly for its panoramas and its typical Mediterranean architecture. The most famous are Il Postino, with Philippe Noiret and Massimo Troisi, and The Talented Mr. Ripley, starring Matt Damon. Image:Procida2.jpg
Folklore and traditions
There are many religious traditions on the island tied to the period of the Saint Week before Passover. The most evocative of these are the Procession of the Apostles of the Saint Thursday and the Procession of the Mysteries of the Saint Friday. The last one is based on a tradition going back to the end of the 1600s. In the procession, the young males of the island, dressed of the classic garment of "Confratello of the Turchini", carry allegorical wagons (called "mysteries") of religious character for a fixed distance, from the village of Torre Murata to the port of Marina Grande. The "mysteries", often highly artistic, are prepared by the young people and generally nobody except them would have, at least in theory, seen them before the procession. After the the procession, they are taken apart or destroyed.
Every summer, there is an election of the Graziella ("Little Graceful"), a young woman that wears the customary clothes of the island, referring itself to the history told in Alphonse de Lamartine's novel, Graziella. Also during the summer, a literary award dedicated to Elsa Morante and her novel, Arthur's Island, is awarded.
External links
es:Procida eo:Procida it:Procida nl:Procida ja:プローチダ nap:Proceta pl:Procida pt:Procida