Boat tour with lunch on board to discover Procida

Once you leave the port of Forio you can admire the beautiful church of the rescue. The Chiesa del Soccorso in Forio d’Ischia is not only beautiful but has a particular significance for all the inhabitants of the island. It stands on a small promontory overlooking the sea and is dedicated to the cult of the Madonna della Neve; it is white, stands out from afar and represents the classic Mediterranean construction. The promontory of Soccorso in Forio does not only host the Church, in fact next to this there is the Torrione, symbol of Forio and seat of the museum.

Shortly after leaving Forio, we will make the first stop for swimming and snorkelling in Lacco Ameno, and we will serve you a delicious bruschetta with Ischia tomatoes and local wine. Then we will circumnavigate the island of Ischia, giving you the opportunity to admire the Aragonese Castle, a majestic castle that stands out against the sea. Lacco Ameno is one of the most fascinating villages. Located between Forio and Casamicciola, it owes its name to the crystal clear waters and the breathtaking views that soothe the soul. In the coastal area, the Bay of San Montano embraces the western side of the island and is excavated between the promontories of Zaro and Monte Vico.

After the stop in Lacco Ameno we head to the Casamicciola-Ischia port area, to reach the beautiful bay of the English beach where, if the weather conditions permit, we can make another stop for a swim. The English beach is a small volcanic beach of pebbles and dark sand. Located on the north coast of the island, it is sheltered by the cliff. This secluded beach got its present name during WWII, when the British used it as a landing point during an attack. Finding this hidden gem, not easy to find, adds a little adventure to a good walk. You will need to find the cobblestone path near the pier at the far end of Ischia Porto, indicated by a vibrant bougainvillea that will guide you along the way. You should go quite early in the morning, when the beach receives more sun before ending up under the shadow of the cliff, better to go by boat right?

Before aiming for the route to Procida we will see the majestic Aragonese Castle, here too it is probable to stop for a swim if the sea allows it. The Aragonese Castle is a fortification that stands on a tidal island of trachytic rock located on the eastern side of the island of Ischia, connected by a 220 m long masonry bridge to the ancient Borgo di Celsa, known as Ischia Ponte. The islet on which the castle was built derives from a synactic eruption which occurred over 300,000 years ago. It reaches a height of 113 meters above sea level and covers an area of approximately 56,000 m². Geologically it is a bubble of magma that has been consolidating during eruptive phenomena and is defined as a "stagnation dome". The castle is accessed through a tunnel dug into the rock and commissioned in the mid-fifteenth century by Alfonso V of Aragon. Before then, access was only possible by sea through a stairway located on the north side of the islet.

Finally we will arrive in Procida. Procida is a fishing village dotted with colorful houses and surrounded by the intense blue of the sea. The island is lively, authentic and smells of myrtle and saltiness: it is perfect for experiencing the lively life of southern Italy without the excesses of the big city. It will be easy to fall in love with its winding streets that suddenly open onto the sea, with its slow and always cheerful rhythm, with its dark sandy beaches caressed by the wind. Procida has entered the imagination of many people also thanks to films and books. There are those who have seen Procida for the first time on a screen: the famous film by Massimo Troisi, Il Postino, inspired by the novel by Antonio Skàrmeta, was shot on the island; but also The Talented Mr. Ripley, an American drama film from 1999 that boasts an exceptional cast. They are both set in Procida, recognizable by the classic glimpses of the sea, the beaches surrounded by rocks and the narrow streets.

The island of Vivara, a mysterious and fascinating portion of land connected to Procida by an old bridge, has been a protected naturalistic oasis since 1974 and a state nature reserve since 2002. Small, wild and uncontaminated, Vivara, as well as being populated by rare plants, wild rabbits and numerous aquatic birds, is home to important archaeological finds of Mycenaean origin. Its seabed, spectacular and very rich in marine plants, is also an attraction for all lovers of snorkelling and scuba diving. Visiting Vivara is not yet possible, but in 2022 the news announcing that it will soon be made accessible to all those who, during their holiday in Procida, want to discover this little paradise that is still little explored. Vivara is what remains of a circular volcanic crater once linked to Procida by a cliff. Today the islet is connected to the promontory of Santa Margherita (Marina Chiaiolella) by a bridge that can only be crossed on foot.

The first stop in Procida: "Spiaggia del Ciraccio". The famous "Spiaggia del Ciraccio" and "Spiaggia del Ciracciello", delimited by two splendid tuffaceous stacks originated following the landslide of the rocky ridge that has always separated the two coasts. Here the sun is present all day, while the mistral blows frequently in the afternoon. This is the longest sandy stretch of the whole island of Procida and for this reason the richest in establishments, despite the large surface area of free beach. Ciracciello beach is also called Chiaiolella beach. Chiaiolella is, in fact, the area adjacent to this portion of the beach, located at one end of Procida, exactly on the opposite end of the port.

During navigation we will be able to observe an iconic beach for Italians, thanks to the film "Il postino" with Massimo Troisi. The beach is enclosed in a beautiful natural bay, the sand is fine and golden and the sea water is crystal clear

After the "Spiaggia del Postino" we head towards "Marina Corricella" where it is possible to observe the "Palazzo d'Avalos". Dominant building of the Terra Murata, the Palazzo d'Avalos, built in the 16th century together with the walls by the D'Avalos family, governors of the island until the 18th century. In 1830 the building was transformed into a prison and was closed definitively only in 1988. The former prison is made up of the sixteenth-century urban intervention carried out at the end of the century. XVI at the behest of Cardinal Innico d'Avalos by the architects Cavagna and Tortelli and was Palazzo Signorile and subsequently Palazzo Reale dei Borbone who, in 1815 transformed it into a military school and then into a prison of the Kingdom with subsequent extensions. The monumental complex consists of Palazzo D'avalos, the courtyard, the barracks of the guards, the building of the single cells, the building of the veterans, the medical center, the director's house, the agricultural estate Spianata.

Second stop in Procida: Marina Corricella. Characteristic, evocative and romantic, Marina Corricella is the oldest fishing village of Procida. Arranged like an amphitheater on the sea and surrounded by nets lying on the quay, this small fishing village is a peaceful and seductive refuge for those who prefer relaxing holidays. The smell of the sea, the characteristic streets, the singular architecture and the total absence of motor vehicles make Corricella a world apart. The seventeenth-century marina is famous and appreciated for its peculiar architecture: here it is possible to see an interweaving of arches, domes, windows, steps, loggias, stairs and colorful facades that give life to a building complex that is more unique than rare in terms of shapes, colors and housing layout. In 2020 it won the "Italian capital of culture 2022" award.

During the day, it will be evaluated on the basis of requests whether customers will accept to take tours with a taxi-guide with a supplement of 15 euros for an overland excursion mooring in the port of Chiaiolella di Procida, where in some cases there will be a stop for lunch as an alternative at Corricella.

Our journey ends sailing towards the port of Forio. There are no stops on the way back, but the program could vary if one of the stops mentioned has been flown over due to weather conditions not deemed suitable by the Captain, stopping in the bays mentioned towards the navigation of Procida or in the bays of Forio.