Casale Vascello
Procida
Hidden gemVillages
The story
An old fortified casale at the foot of Terra Murata: coloured houses press around a courtyard, with the arched vefi (external staircases) once shielding the inhabitants from Saracen raids.
Access
FREE (be discreet)
The story
The Casale Vascello is the largest of the 'casali' of Procida, the villages that arose outside the walls when the threat of the Saracen pirates ended. Grown from the seventeenth century at the foot of Terra Murata, it takes its name from the dialect 'vasciddo', 'down below', for its position. The coloured houses press one against the other around a central court, once for defence, today the heart of the village.
What to see
A maze of pastel houses, arches, climbing stairs and the characteristic 'vèfio' — small balconies covered by vaults, of an almost Arab flavour — around the common court. It is Procidan working-class architecture in its pure state, less known than Corricella but just as authentic.
How to get there
- Hydrofoil
- Ferry
Hours and prices
Free entry.
Tips
The Casale Vascello is an inhabited village: move with respect among the houses and alleys of the residents. It is explored on foot, at the foot of Terra Murata. An authentic corner of Procida, far from the main flows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Casale Vascello?
The largest historic village 'outside the walls' of Procida, arisen from the seventeenth century at the foot of Terra Murata: a weave of coloured houses around a court, an example of the island's working-class architecture.
What are the 'vèfio'?
The small vaulted balconies typical of the Procidan houses, of an almost Arab flavour, that are seen in the Casale Vascello.
Where is it?
At Procida, at the foot of Terra Murata, a short distance from Marina Corricella.
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