The historic Art Factory complex in Paterson is on the market for sale as investors and city officials seek a buyer to help achieve a long-awaited redevelopment plan for the site Brokers with IPRG have listed the property at 70 Spruce St. on behalf of Procida Funding & Advisors, which acquired the 21-building, 230,000-square-foot complex in a bankruptcy auction earlier this year The team noted that the Art Factory occupies five acres in the Paterson Great Falls Redevelopment Area highlighting one of the key benefits that has spurred redevelopment and adaptive reuse projects of neighboring properties in recent years the Art Factory is also within a federally designated Opportunity Zone and was previously used as a wedding and event space The firm added that current ownership took possession of the property from a distressed borrower and now seeks qualified development partners to realize the distinctive asset’s full potential “The Art Factory is a landmark property with limitless potential,” said Yanni Marmarou who leads the offering team alongside Homer De Leon and Jack Drillock this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to transform a historic asset into a dynamic new chapter for Paterson.” Gensler’s Morristown-based team recently hosted a design charrette at the site with local leaders from Paterson allowing participants to explore opportunities to transform it into a vibrant accessible and community-focused destination that would reflect the neighborhood’s authenticity character and evolving needs for current residents That included sessions with local historians planners and stakeholders to better understand the site and its history and to brainstorm new possibilities for the development with a focus on principles such as preservation which hosted the event alongside Procida Funding called it the first step in what will be a community-driven process to reimagine the property “What excites me most about the Art Factory project is its potential to serve as a bridge between Paterson’s rich history and its promising future,” said Billy Procida, CEO and president of Procida Funding & Advisors, according to a post by Gensler “The thoughtful engagement and innovative ideas shared at the charrette underscore the potential to revitalize this landmark in a way that is authentic our hope is that the future Art Factory will strengthen the community and become an exciting new destination in Paterson that reinvigorates the historic district.” The design firm also noted that the property originally built in the mid-1840s as the American Hemp Co. recently served as a prominent creative center that fostered a community of artists Stakeholders now remain focused on guiding future redevelopment through principles such as historic preservation citing the impact of features like ground-floor retail wayfinding and new public gathering spaces noted that Spruce Street has been the focus of several significant redevelopment and infrastructure projects aimed at revitalizing the area and enhancing local resources part of a concerted effort to enhance the area while focusing on affordable housing infrastructure improvements and community development to foster a more vibrant and sustainable neighborhood the Art Factory truly has the power to drive economic growth create jobs and become a cornerstone of Paterson’s revitalization,” said Tiffany Harris-Delaney head of economic development for the City of Paterson has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy Guides & Tips A Guide to the 5 Most Dazzling Views in Catania, Italy See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Naples remains a busy if slightly overlooked tourist destination Fewer people still think of visiting neighbouring island Procida but Culture Trip’s Cassam Looch thinks it’s high time you put both on your Italian itinerary this year Combining all the great passions of Naples you’ll usually see a picturesque seaside village resplendent in pastel shades if quaint-looking spot was as it didn’t really fit the look of the port in Naples I knew but the seafront area here can be best described as ‘functional’ A little research later – it is my job after all – and I had my answer. This was Procida a short ferry ride from Naples and it seemed like a perfect accompaniment to my next visit to the city But would the two go well together and was I out of my mind for wanting to blend the hustle and bustle of Napoli with the laidback style of a tiny island Procida in the Gulf of Naples is the perfect Italian island Does the reality live up to the images we’ve all seen One thing I did know was that I wanted to explore Naples without the crowds. Italy in the summer is a hotspot for tourists and the responsible way to visit is in the shoulder season The city itself is a year-round destination but Procida only really opens up to visitors from April onwards I booked a flight for the end of March and straight on to Procida on April Fools Day It’s cheaper – the flights and hotels were particularly well-priced – and moreover it’s great to explore places where you want to spend time at leisure without others getting in the way of those all important selfies I always find a more genuine welcome in the shoulder season too proslgn / Shutterstock The Best Trips and Tours in Italy We’ve always thought of Italy as the perfect destination for culture from the rich heritage in the north to the vibrant landscapes in the south Iconic destinations roll off the tongue like the hills roll through Tuscany Head to Florence for a look back at incredible architecture that built that country then explore Puglia for endless coastal roads The capital Rome is always popular with Milan seen as the stylish city that leads where others follow Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy although you can see that famous landmark from most parts of Naples Flying into Naples you’ll get a sense of the narrow streets and sprawling historical districts so if you’re travelling light you can be through passport control and sipping your first espresso within minutes of landing it’s just a short 20 minute bus ride into the heart of Naples or a comfortable one hour walk if you are so inclined If you’re planning on eating as much pizza as I was I took the walking option on the return journey but as it was a late flight I handed over 5 euros and was on my way You can buy tickets at the airport or directly on the bus itself and you get dropped off just outside Napoli Centrale – the central train station The service does continue onwards to the port area so double check which point is closest to where you are staying I was a further 20 minutes away from here in the downtown district One tip is to avoid taxis in Naples as they are massively overpriced You can walk everywhere once you are in town and there is a metro service as well as reliable buses A transit service is planned to go directly to the airport when the metro is extended in the next few years As Naples is quite confined, you’ll find many hotels are actually laid out more like apartments Most won’t have manned reception areas and you often organise your arrival and departure online As I was not checking in until late evening I was given a code to enter the building a set of directions to follow and then a set of keys to get to my apartment It can feel like a lot of instructions to follow but the process is so prevalent here that it rarely goes wrong Your hosts are usually available on Whatsapp anyway and again as it was just about the start of the tourist season I was about to try many more examples in Naples to make sure this was an accurate award This also made it easy to grab my first pizza of the trip and I made my way to Pizzeria da Attilio to sample what was recently voted the best margherita in the world Expect waiting times to quadruple in the summer and prepare to end up eating on the street outside if you haven’t booked in advance I wanted to find out more about why pizza is such a revered dish in Naples and had organised a quick bite with Gino Sorbillo at one of his pizzerias for lunch the day after You might want to check out Pompeii and combine that with a trip to see Mount Vesuvius up close there are great options here to book a boat trip for you and your group To make the most of my limited time, it was an early night followed by an early start. I was looking forward to wandering the streets of Naples, and you can easily get around with a map (digital or otherwise). Plan your route in advance and aim for the popular spots as early as you can. I wanted a sfogliatella, the signature crumbly pastry of the region, and a coffee to start the day and got to Scaturchio in good time to get a table upstairs but just be aware that one of the signs of a good sfogliatella is how quickly it falls apart in your hands The small paper cones hold all manner of fried treats and the seafood options are the ones to go for Searching for the perfect breakfast snack in Naples but I was taken aback by how many there were Since my last trip here in 2019 the iconic footballer had passed away and the team had gone on to recreate some of the success they enjoyed in the 1980s with the Argentinian talisman You’ll see football jerseys with his name and number hanging everywhere and it speaks to how much the diminutive genius connected with Naples that his aura continues to grow I then ended up at Sorbillo the flagship pizzeria of brothers Gino and Toto Sorbillo It was lunch time and Via dei Tribunali was heaving by this point even on a drizzly Tuesday It was on this famous street that the Sorbillo grandparents opened their first pizzeria in 1935 Gino is now something of a local celebrity and he was gracious enough to share some of his tips with me The ingredients of a classic Neapolitan pizza are simple but the key is in the fresh produce and the base The thickness and texture of a true Neapolitan base is so special that it has garnered UNESCO status Gino surprised me by insisting that the pizza should spend no longer than 1 minute in a pre-heated oven but the resulting slice he served me was the best pizza I have ever had Gino Sorbillo prepares the perfect Neapolitan pizza The ‘split-legged lemonade’ experience involves necking a drink which has a dash of baking soda added to it The only way to avoid spoiling your trousers is to drink it as quickly as possible with your legs apart Before I made my way to the Spanish Quarter I stopped off at Pulcinella: The Lucky Charm of Naples This distinctive figure is a part of Naples lore and rubbing his nose is meant to bring good fortune The dark and narrow streets on the other side of Via Toledo are the Naples you have always been warned about noisy and boisterously unrepentant part of the city Washed clothes dry on lines hanging between the buildings with scooters swerving on cobblestoned streets accompanied by a constant orchestra of low-powered engines and screeching horns Every route seems to be connected and somehow heading uphill with the only colour against the grey buildings being the sky blue of the local football team The effigies of Maradona are ubiquitous and the only other celebrity afforded wall space is Sofia Loren who also has a strong connection to the city Cassam Looch in his favourite city in the world I picked up a pizza a portafoglio – a folded wallet pizza – which is the perfect street food here and made my way to the top of the hill. It was an exhausting day and I had one more stop to take in after dinner. The objective was to complete the trifecta of must-try pizza types here and it was time for the pizza fritte at Pizza 3.0 Ciro Cascella Either I was already too full or this heavy meat and cheese filled fried dish was not quite on par with the other bites I had already sampled The impressive Galleria Umberto shows that there is great beauty in amongst the gritty streets Naples is famous for Its a short walk through here to the vast Piazza del Plebiscito Centuries ago Queen Margaret allegedly cursed the square when challenging prisoners to take the challenge blindfolded if they succeeded they would be granted freedom people try to do the same 170 metre walk yet the failure rate is high Just how hard can it be to walk in a straight line Is it the uneven cobbled floor with misleading acoustics Is it partaking in one too many meloncellos at nearby restaurants before taking on the ancient queen’s gauntlet All I know for sure is that I walked for several minutes and somehow ended up completing a perfect semi-circle and had to be forcibly stopped from walking face first into a wall on the same side that I had started from Thankfully my second day in Italy would involve less walking into solid objects In fact I wouldn’t be walking all that much at all as I had planned to hop on a boat and take a trip to Procida Views of Procida when approaching by boat and all for a relatively small fee using the ferry My journey, however, involved a taxi to Monte di Procida – a 45 minute drive from my hotel but a pre-booked one with prices confirmed in advance is an acceptable compromise when no other options are available I had to make friends with the driver as he would be picking me up at the end of the day too so I didn’t press him about why his colleagues charge so much The small dock where you catch the boats to Procida are still fully operational Arriving at the small dock which directly faced Procida I was in time to see some of the fishermen packing away their nets for the day I suspect these guys get slightly annoyed by people walking up to them and constantly taking pictures but as I was one of the first tourists they would have seen all year they were more than happy to pose A small boat soon arrived to escort me to Procida via the scenic route. Ferries and larger boats will take you to Piazza Marina Grande, a perfectly nice seafront point which is also the side of the island you will see if you are passing by on your way to Ischia or Capri This in itself already has a wow factor and I was prepared to use what was left of my phone memory on pictures and video here my captain suggested I hold on as he was going to take me to the other side of the island to Marina di Corricella If you’re wondering where those colourful images of Naples come from head up to Panoramica sulla Corricella – your social media notifications will thank you later so do think about investing a little extra to fully enjoy Procida It’s a small community that does well in summer but when the bulk of tourists are away this is about as idyllic as it gets boutique hotels you can stay in but it’s also just about the right size for a day trip I wouldn’t want to spend less time than that here lush greenery and cultural heritage of the place on foot once you dock You might recognise the buildings and quaint streets from the 1994 film Il Postino Finally made it to Procida and the set of one of the greatest Italian films ever made To say you’ll meet a wide variety of characters on the island would be an understatement. From friendly waiters to grizzled fishermen, there’s a slice of authenticity everywhere you look. I sat down for lunch at ristorante da Maria alla Corricella and was able to complete my Italian character bingo as Maria herself emerged from the kitchen to sit on a nearby table This absolute legend is the definition of a jovial nonna and had just opened up her eatery for the first time this year With glistening grey hair and a cheeky grin she began speaking in Italian to one of her team who in turn explained that Maria was the person who had caught most of the seafood that was being served up on my plate herself You do wonder at moments like this how much of that is a line being spun for tourists but sure enough I was then shown pictures of my chef and host wrestling with a shark she had caught a few years ago Maria continues to serve freshly caught seafood and locally sourced ingredients in the traditional style The side salad was a simple mix of diced lemons with onions which despite my reservations tasted sublime even with the skin on Maria also explained that the shark was carefully released back into the sea once she had untangled it from the nets if you look at a map of the island you can make out an outline of a feline and it just takes a few minutes at the viewing point to bump into a local resident from Naples to Procida had lived up to all my expectations and exceeded them I’m always wary about revisiting places I love just in case the magic is gone from my first trip there but with Naples I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the place It keeps you honest and offers something exciting to remedy the cookie-cutter tourist experiences of other cities I’ll tire of pizza before I tire of Naples Discover Italy and pick your favourite region for the perfect trip this year Cassam Looch has been working within travel for more than a decade An expert on film locations and set jetting destinations Cassam is also a keen advocate of the many unique things to do in his home city of London With more than 50 countries visited (so far) Cassam also has a great take on the rest of the world Guides & Tips A Guide to the 5 Most Dazzling Views in Catania See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best Hiking Trails in Italy See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Art A Tour of Bernini's Masterpieces in Rome Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page a positive from it has been Karlo Matkovic proving himself a capable NBA rotation player Matkovic signed with the Pelicans this summer after being drafted by the organization with a late second-round pick in 2022 He spent the next two seasons with KK Cedevita in the Adriatic League and Eurocup before eventually coming over to the NBA Another notable NBA players were also drafted and stashed - Bogdan Bogdanovic spent three seasons stashed in Europe before coming to the NBA with a few stashed players looking capable of potentially making the jump to the NBA The top name on the list is Tarik Biberovic Biberovic was a late second-round selection by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023 and has blossomed into arguably the best shooter in Europe and one of the best overall perimeter-scoring threats in the EuroLeague over the last two seasons he has shot 45 percent from deep on over 500 attempts in that time With sharpshooter Luke Kennard coming off the Grizzliez books next season it would make sense for them to pursue Biberovic as a replacement the league's bottom-dwellers for a couple of seasons running is home to two NBA stashes: Italian wings Matteo Spagnolo and Gabriele Procida Procida was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers and has since had his rights traded to the Utah Jazz in the trade that sent fellow Italian Simone Fontecchio to the Detroit Pistons and one assist per game on 43/24/75 shooting splits The three-point shooting has taken a notable dive this season which might be impacted by the overall lack of quality on ALBA’s roster Spagnolo was also a second-round pick in 2022 Spagnolo is currently averaging 9.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game on 45/29/78 shooting splits with his true shooting percentage jumping from 49 percent last season to 53 percent this season With Nickeil Alexander-Walker coming off the books this summer and Mike Conley coming off next summer Spagnolo could be coming over sometime over the next two years the French wing whose rights are retained by the Dallas Mavericks He battled some injuries to start the season but is shooting 38 percent from deep on nearly 200 attempts across all competitions with French EuroLeague club LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne this season With Caleb Martin struggling to stay healthy this season the Mavericks could be in need of wing depth and turn to Ajinca as a potential cheap option this coming summer While Biberovic is the only player who looks like a rotation lock on day one Markovic had plenty of question marks last summer but with playing time he’s proven capable of having an impact at the NBA level Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news You can also meet the team behind the coverage The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER The third – that attention-seeking four square miles of phallic limestone called Capri – is an interloper from the Sorrentine Peninsula Anacapri rising on its back like a Siamese twin with shallows like handblown glass – have always held a special place in the European psyche They have lured and divided since classical times when Augustus Caesar swapped Ischia for Capri with the rulers of Neapolis (as Naples was then called) and built his own divine maritime realm The age-old question of Capri versus Ischia is not just a marker of taste Even as these islands turn our heads with fresh openings their beauty remains in the eye of the beholder Il Capri HotelAna LuiNo more so than in Capri where white villas nest like doves on Mount Solaro looking down impassively at the undocking ferries The ravioli with caciotta!) and sceptics (the crowds it is both a paradise of limoncello-coloured light and an endurance test more than 12,000 smartphones were held aloft daily and probably as many “I Heart Capri” T-shirts sold as if they might confer on the wearer the last whiff of la dolce vita the place to be seen and to flee to; a memento mori and muse to illicit sex; an elite social amphitheatre and the ultimate stop on today’s Grand Selfie Tour somehow all these realities coexist as if on different decks of the same limestone ship Only owners of yachts and villas have guaranteed privacy and a front row lounge seat to the Faraglioni sea stacks emerging at negroni-hued dusk after the departure of the last ferry the rest of Capri’s passengers must engage daily in various forms of glorious folly Laboratorio Capri boutiqueAna LuiThe handful of sunloungers at La Fontelina a cluster of umbrellas like indigo forget-me-nots on a tiny littoral of blackened rocks are reached by descending nearly 1,000 feet of steps and can be booked from a month before the beach club opens for the season “Capri is a beautiful woman made of silicone,” declares a Swiss man occupying a deckchair next to me before the mouthwash-blue waters A little dangerous.” Bodies lie in Roman sandals like wanton sacrifices on rock platforms; white superyachts scatter before the three Faraglioni like discarded tennis shoes Virgil and Ovid supposedly set their kinky tale of the bird-women sirens at these fossilised giants forever handcuffing the idea of sex and death to the island Capri had become a secret villa society for gay Europeans a vertiginous 330-foot descent of slaloms and tight hairpin bends was built by the eponymous German industrialist in 1902 to reach the cave where he conducted liaisons with Capri’s youths and the steep walk down feels like a slow headlong dive into the blurry blue; it is a strange pilgrimage to make to the innocent sound of birdsong French industrial heir Baron Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen and British writer Norman Douglas were on the run from the scandal of trials Douglas’s South Wind (1917) was one of a catalogue of self-referential works written here French novelist Roger Peyrefitte fictionalised the life of d’Adelswärd-Fersen in The Exile of Capri (1959) Compton MacKenzie’s Extraordinary Women (1928) was based on the lesbian community Even Swedish altruist physician Axel Munthe wrote his 1929 autobiography about Villa San Michele built atop 777 ancient Greek cliff steps in Anacapri a classical realm in the clouds full of busts and antiquities Le GrottelleAna LuiDespite all the jolly lollipop splashes of colour when Augustus excavated here and found the “bones of giants” At least that was according to sensationalist Suetonius who ran his quill dry detailing the orgies sadistic depravities and 12 opulent villas of Augustus’s successor a hypochondriac and a vegetarian,” scoffs retired journalist Renato Esposito “Our tourism is based on all these tall tales And this Tiberius complex.” If Capri ever had an orthodox religion it would be self-obsession Those “happily shipwrecked” here have always lived what Esposito calls “Capri diem” CapriAna LuiIt was perhaps inevitable that Capri would become the mecca of the selfie age the nectar of designer brands helps keep the hordes in the wasp trap of Capri town While ascending on foot to Tiberius’s Villa Jovis only the postman passes in front of the iron gates alive with jasmine and white butterflies guarding mansions the colour of dusty raspberries there is no one else to spoil Tiberius’s view from the gods of Capri: a vista of the Sorrentine peninsula with the white wake of boats like aeroplane trails in the glittering blue sweet breath of solitude at neoclassical Villa Lysis d’Adelswärd-Fersen’s 1905 temple to sex and opium watching the sunset casting the water below in gold leaf The joy of Capri is found in moments like these Only on the water do I experience true freedom powering past Grotta Azzurra and circumnavigating Anacapri with its summits covered in broom like wild sun-bleached hair On the water off CapriAna LuiEighteen nautical miles northwest of Capri there is a place where the sunlight is barely ever broken by human shadows The amphitheatre of high clifftop vines on the east coast of Ischia hasn’t changed since 700 BC It is still reached by the same ancient paths and lulled by the waves stretching before it like a sheet of hammered metal “The magic of these vines is their intimacy with the sea and our soils where every 100 feet of altitude changes the taste,” says 75-year-old Antonio Mazzella patriarch of one of Ischia’s most important cantinas for Biancolella a white wine known for its inaccessible vineyards and “heroic” winemakers who harvest grapes at the top of ladders and work without modern machinery We don’t care about the fads of Capri.” With one hand he dismisses its silhouette a humpbacked social butterfly on the horizon At the side of steep single-lane roads that wind through the undergrowth angel’s trumpets and bougainvillea cascade in static clouds of scent The Ischitani aren’t interested in milking their island like a cash cow Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal SpaAna LuiIf Capri is for the selfie era, Ischia is the Italian island for the mindful and wellness ages; a place to immerse oneself in nature and shed skins The soothing amniotic sound of water is never far away: there are dozens of thermal water basins and 56 mineral springs The Italian bathing panacea since Roman times is now being hailed for its benefits to wellbeing as well as being a treatment for illnesses such as long Covid There are “spas” for every taste: from public thermal parks which has a jungle-green and sunset-pink wellness centre with moonlike lanterns the rustic Fonte delle Ninfe Nitrodi is thought to be the oldest spa in the world when it was dedicated to the cult of the nymphs young girls wrapped in wet towels could be Pre-Raphaelite muses were it not for the Rubenesque nonnas who lounge around like togaed chaperones Giardino EdenAna LuiBut there is no better symbol of the Ischitani’s guardianship of their island than the Angevin Castello Aragonese whose proprietors – descendants of the Mattera family which has owned it for more than a century – refuse to sell out Today it stands in profile as imposing as a flat-nosed Roman bust hosts concerts and is in a constant state of restoration Beneath a Baroque cathedral lies another Angevin one: blackened frescoed walls like beautiful lichen a higgledy layout of domes and secret staircases This tiny 1.4-square-mile Phlegraean island and maritime enclave most famous for its role in the 1994 film Il Postino as honest as anchovies and the scent of wet nets though it has no interest in summoning the spirit of la dolce vita for tourists The rhythms of gentle outboard motors are its only slow pulse – and the light dancing on the water like hundreds of electric eels has a green Michelin star for young chef Tommaso Luongo’s ingenious take on the island’s volcano-fed produce – such as pairing endangered zampognari beans with capers Procida Funding & Advisors is touting its strongest leasing momentum yet at a new age-restricted 507-unit residential property in Cherry Hill that it took over in 2023 after the site had faced multiple delays during two decades of development which is now weeks away from delivering the final units at the project has been working alongside a Keller Williams team of Evangeline Gambardella Jim Onesti and Jamie Quinn to lure tenants to what’s known as Plaza Grande at Garden State Park That has contributed to a recent leasing velocity of about 15 units monthly dwarfing the national average as the firms continue to market the 55-and-older community at Haddonfield Road and Chapel Avenue Jim and Jamie have set a new gold standard in leasing through their dedication deep market knowledge and client-first approach,” said Billy Procida founder and CEO of Procida Funding and Advisors “Their commitment to excellence is the driving force behind The Plaza Grande’s continued success.” Part of the sweeping redevelopment of the former Garden State Park racetrack property Plaza Grande began in 2004 as a project by Turnberry Homes that was continued by D.R Horton until the financial crisis roughly five years later That paved the way for a local builder to take over and complete an initial 256 units at the time ahead of its plan to build out the remaining phase Procida announced in summer 2023 that the firm had taken ownership of the property from a borrower that defaulted on a $130 million construction loan but Procida has since spent more than $50 million to complete the remaining homes That has fulfilled a site whose amenities include a 18,500-square-foot clubhouse with an indoor pool plus outdoor spaces such as a pool with gas grills and fire pits The full complex is part of what was already a massive property with a range of housing options along with an array of retailers such as Home Goods It also marks the final phase of the billion-dollar redevelopment of the former racetrack led by Jack Morris and Joe Marino operating as M&M Realty Partners PATERSON — Facing foreclosure, the owner of The Art Factory — a complex of 19th-century mill buildings near the Great Falls now used for weddings and other banquet hall events — filed for bankruptcy in August Mayor Andre Sayegh, who held his first inaugural ball at The Art Factory in 2018, touted the eclectic arts and events business as an important part of the Great Falls area’s revitalization during his early years in office The bankruptcy filing comes as the owner of The Art Factory said his four party halls are supposed to host about 160 weddings and other “upcoming” events in the near future The complex also features exhibits and rents studios to artists and filmmakers Court papers indicate Garsia plans to continue operations during the bankruptcy He said in court papers that the bankruptcy was triggered by a New Jersey Superior Court judgment issued last month against his business involving a $12.5 million loan in 2018 which was supposed to provide him with money to do a massive renovation of the complex Garsia is supposed to provide rent and fees from his Art Factory events to the lender a group headed by Bergen County real estate investor Billy Procida Garcia said in court papers that such a requirement would destroy his business But Procida’s lawyers said in their court-filed objection to the bankruptcy that Garsia has no right to the revenue generated by The Art Factory in light of his alleged track record of defaults on the loan and the fact that he owes Paterson almost $250,000 in unpaid property taxes and sewer charges Garsia said the bankruptcy was designed to “replace a problematic lender.” “The Art Factory continues to reserve venues for weddings and events through 2026 and we look forward to providing an exceptional experience for every family’s celebration!” Garsia said in a statement sent via text message Neither Procida nor Sayegh could be reached for comment The Art Factory has been embroiled in numerous controversies Paterson fire officials intervened and canceled a massive Christmas party planned at the complex because The Art Factory lacked fire safety protections Sayegh’s inaugural ball took place even though The Art Factory at that time had not yet obtained required licenses for music and dancing, something Garsia did later. One of Sayegh’s first press conferences as mayor touted a trolley service that he said The Art Factory would provide for downtown Paterson, a promise that never was fulfilled. When asked about the bankruptcy, Gilmore said Sayegh had given Garsia “carte blanche.” “If his friends in City Hall had anything to do with it, he’d be getting everything he wanted,” Gilmore said of Garsia. The bankruptcy has triggered speculation in city real estate circles about what will become of The Art Factory property on Spruce Street once the financial battle between Procida and Garsia is resolved. Garsia’s complex sits next to the New Jersey Community Development Corporation, or NJCDC, Paterson’s largest nonprofit developer. “I wasn’t aware of the bankruptcy filing, but if it were to happen, I think the entire complex would need to be reimagined and I could easily see it becoming a mixed-use site with housing and office space,” said Bob Guarasci, the NJCDC’s executive director. “But given the size and complexities of the site, my guess is that any redevelopment would need to be done in phases over a number of years.” ItalyChevron AlamySave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links beating nine other candidates—a mix of cities and small towns—and becoming the first island to ever be granted the title the island has mostly flown under the tourist radar (except in July and August when many Neapolitans come here for their summer vacations) This is all despite its big-screen moments—Procida has served as the set of The Talented Mr Ripley and Il Postino—and the fact that it features the same pastel houses and narrow streets as its bigger counterparts The Capital of Culture announcement was marked by church bells and celebrations among its 10,500 inhabitants “It was a moment of real pride for all of us,” says mayor Raimondo Ambrosino “But it also felt like a recognition that’s been a long time coming.” The proposal that earned the island the award—and 1 million euros—includes 44 projects spanning art involving 240 artists and 40 original works Colored houses line the streets of Procida An alleyway in the Terra Murata village of Procida “We wanted to demonstrate that Italy’s cultural wealth isn’t just found in its larger cities, but also in those places that are considered minor, even marginal: our islands and borghi,” says Agostino Riitano the project manager behind Procida’s candidacy a wine bar-meets-literary event space in Corricella the island’s 17th-century port and oldest fishing village “I don’t think we’ll suddenly become a second Ischia or Capri Marina Caliendo, front office manager of boutique hotel San Michele “Procida is for a slower kind of travel,” she says is that we’re careful to keep our traditions.” both Riitano and mayor Ambrosino say the calendar of events highlights Procida’s history and identity and preserve “a place that follows its own rhythm and where tranquility is still one of the main attractions.” Procida lies 14 miles off the coast of Naples There are daily ferries and hydrofoils leaving from two of the city’s piers Depending on the ride—the faster hydrofoil or the slower ferry—you’ll get to the island in 40 minutes to 1 hour You can also travel from Ischia—that’s a 15- to 25-minute journey Arriving at Marina Grande you’ll see a cluster of traditional houses along the waterfront and blue—traditionally a way for fishermen to identify them from their boats and old-school bakeries—not to mention access to one of the island’s most popular beaches a 16th-century palace that was the former residence of the island’s governing family In 1830 the building was converted into a prison that eventually closed in 1988 Two viewpoints here offer the island’s most panoramic vistas: Corricella in all its candy-colored glory to the west; and the Gulf of Naples when its stabilimenti (beach clubs with rows of sunbeds and umbrellas) start rolling out aperitivo Chiaia beach overlooks Procida's neighboring island Don’t miss Isola di Vivara a protected nature reserve that occupies a tiny crescent-shaped islet and is linked to Procida by a long bridge Privately owned but open to visitors a few times a week it’s a testament to the island’s rich natural beauty a stylish accommodation near Ciraccio that comes with a pool All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world A trip from the UK in search of late-season sun leads to fresh discoveries in Pompeii as well bonus trips to Procida and Paestum The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. When the Mediterranean makes its first appearance I spot the not-very-blue waters between the buildings of Marseille as my train from Paris pulls in By the time we reach Nice the skies are still grey and I’m starting to wonder how far south I’ll have to go before I get some late-in-the-year sun The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Back in the autumn of 1820 a sickly John Keats took the same decision His heartfelt line in Ode to a Nightingale but I have been drawn by recent stories of new discoveries at the ancient site is that stalwart of the tourist circuit changing An out-of-season visit seems like a good opportunity to see one of the world’s tourist honey pots without the crowds point to an increasing demand for slow travel – the type railways offer with opportunities for diversion and digression If the noughties had Fomo (fear of missing out) not some tourist-powered gentrification experimentAs the train curls through Rome’s outer suburbs there is a definite feeling that I’ve reached a warmer climate zone including to the Spanish Steps where Keats took lodgings that he was destined never to leave unchanged except that when you look out of his window you see TikTok influencers doing silly dances on the steps I take the train south to Naples on a Saturday where I arrive in time to watch Napoli play Juventus on TV amid much excitement while eating pizza at a street cafe On Sunday it seems half the city’s inhabitants troop down to the port and head to the nearby islands hopping on a ferry to Procida (Ischia and Capri are other day-trip options) not some tourist-powered gentrification experiment Colourful tumbling buildings at Marina di Corricella on the island of Procida Photograph: Kevin RushbyThe locals drive as hard and fast as Neapolitans many heading for the waterfront restaurants where they tuck into seafood dishes among them spaghetti al pesto di limone (the island’s large sweet lemons are famous and appear in lots of dishes) The beaches have become equally famous through the films Il Postino and The Talented Mr Ripley labyrinthine back streets and tumbles of colourful houses that count many still occupied by fishers’ families rather than Airbnb customers Pompeii was a newly rediscovered site and archaeology had barely risen above the level of treasure-hunting Tunnels were dug into the pumice and ash layers to retrieve valuables and cart them 15 miles back to Naples Some excavations undoubtedly destroyed more than they found The 20th century saw the site become a major tourist attraction and there was a sense of stasis: the story of Pompeii had been worked out and catalogued The tourist circuit was soon equally well established: you caught the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Centrale to Pompei Scavi Someone in the group would ask to see the brothel; another would demand to see the bodies then someone would sing in the theatre and everyone would ignore the old chap reminiscing about Pink Floyd playing the amphitheatre in 1972 Maradona’s portrait oversees street life everywhere in Naples Photograph: Kevin RushbyBut something has changed “It’s a very exciting time to work here,” he tells me “We have the artefacts from old excavations but now we are digging new areas and getting the untouched context That is helping us reinterpret the areas previously excavated.” where the team are shovelling pumice out of rooms before the more delicate work of uncovering the spectacular wall-paintings the colours apparently as vivid as in AD79 A gantry overhead means that visitors can watch this happening Alessandro points to a portrait of a young girl possibly of a real child.” She gazes back at me the place where an 18th-century explorer had smashed a tunnel through the tons of pumice and rubble narrowly missing the unnoticed precious portrait featured trips and local tips for your next break as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays Archaeologist Alessandro Russo showed the writer around in Pompeii Photograph: Kevin RushbyFurther inside the building the skeletons of six horses in the positions that they died “This will probably be on show by the end of the year,” says Alessandro He leads me up on to the top layer of ash that still covers one-third of Pompeii This is what hid the town for about 1,700 years a greyish-white landscape dotted with scrub and trees pointing out the oven and even a wall painting of what looks vaguely like a pizza “They were actually doing construction work when Vesuvius erupted.” Here there are still fallen roof timbers and piles of volcanic dust hiding but around the corner is an exquisite blue room and a huge black-painted dining chamber Pompeii dominates the Neapolitan tourist scene so completely it’s easy to forget there are other sites worth visitingThe sensation of being there at the moment of discovery is not entirely left to the archaeologists One of Pompeii’s best new developments is to allow visitors to sign up for a tour of the current archaeological work At the moment it’s the only way to view new treasures like that blue sacrarium One other great treasure that should soon be back on view is the Alexander the Great mosaic This four-million-tile depiction of Alexander’s battle with the Persian king Darius III was found in the House of the Faun in 1831 and taken to Naples it is now undergoing vital preservation work but should be back on view in Naples’s National Archaeological Museum next year Read moreFrom the moment I step off the train Paestum was founded by the Greeks in about 600BC and has three spectacular temples among other buildings In the museum the real gem is the Tomb of the Diver: five painted panels from a tomb found outside the city in 1968 one of which depicts a youth diving from a great height into a river or the sea Nothing similar has yet been found and archaeologists are not even sure which culture produced this masterpiece Some regard it as a symbol of the dive into the unknown that death represents; others believe it may be a yet more complex allegory But I know exactly what it means: it means the water wasn’t too cold And there is a sandy beach less than a mile away I set off on the last leg of my journey to the sun two are separating themselves as the best of the bunch: Tarik Biberovic and Gabriele Procida Biberovic’s rights are still owned by the Memphis Grizzlies and his strong play to start this season is no surprise Biberovic was arguably the best shooter in EuroLeague last season - 53 percent from deep on 81 attempts - and there was speculation that the Grizzlies might try to bring him over in the summer of 2024 if they couldn’t make the cap work to bring back sharpshooter Luke Kennard but Biberovic is currently shooting 42 percent from deep on over six attempts per game now This increase in volume while maintaining elite accuracy will likely have the Grizzlies looking at potentially bringing Biberovic over this summer too at 6-foot-7 and nearly 220 pounds Biberovic has more to his game than being a knockdown shooter He’s getting a blend of opportunities in isolation With all the talent a team like Fenerbahce has - Skyler Mays - these opportunities are scarce but it’s clear head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius believes in his talent and trusts him to do more than space the floor so long as he is still prioritizing his strongest skillset Biberovic has gotten better as a defender too but part of that growth was attributable to less playing time giving him more bandwidth to be aggressive with his size and not be scared of getting in foul trouble He committed a foul nearly every eight minutes last season His increase in minutes this season could’ve led to that being an issue but he’s adjusted to a foul every 10.4 minutes and with Kennard coming off the books and the Grizzlies projected to be over the cap - they will have to figure out if they want to pay Jake LaRavia too - Biberovic could be the replacement for Kennard on an exception deal While Biberovic is thriving in a solid role with a contending team Utah Jazz stash Gabriele Procida is taking on a leading role with the bottom of the EuroLeague standings club ALBA Berlin Procida posted a EuroLeague career-high 25 points against Crvena Zvezda and grabbed seven rebounds Despite the loss, Gabriele Procida (🇮🇹 F, '02) had a career night vs Crvena Zvezda Belgrade:25 PTS (EL career high) 10/16 FG7 REB1 AST 3 STL2 BLK 34 PIR Procida was named the 2023-24 EuroLeague Rising Star, The Jazz own his draft rights#Euroleague #scouting pic.twitter.com/WvV2GylYF3 This was a needed performance from Procida who otherwise was off to a rocky start for the season and 0.4 assists per game on 36/24/75 shooting splits These numbers are all down from last season on roughly the same minutes per game While this cold start to the season for Procida is frustrating it’s far from a concern Fellow Italian wing Simone Fontecchio didn’t come over to the NBA until he was 25 years old he wasn’t even getting on the court in EuroLeague play for Milano and had to leave the Italian club the following season for ALBA Berlin to finally get playing time but the repetitions and minutes Procida is getting with ALBA Berlin this season - a team that never expected to compete for even the EuroLeague play-in places - are what matters most and provide confidence that he’ll continue to develop as a prospect The summer of 2025 seems like it will be too early for Procida but if he comes over a couple of seasons from them he’ll certainly be a name to remember After taking over a long-stalled residential development in Cherry Hill Procida Funding is seeking a buyer for the newly completed The firm announced last week that it has retained Newmark to market what’s known as Plaza Grande at Cherry Hill which sits at the intersection of Haddonfield Road and Chapel Avenue It figures to draw interest thanks in part to its upscale amenities proximity to downtown Philadelphia and a location within the mixed-use Garden State Park development which is home to a thriving retail hub with national tenants all within walking distance Newmark’s Adam Spies and Erin Miller are spearheading the offering It comes after Procida’s announcement in summer 2023 that the firm had taken ownership of the property from borrower that defaulted on a $130 million construction loan That has fulfilled a site whose amenities include a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse with an indoor pool elevators in all buildings and private parking while the development also has outdoor features such as tennis and pickleball courts It also marks the final phase of the billion-dollar redevelopment of a former racetrack Procida completes first of eight final buildings at long-stalled Cherry Hill housing project PATERSON — The Bergen County real estate investor who is buying the Art Factory complex near the Great Falls for $4.25 million said he plans to sell the property instead of developing it himself said he would reveal more details about the plans for the site — a group of industrial buildings off Spruce Street that are more than a century old — with an announcement in the next several weeks A federal Bankruptcy Court judge on Tuesday issued an order approving the auction sale to Procida’s company filed for bankruptcy last year amid mounting debts including a $10.9 million judgment for defaulting on a mortgage from Procida Among those still owed money by Garsia are about 150 couples who made payments to hold their wedding receptions at the Art Factory had tried to transform the Art Factory into a vibrant gathering place two blocks from the Great Falls But those plans collapsed amid Garsia’s financial problems signing him to a two-way deal after a strong season with NBL runner-up Melbourne United Business on the draft and stash front seems done for the 2024 offseason but three players are top of mind as potential stashes to come over in the summer of 2025: Memphis Grizzlies stash Tarik Biberovic Tarik Biberovic | Wing | Current Team: Fenerbahce | NBA Rights: Memphis Grizzlies Biberovic is coming off a fantastic season with Turkish side Fenerbahce He averaged roughly nine points per game on 52/47/95 shooting splits last season across all competitions The 50/40/90 season came on a career-high 229 3-point attempts and his season was so impressive that there were discussions of him potentially joining the Grizzlies this season and taking Luke Kennard’s role on a cheaper contract but the door obviously isn’t closed on that The Grizzlies will likely want to see Biberovic flex a little more on-ball skills this season His prowess as a spot-up and movement shooter is obvious at this stage but showing the ability to attack closeouts and finish in the lane would cement his status as a net-positive on offense from day one in the NBA Question marks remain for Biberovic’s defense EuroLeague and Lithuanian basketball legend Sarunas Jasikevicius in the middle of the season and he wasn’t scared of throwing Biberovic into the fire He tasked him with guarding EuroLeague stars such as Mike James sometimes he picked up two fouls with exceptional speed Using his size and strength to his advantage and sliding his feet better will be something to look for Biberovic won’t be expected to be a defensive stopper in the NBA but it does need to be passable for him to stay on the court and be a part of the Grizzlies or any organization's long-term future Gabriele Procida | Wing | Current Team: ALBA Berlin | NBA Rights: Utah Jazz If you combined Biberovic and Italian wing Gabriele Procida into one player they would quickly be one of the best players in EuroLeague He’s 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan and impressive leaping ability He can take on any perimeter matchup and offers weakside rim protection help too What Procida is currently missing is a consistent jump shot He shot 34 percent from deep on 140 attempts last season across all competitions Competition splits like that are concerning The shot is worse against better competition now why would it be better when he gets to the NBA The good news is Procida will have plenty of opportunities this season ALBA Berlin’s goal this EuroLeague season won’t truly be to win games As one of Europe’s lone high-level clubs that focuses on giving opportunities to younger players which Procida benefitted from last season to the tune of being named the competition Rising Star they will probably put the ball in Procida’s hands a decent amount The offseason addition of Australian guard Nick McDowell-White will likely be beneficial too a real pick-and-roll maestro who will find him when he’s open with ease A more reliable 3-point shot with just a smidge of general improvement on the offensive side of the ball could make Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz interested in bringing him over Procida’s rights were acquired by the Jazz in a trade deadline deal that sent Simone Fontecchio another Italian wing who spent a season in his early twenties with ALBA Berlin Melvin Ajinca | Wing | Current Team: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | NBA Rights: Dallas Mavericks Melvin Ajinca earned a EuroLeague deal with Tony Parker’s club LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne after an impressive season with Saint Quentin At 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds Ajinca has the frame and size needed to defend NBA wings With Saint Quentin last season he shot 36 percent from behind the arc on almost 6 attempts per game that’s not a volume many players get to in Europe unless they’re a star It’s impossible to say at the moment whether the environment Ajinca is in will be good or bad for him ASVEL are bottom-dwellers of the EuroLeague The club shows no vision for the future and had three different coaches last season and Ajinca wouldn’t be the first to earn a better opportunity from a strong season with ASVEL Recent Sixers signing Guerschon Yabusele spent his first season back in Europe with ASVEL 2020 NBA Draft flameout Theo Maledon has signed with the club as well so have impressive G League performers Shaquille Harrison and Admiral Schofield and his secret high-level third skill - rebounding - may earn him a starting spot in this group and if he can hold his own through the likely tumultuous nature of an ASVEL season he could be someone the Mavericks look to bring over sooner rather than later to support Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic as a 3-and-D wing At the start of this Euroleague season, one of the players who is taking the spotlight the most is Gabriele ProcidaAlba Berlin has a record of 7 defeats and only 2 victories, but one of these came against Olimpia Milano, in what will long be remembered as a business from the Germans the team found in Procida a leader with 29 points the Italian had scored 25 points against Red Star Procida spoke about this positive period and much more with Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops The former Fortitudo player admitted that he had encountered many difficulties at the start of the season due to an injury that had left him out of the field for months also taking advantage of the opportunities that have been created within of the emergency at Alba Berlin's house Unfortunately it was a difficult preseason It wasn't easy to sit out and miss the first games of the season But now I take everything that comes my way Not having the full team gives me even more space to play and many opportunities where I can take a little more risks I also like having my responsibilities in attack Last season Procida had won the prize of Euroleague Rising Star he finds himself having to take on the role of leader and driving force in a team full of very young players to use the right words with the young guys who are playing a lot now The Italian talent also spoke about the national team and the next generation of players who could have key roles in the Italian basketball of the future there are certainly two names that are currently doing very well at the LBA level and beyond: Momo Diouf e Saliou Niang We need young players in the national team and to make them feel valued by their clubs I am happy and I hope they continue because it is nice to see young guys emerge like me and Matteo It is important that each of us has minutes like when he scored 15 points against Asvel These are all things that we carry with us from the national team I played with Saliou at Fortitudo Bologna in 2021-22 I'm really happy because he's a golden boy He's growing incredibly both physically and on the pitch I was sure that one day I would see him become great but I didn't think I'd see him get to this level so soon email and website in this browser for the next time I comment Regala o regalati un abbonamento al Giornale della Vela cartaceo + digitale e a soli 69 euro l’anno hai la rivista a casa e in più la leggi su PC che ha saputo perfettamente gestire in tutta sicurezza tante barche diverse tra loro A tagliare la linea di partenza davanti al suggestivo Palazzo D’Avalos per poi sfilare davanti al borgo multicolore della Corricella sotto un cielo plumbeo spezzato dai raggi di sole Dal minuscolo gozzo a vela latina del 1950 Santa Rosa al ketch di 65 piedi alle barche giramondo oceaniche (come l’Allures 51.9 Rossa dai comodissimi Fountaine Pajot da crociera ai gioielli d’epoca come Don Quijote progetto del 1953 di German Frers sr (velocissimo e bellissimo) o il Kiwi di Fabio Ratti festa a terra nella piazza di Procida con musica e party fino a tarda notte per gli equipaggi la VELA Cup Procida e chi sono tutti i vincitori di questa prima essere riusciti a portare la VELA Cup a Procida “è un sogno che si avvera perché su quest’isola si respira il vero senso di questo nostro evento che è molto più di una regata “è stata una giornata bellissima perché siamo riusciti a convogliare sull’isola decine e decine di imbarcazioni una veleggiata libera a cui hanno partecipato equipaggi di tutti i tipi uniti da una grande passione per la vela ma con tanta voglia di vincere“ La Barcolana dell’isola di Arturo è già stata definita Un riferimento al famoso libro di Elsa Morante che non nasce per caso perché proprio in occasione della VELA Cup Procida presso il villaggio della regata allestito nella piazza Marina Grande il venerdì prima della regata è stato assegnato il Premio Passione Mare scelto dalla giuria del Premio letterario Procida-Isola di Arturo-Elsa Morante e destinato all’autore che con la sua opera ha meglio diffuso la cultura del mare e i suoi valori fumettista tra gli autori di mare più letti e apprezzati grazie a cui centinaia di ragazzi ogni anno possono scoprire il fascino della navigazione a vela tra qualche goccia di pioggia e le fischia del vento tra le sartie si è tenuto il briefing della VELA Cup nella piazza principale di Procida mollati gli ormeggi e raggiunta la punta dei Monaci giunti da tutto il golfo di Napoli e non solo per questa prima edizione della VELA Cup Procida hanno tagliato la linea di partenza a ridosso della spettacolare baia di Corricella Non c’erano soltanto imbarcazioni da regata sulla linea di partenza ma anche equipaggi alla loro prima esperienza come Diogene il Bavaria 32 Cruiser di Raimondo Rocco In acqua anche delle vere e proprie sfide in famiglia ultimo Alpa costruito dal cantiere (matricola n che sfidava Nanook l’Alpa 11.50 di Moreno Conte primo scafo della serie costruito nel 1979 con il padre che dopo aver attraversato l’Atlantico da Procida ai Caraibi e ritorno dona la barca al figlio che la ristruttura e la mantiene in famiglia Il percorso prevedeva la circumnavigazione dell’isola di Procida in senso orario 10 miglia in totale che sono state coperte in poco meno di 1 ora e mezza dalle imbarcazioni più veloci più intenso nella zona a nord dell’isola ha raggiunto punte di 26 nodi regalando agli equipaggi più competitivi le condizioni ideali per una regata veloce e divertente ma fortunatamente il tutto è stato sempre gestito in sicurezza a tagliare per primo il traguardo è stato Sly Fox Cube il Grand Soleil 46 B&C di Roberto Fotticchia – Gagliardi Tra le vele più belle alla VELA Cup Procida c’era Don Quijote di Lodovico Visone a bordo di questo fantastico ketch bermudiano “si tratta di uno scafo disegnato da Germán Frers senior in argentina negli anni 50 ordinata da Juan Perón in persona per darla in dono a Evita Perón morta però l’anno prima di poterla ricevere mentre era ancora in costruzione Ceduta ad un medico brasiliano che faceva base in argentina Don Quijote ha attraversato per nove volte l’Atlantico prima di essere venduta in Inghilterra.” Restaurata presso l’Antico Cantiere del Legno Aprea alla VELA Cup ha partecipato con un equipaggio tutto napoletano “Non andavamo in barca assieme da un anno riprendere su una barca del genere non è facile perché devi stare attento a quanto carico dai su ogni manovra quindi c’è stato certamente qualche attimo diciamo di latente tensione ma la barca si è comportata benissimo In più è stata una regata super divertente al ritorno a scendere sotto Vivara eravamo a farfalla con quattro vele yankee Sono molto felice di aver partecipato ad una manifestazione come la VELA Cup perché sono regate come questa che preservano il senso vero dell’andare per mare Una dimensione che si perde un po’ negli ambienti di regata dove c’è troppa distanza tra il professionista e l’appassionato che purtroppo va a settorializzare e professionalizzare troppo l’ambiente.” La VELA Cup Procida è stata molto più di una regata a questa tappa un po’ speciale della VELA Cup hanno partecipato anche le imbarcazioni di Blue Dream Charter che da diversi anni collabora con l’associazione non profit Africa Mission con l’obbiettivo di realizzare pozzi per l’acqua potabile nel nord dell’Uganda con cui ha già realizzato cinque pozzi in Karamoja una delle zone più povere dell’Uganda quest’anno era inserita all’interno della VELA Cup “Cerchiamo di fare un po’ di beneficenza” ha dichiarato Antonio Scotto di Porta anzi 200 amici che quest’anno hanno sposato la nostra idea di solidarietà“ Adesso, come promesso, è il momento di rivivere la regata (organizzata in collaborazione con Marina di Procida e Lega Navale di Procida) per immagini Cliccando sul link qui sotto accederete alla gallery ufficiale della VELA Cup dove vi aspettano tutte le foto di Francesco Rastrelli e Gianluca di Fazio Sentitevi liberi di scaricarle e condividerle Adesso diamo un occhio ai vincitori e alle classifiche definitive Wood&Sea Open 40; DNS Cavallo Pazzo II Maestro D’ascia Leudo Genovese; DNS Donna Giulia Archambault Sprint 95; DNS Sang’ E Anema Jeanneau Sun Odissey 37 Legend; DNS Ciao Dalma vince il premio Elegant Boat riservato alla barca più bella ed elegante di ogni tappa si aggiudica il premio Gentleman Yachting per aver (quasi) compiuto un ammutinamento di ritirarsi senza cercare di vincere almeno il premio per l’ultimo arrivato vince il premio speciale per l’ultimo classificato in tempo reale dimostrando tenacia e determinazione nel completare il percorso fino alla fine Il GPS portatile Garmin GPSMAP® 86s è stato vinto da Francesco Chiaromonte mentre il coltello multiuso Leatherman Skeletool CX è stato vinto da Francesco Zezza Vito Polito si porta a casa la giacca da vela YachtIngBond e Fabio Ratti lo zaino HiNelson Il corso per istruttore di vela ACSI Vela è stato vinto da Filippo Avilia lo sconto del 40% su Moby A/R Livorno – Olbia da Gennaro Esposito l’abbonamento per 3 anni “Cartaceo + Digitale” al Giornale della Vela da Andrea Proto e il giubbotto di salvataggio Plastimo Pilot 165N da Sergio Ottinetti Per finire si aggiudicano la Box Benessere IBSA Luigi Russo una settimana di noleggio offerta da Sailitalia da Albino Corradini e il motore fuoribordo BF2.3 di Honda Roberto Fotticchia Sabato 5 ottobre la VELA Cup fa tappa a Capo d’Orlando, in Sicilia, presso Capo d’Orlando Marina L’occasione giusta per farsi una mini crociera autunnale davanti alle isole Eolie Una grande festa della vela con tanti premi Foto di Francesco Rastrelli e di Gianluca di Fazio Il tuo indirizzo email non sarà pubblicato Iscriviti ora alla nostra newsletter gratuita e ricevi ogni settimana le migliori news selezionate dalla redazione del Giornale della Vela E in più ti regaliamo un mese di GdV in digitale su PC accetta la Privacy Policy e clicca sul bottone “iscrivimi” Riceverai un codice per attivare gratuitamente il tuo mese di GdV Dopo avervi raccontato la VELA Cup Liguria/Chiavari che ha visto ben 70 barche al via nel Golfo del Tigullio (qui trovate la news con cronaca e classifiche finale) e avervi fatto vedere tutte le foto più belle della prima tappa Manca un mese al weekend del ponte del 2 giugno quello che inizia da venerdi 30 maggio e che sarà una vera festa anche della vela perché nello stesso fine settimana di tarda primavera Mancano tre giorni alla prima tappa della VELA Cup del 2025: l’inizio si preannuncia con il botto Tutto è pronto al Marina di Chiavari Calata Ovest per la VELA Cup Liguria (regata: Mancano 60 giorni al weekend dal 27 al 29 giugno ed è quasi tutto pronto per la prima VELA Cup dell’estate e la quarta del circuito del 2025 PER COMUNICARE CON LA REDAZIONE02 535 811111 – speciali@panamaeditore.it PER LA PUBBLICITÀSenior account:Guido De Palma:tel Cookie policyPrivacy policy 02 535811 111/200abbonamenti@panamaeditore.it Tutto è pronto per la prima edizione della VELA Cup Procida vecchio gozzo Sorrentino del 1947 realizzato Antonino Aprea ed utilizzato principalmente come mezzo marittimo per il trasporto di derrate alimentari e mezzo aggiuntivo per imbarco e sbarco detenuti tra Marina di Campo e Pianosa oggi restaurato dall’Antico Cantiere del Legno Aprea Dal 27 al 29 settembre centinaia di tra velisti e appassionati, uniti dal desiderio di fare un ultima veleggiata di stagione si uniranno per la VELA Procida, in occasione anche della Festa di San Michele Arcangelo, Santo Patrono dell’isola di Procida. L’appuntamento è fissato per le ore 15:00 di venerdì 27 settembre con l’inaugurazione del villaggio VELA Cup da parte del sindaco Raffaele Ambrosino cocktail di benvenuto e consegna del Premio Passione Mare destinato all’Autore che con la sua opera ha meglio diffuso la cultura del mare e i suoi valori scelto dalla giuria del Premio letterario Procida-Isola di Arturo-Elsa Morante Sabato la regata si sviluppa lungo un percorso che è davvero indimenticabile: giro dell’Isola in senso orario con passaggio nei canali di Ischia e di Capo Miseno e secondo giro in senso antiorario per le barche più veloci Le iscrizioni sono già aperte! Per maggiori informazioni, o se desideri partecipare anche senza avere una barca, scrivici a: procidavelacup@gmail.com Non perdere l’occasione di vivere un’esperienza unica nella splendida cornice di Procida Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The 19-year-old Italian wing has some intrigue about him If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement Our 2022 NBA Draft scouting report series continues with a look at Gabriele Procida It’s that time of the year again: the build-up to the NBA Draft the countless conundrums that teams face whether to trade up and the tough decisions early entrants need to make whether they keep their hat in the ring for the 2022 NBA Draft or return to college they’re faced with a different type of safety net Nearly all international prospects are already with professional teams in some capacity or other and should they not enter the draft or be selected in the draft life for many will go on as it was before whereas life for those coming out of college undrafted face a different path So brings us to today’s prospect: 19-year-old (turning 20 in early June) Italian wing Gabriele Procida Obviously looking at those stats it’s safe to say that Procida isn’t a world beater but what is evident is that Procida was very efficient with the opportunities that he did receive To average a hair under seven points with just over four shot attempts per game is solid especially when over half of them come from beyond the arc let’s look at some film and see what Procida (who wears number nine) showed this season in Italy basically I’ll break these down into three categories: scoring/offense and defense before wrapping up with a conclusion while looking at where said player is mocked and what draft experts say about him (this is the last step for me in writing these so I’m not swayed by something someone else has said when I write this With just over four field goals per game and over half of them being three-pointers there’s not going to be a massive amount to say here but enough to be getting on with The two main aspects I would say about Procida’s offensive game would be his athleticism and his perimeter shot-making I have to say I was surprised because as I watched him move on the floor I didn’t really see that athleticism lurking beneath: he rarely drives to showcase it But what he does do when he gets a chance off of a turnover or in transition or for an alley-oop is finish with authority at the rim Off of a steal by his teammate in the front-court the ball is handed to Procida with the entire defense at bay and Procida showcases his athleticism with the big finish: and his teammate throws an audacious lob that Procida collects and is able to finish for the alley-oop: takes it away from the defender to lead the charge himself and finishes with the one-hand slam: Off of a steal on an out-of-bounds play (that you won’t see because the broadcast was showing a replay) Procida charges towards the rim and finishes with authority: We’ll see this a little later but Procida is active in his off-ball movement and often on shots that go up is active about his movement getting into the paint he takes the defense by surprise and crushes the offensive put-back jam: You’ll kind of recognize the theme in which these opportunities presented themselves: they’re in the open court where there are none or one defenders Plays like this in the half-court are not frequent for Procida right now Let’s move onto Procida’s three-point shooting Procida is best in catch-and-shoot situations from behind the arc rather than anything off of the dribble so we’ll just look at a few of threes in those situations and move on relocating slightly as the drive is made by his teammate A little defense to offense here as Procida recovers to block the jumpshot receives the ball and initially looks for the pass for rising up into the three-pointer: he gathers the ball and hits the catch-and-shoot three: On the quick play that the broadcast almost misses Procida hits the contested three-pointer as Gigi Datome’s facial hair is powerless to prevent the three: I would Procida’s best work behind the perimeter is in catch-and-shoot scenarios but he shows flashes in some work off of the dribble Procida comes off the screen before stepping-back for the three-pointer on the move: Procida makes a move to get the ball as the screens are set for him and sheds the switch defender with the step-back and hits the three: Procida is very active off of the ball and while this didn’t lead to massive amount of cutting opportunities Starting at the bottom of the picture in the corner Procida zigs-and-zags his way inside the paint from the wing relocates to the corner but in this instance moves a little much as his teammate drops the intended pass to Procida out of bounds: Procida makes plenty of movement here after the give-and-go and moves too much again as he tries to make his cut across the lane as his teammate is heading from the opposite direction not only creating unnecessary traffic but adding another defender in a tight spot to the mix: Again you can see on this next play that Procida ends up hindering his side somewhat as his cut brings a second defender to the ball-handler: Procida is active off the ball and on rebounds when shots go up but needs to translate this more into points because he’s clearly willing to move off the ball There’s really very little to say here either as you would probably expect with Procida averaging 0.59 assists a game but we’ll look at a few passing highlights briefly and move on to the defensive side of the floor a nice quick volleyball tap to his teammate that leads to a three-point attempt (before showcasing his willingness to move off the ball and try get in the mix when a shot goes up: Another play of a similar type; a quick touch-pass that leads to a three-point attempt but Here’s an example of Procida trying to make a pass off of the dribble getting caught in traffic and dropping his pass into a turnover: You could see what the idea was here but wasn’t able to squeeze the pass through than Procida’s passing so let’s get into it His movement and ability to stay in front of his man is relatively impressive Procida picks up his man at half-court and hounds his man staying in front of him and contesting the perimeter shot Procida does a great job here preventing penetration from the perimeter and contests the shot well to complete an excellent defensive possession: This next defensive play is an amalgamation of different defensive aspects you can see just before that Procida — in the zone defense — is ready to step in front of the big-man in front of the rim and when the ball is hit to the corner Procida jumps in to help on the-ball when the dribble is ended and rips the ball away for the steal completing a fantastic defensive possession as he serves both in zone What was impressive to me with Procida was his general competency in the zone defense at his age and on this possession here against Milan (who were one of the best teams in the Euroleague this season and knocked out in the playoffs by eventual champions Efes) he’s active on defense; stepping in to plug gaps steps into the gap again to help create the turnover...just showing he knows exactly where he needs to be and doing so effectively: Procida displays good awareness as a whole as he digs in on the drive to help create a turnover: Procida is able to contest shots quite well as we’ve seen a little bit already but here’s another look at a perimeter shot that is missed with Procida in close proximity: We’ve seen a few instances — when we looked at his offense — of steals from Procida where he finishes with a dunk but here’s one we haven’t looked at yet as he anticipates where the pass is going intercepts it and steams in transition for the dunk: Procida does well here to anticipate the drop-pass just in front of the rim and comes up with the steal but commits a quick turnover leading to points: Let’s ‘Procida’ to bring this to a conclusion Gabriele Procida is an interesting prospect there’s not a massive amount to say right now in terms of what he can do right now there is some good potential to expand upon here but right catch-and-shoot is the name of the game I actually don’t think it’s massively important if Procida isn’t able to shoot the three as well off of the dribble I’d love to see Procida do more off of the dribble inside the arc and explore his penetration-game and what spots he can get to and what his best spots are Can he come off the screen and hit an elbow jumper Can he come off the screen and drive to the rim He is clearly athletic and can finish with authority at the rim and if he can drive by opponents/get downhill he would be a threat at the rim because of his near explosive athleticism these big finishes come either in transition or off of turnovers/steals which limit his scoring output I’d also love to see Procida utilized more in off-ball situations where he can make more cuts and is found by teammates on these cuts for scoring opportunities because the knack for it is there you’d obviously like to see an increase in those too but young players in this position with a professional team really have to work for these opportunities; it is not easy at times He can move his feet well and stay in front of his man and has a decent reach to contest and block shots on occasion too where he can rotate be to help and then get to where he needs to be as bodies seamlessly interchange in the zone — he already has this knowhow which is great because some players just get lost in the zone; you really have to be on a string Let’s see what some other outlets say about Procida and where they mock him ahead of the draft ESPN rank Procida 52nd on their ‘Best Available’ list and Portland-bound Mike Schmitz had a lot to say about Procida when he went to see him play last year 2021: (Intriguing long-term prospects) — Out of all the prospects I evaluated Procida is the prospect I’d feel most comfortable stamping as a sleeper with a real chance to play in the NBA and outplay his projected draft slot — whether he targets the 2021 draft or not a sweet shooting stroke and excellent fluidity Procida has the ingredients to eventually carve out a role at the highest level if he can continue to improve as a ball handler it didn’t take long to realize that he is one of the best shooters in this draft class with the ability to knock down shots on the move and finish above the rim in space the 18-year-old Italian player is shooting 42% from 3 on 81 attempts in his first full season at the first division level even sprinting off screens or rising into pull-ups Procida was on a short leash the night I evaluated him playing six total minutes after he was sent to the bench for the rest of the game following a missed dunk and blown defensive assignment at the end of the first half The game can move a bit fast for him on both ends of the floor right now and he is certainly not ready to play in an NBA playoff game tomorrow He is still a bit slight in stature and far from a finished product physically it became clear that he fits an NBA prototype and has the energy and baseline physical ability needed to hold his own defensively as his body matures Procida also does a lot of the little things you need from role players — regularly crashing the offensive glass for tip dunks jumping the passing lanes for a steal or scampering back door for an easy finish Whether it’s Kevin Huerter or Furkan Korkmaz size and shooting is king on the wing in today’s NBA and Procida can offer both to an organization willing to invest in him long term as a draft-and-stash prospect A late bloomer who is still somewhat unknown to most NBA executives Procida is the type of prospect who could have broken out in a Nike Hoop Summit type of setting in a normal year without a pandemic A lot of what Schmitz said from 2021 still applies here: he can still crash the glass he can still get into those passing lanes and he’s still got a potential NBA future I personally think that a team should spend a second round pick on Procida because I think there’s a nice baseline here but another year or so abroad would do him good especially in a situation where he’s utilized a little more and allowed to explore more of his offensive game because at the moment it is limited Nothing to really lose if it doesn’t work but potentially a lot more to gain here with Procida I really like Procida’s potential ceiling and if he can continue on this trajectory because Some players’ combination of skillset and size make it difficult for them to translate into the NBA but Procida’s — again if he can continue to improve — could pave the way forward for an NBA future UTAH JAZZ 2:08 PM | Updated: Feb 8 BY BEN ANDERSON SALT LAKE CITY – Just 24 hours before the NBA trade deadline the Utah Jazz agreed to trade wing Simone Fontecchio to the Detroit Pistons for a 2024 second-round draft pick The second-round pick will come from either the Washington Wizards or the Memphis Grizzlies whichever team has the worst record at the end of the regular season Knox is a journeyman who has never quite lived up to his top-ten billing in the 2018 NBA Draft is the biggest mystery in the trade having yet to step foot on an NBA floor Related: Jazz Send Simone Fontecchio To Detroit Pistons Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 36th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft Procida was traded to the Pistons on draft night in a package for forward Jerami Grant Procida was viewed as a borderline first-round pick who was likely to be stashed in Europe to further develop before jumping to the NBA Procida first caught the eyes of NBA scouts due to his unique combination of size and shooting Gabriele Procida skyrockets for an alley-oop 🚀pic.twitter.com/6qDQwzGm6w — BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) February 1, 2024 The wing measured in at just under 6-foot-8 in shoes at the Draft Combine with an impressive 8-foot-10 standing reach and a 35-inch vertical leap Procida shot better than 38 percent from the three-point line in two seasons in the Italian Lega A before entering his name into the draft The now 21-year-old has struggled to shoot the ball since moving to EuroLeague where he has connected on just 27 percent of his three-point attempts with Berlin in 16 minutes per game over the last two seasons Procida remains a long-term prospect who has NBA-caliber measurables but will have to level up his offensive game before making the leap to the United States Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams. Follow @benshoops no one can know his personal growth path at Alba Berlin better than him His upside could already be over or almost at Alba Berlin the peak he can reach in that context could be very close just as he could still have a long way to go and at the same time Milan offers him a a situation in which he can return as an aware important player who has many things to prove So in the meantime it is important that he stays in the Euroleague then I think that getting out of the comfort zone so in that case returning to Italy and going to Milan could be another challenge In his place I wouldn't have much fear or fear of the challenge itself after all I'm not him and I don't know exactly how he can experience certain processes and certain paths in everyday life so I don't know exactly what is best for him but I wouldn't be afraid here's the challenge itself Faithful carry an 18th century wooden Christ before the start of a procession the in Procida Island Members of a confraternity wait for the start of a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida Island Italy is known for the religious processions that take over towns big and small when Catholic feast days are celebrated throughout the year But even in a country where public displays of popular piety are a centuries-old tradition Procida’s Holy Week commemorations stand out.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Members of a confraternity carry crosses and pray in the San Vincenzo church during a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida iIland Procida’s Holy Week commemorations stand out.( AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Members of a confraternity wait for the start of a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida island Procida’s Holy Week commemorations stand out A member of a confraternity carries a cross during a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida Island Members of a confraternity re-enact the Last Supper bless loaves of bread in the Sant’Antonio Abate church during a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida Island Members of a confraternity pray during a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida Island Members of a confraternity carry crosses during a Holy Thursday procession the in Procida Island A participant in the Friday procession arrives at the Terra Murata old city in Procida Island An artisan eats pasta next to a “Mistero” a float depicting a biblical scene in a workshop set in the former prison of Procida Island An artisan gives the last touch to a “Mistero” a float depicting a biblical scene in a workshop set n the former prison of Procida Island a float depicting a biblical scene in the courtyard of the former prison of Procida Island out of the former prison of Procida Island a float dedicated to the Apocalypse that features a small Israeli and Palestinian flag before the start of a procession in Procida Island a float depicting a biblical scene during a procession in Procida Island stands next to his father Paolo before a procession in Procida Island Faithful walk with their babies during a procession in Procida Island Faithful carry an 18th century wooden Christ during a procession on Procida Island Faithful carry chains during a procession in Procida Island Faithful carry a statue of the Madonna known as the Addolorata before the start of a procession the in Procida Island Authorities follow an 18th century wooden Christ before the start of a procession the in Procida Island Italy (AP) — Italy is known for the religious processions that take over towns big and small throughout the year when Catholic feast days are celebrated when boys and men dressed all in white and wearing crowns of thorns reenacted the Last Supper in the Sant’Antonio Abate church blessing loaves of bread that were then distributed to islanders The commemorations culminated with a dawn procession Friday along the seaside road and through Procida’s narrow Preparations for the events actually began weeks ago with the construction of three dozen Carnival-like floats that are paraded through town They are built from scratch by island artisans in the old unused prison and then assembled overnight in the prison courtyard Accompanied by a haunting funeral dirge performed by local musicians the final floats of the procession include a statue of the Madonna known as the Addolorata and an 18th-century wooden crucified Christ lying on his back and covered with a black veil If they aren’t participating directly in the processions or in the building of the floats many of Procida’s 10,000 residents line the streets to watch the procession go by some of the floats referred to current events including one dedicated to the apocalypse that featured a small Israeli and Palestinian flag AP correspondent Nicole Winfield contributed from Rome Procida Funding & Advisors has selected the McCann Team of Keller Williams as its agents for a collection of new age-restricted homes at the Plaza Grande development in Cherry Hill the appointment is the latest addition to the team for a project that had stalled for more than two decades but is now headed for completion with Procida at the helm The final piece of the property at Haddonfield Road and Chapel Avenue will include 251 units The McCann Team’s Evangeline Gambardella and Jamie Quinn will lead the assignment “I believe The Plaza Grande is the crown jewel of the Garden State Park redevelopment project,” said Billy Procida and we are dedicated to transforming this property into something extraordinary.” The news follows Procida’s announcement in August that a firm he controls had acquired Plaza Grande an age-restricted property that was originally started by Turnberry in 2004 and continued by D.R ahead of his plan to build out the remaining phase The agents noted that Gambardella brings an extensive background in new construction real estate sales and large-scale residential leasing having worked alongside leading experts Mike McCann and Jim Onesti She holds a degree in corporate finance from Temple University’s Fox School of Business has a track record of successful transactions and an intimate understanding of the local market in Camden County ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelWhy You Should Visit Procida Island, Italy’s Next Culture CapitalBySilvia Marchetti ShareSaveCommentThis article is more than 4 years old.Procida,the colorful harbour of La Corricella The picturesque island of Procida has just been named Italy’s 2022 Culture Capital Politicians issued enthusiastic statements and locals hailed the win by staging street parties even though it’s in the world-famous Gulf of Naples and real close to the city Procida is an under-the-radar destination compared to its mundane sister-isles Ischia and Capri Everyone goes to Ischia for its hot baths and to Capri for its VIP lifestyle and glossy boutiques The first time I visited was during a Easter holiday and I was the only one getting off the ferry The other passengers were headed to the other islands The patchwork of colorful low cut fishermen dwellings - flashy purple blue and green - make the village of Marina Corricella one of Italy's most vibrant and mesmerizing The harbor is lined with wooden boats and covered in fishing nets buzzing with screaming fishermen eager to sell their daily catch kids run around the streets and elders sit on chairs staring at the blue sea A killer uphill winding road leads to an overhanging ancient fortress The road is lined with little panoramic villas hidden in lush gardens of fig trees and lemon orchards Farmers sell their fresh produce at street corners Legend has it that this was the kingdom of the beautiful mermaid Partenope who founded the city of Naples Partenope and her two sisters lived inside a deep sea cave and ruled over the gulf happened to pass by and the sirens sang their lovely Cunning Odysseus tied himself to the ship mast and plugged his ears to avoid falling prey to their magical chant which was believed to bewitch men and make them drown Her beautiful fishy body was lulled by the waves to eternal sleep before washing up on a rock on the mainland - giving birth to Naples The backdrop for the films Il Postino and The Talented Mr Ripley braces itself to balance tourism with tradition Church bells chime and children play freely in the square named after the late actor Massimo Troisi A restaurant serves fresh fish to the smattering of customers eating outside it seems like a typical afternoon in mid-summer But this is late January in Corricella, a 17th-century port in Procida and the scene pretty much sums up the pace of life on what is the smallest and least known island in the bay of Naples Matt Damon Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) Photograph: Allstar/PARAMOUNTNow the colourful Mediterranean island has been thrust back into the limelight after recently winning the coveted accolade of Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022 fending off competition from nine other candidates It is the first time that the title has ever been granted to an island The prize was a moment of celebration among the island’s 10,000 inhabitants and gave a glimmer of hope for the future amid Italy’s ongoing struggles with the coronavirus pandemic said: “Let’s get ready to visit Procida,” while culture minister Dario Franceschini said the island “would accompany us in the year of rebirth” wary of the pre-Covid mass tourism that has blighted so many other cultural treasures in Italy say a balance must be struck between developing the island and maintaining its cherished characteristics “It’s a good thing for the island and important for the generation who will come after us,” said fisherman Francesco Scotto Tourism is OK but if it becomes too frenetic Those centuries-old traditions are closely tied to the ocean Scotto is among the many islanders who would be at sea for months on end Procida“Whoever works at sea always has a desire to return to Procida,” said Scotto said many seafarers have long resisted tourism while describing Procida as “a magnet you never want to leave” “But Procida is also an island that needs to progress – with balance and care.” said the island is ready for the challenge as leaders work up a rich calendar of events for 2022 that will draw on its history Procida is just 4km-wide and made up of pastel-coloured houses several beaches and narrow alleyways that wind through the main town Overlooking Corricella harbour is the old walled town of Terra Murata home to a disused prison that until 1988 hosted some of Italy’s most violent criminals and leaders are now trying to establish how to make best use of the vast building Procida is also home to a maritime academy attracting students from beyond the island A key element of the island’s winning bid was its development of “slow tourism” A panoramic view of Procida island Photograph: Sergio Monti/AlamyThe island gets busy in the summer but the visitor numbers have so far been sustainable Ambrosino expects this to continue as foreign visitors return after the pandemic “Procida is not an amusement park,” he said “You won’t find nightclubs or big luxury hotels with spas What you will find is a particular experience – people don’t come here to be entertained but to get to know the community and its traditions.” Giuseppina Nasti is clearing tables at La Locanda del Postino a restaurant that in its previous life was the storage space used to create the bar and restaurant in Il Postino which is currently under “yellow zone” Covid restrictions allowing bars and restaurants to open until 6pm “My dad travelled all over by sea and used to say that Procida was the most beautiful place in the world,” Nasti said Procida is much more authentic than Capri or Ischia.” Ambrosino doesn’t believe that Procida’s recent victory will diminish that authenticity “There is a risk that the island could change but it’s also true that for centuries it’s had a strong maritime identity … it’s difficult to imagine that this would suddenly be turned upside down by the fame,” he said This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media The Builders Association of Northern New Jersey has appointed Derek Weissman of Procida Funding as its new board president a partner at the Englewood Cliffs-based private equity fund becomes the youngest in the association’s history to assume the post He comes to the role with what BANNJ called a dynamic approach to leadership and a fresh perspective noting that his expertise and innovative strategies in construction lending have significantly contributed to Procida Funding’s growth and success “I am honored to lead the Builders Association of Northern New Jersey and excited about the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of our industry,” Weissman said “My goal is to create an inclusive and educational environment that not only supports our current members but also attracts new talent to our field we will work toward advancing the standards of building in northern New Jersey and beyond.” it’s poised to embark on a new era focused on expanding its membership base and enhancing the education and development of new builders Weissman’s vision for the BANNJ centers on fostering a supportive community that encourages the exchange of knowledge best practices and the latest industry trends to ensure its members are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the modern construction landscape Other new appointments to BANNJ are Candy Gordon-Geanoules as the vice president Kimberly Little as associate vice president and Jackie Giraldo Ferguson as second associate vice president Procida Advisors provides due diligence and asset management services to developers financial institutions and private equity funds with a concentration on development The firm’s specific services include development management investment banking and asset management and disposition Procida Funding names three new partners, ensuring next generation of leadership Three of South Baltimore’s newest restaurants–Limoncello Pizzeria and Facci–have at least one thing in common: The owners all hail from Monte di Procida Italy not only has a presence in South Baltimore it has a huge influence on the Italian restaurant industry across Maryland Monte di Procida has an estimated population of 11,845 the South Baltimore Peninsula has an estimated population of 23,332 as of 2020 The culture in Monte di Procida of coming to America and working in the food business started several decades ago co-owner of Limoncello and Limoncello Pizzeria told SouthBMore.com most emigration from Monte di Procida goes to Maryland or New Jersey Parascandolo grew up in Monte di Procida and has lived in both states He eventually followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father who came to the United States to work in Italian restaurants Parascandolo is a distant cousin (and lifelong friend) of the Scotto family which owns THB He was also previously a manager at THB’s Timonium location before opening his own restaurants Two names credited with starting the trend of people coming to Maryland from Monte di Procida are Raimondo Lubrano and Luigi Coppola opened more than 48 restaurants including the Mama Lucia chain of restaurants “The majority of restaurant owners involved in Italian restaurants or pizzerias here in Baltimore came here because of my uncle who first started Strapazza back in the 90s,” said THB Co-owner Tony Scotto “He helped people open their own pizza shops.” Tony Scotto described Lubrano as “one of those Americans we looked up to.” every summer you would see thousands of people who emigrated to the United States coming back for a vacation That is why kids like me wanted to come to the U.S.,” said Tony Scotto came in 2000s and decided to do something different from our friends.” the Scottos have grown the bagel shop to seven locations and have racked up numerous “best bagel shop” awards in Baltimore The newest location in Locust Point opened last month Parascandolo and his Limoncello business partners and Monte di Procida natives Gennaro Di Benedetto and Pino Di Benedetto have a large and growing restaurant portfolio and the recently-opened Tony’s of NY in Timonium Some of the partners also own additional restaurants in Anne Arundel Country and the Eastern Shore Parascandolo said there is a great food culture in Monte di Procida and Naples which is credited with the invention of pizza He noted most natives of Monte di Procida either get into the food business or become sailors With so many natives of Monte di Procida emigrating to Maryland and New Jersey Parascandolo said American culture has made a bit of a mark in Monte di Procida He noted cheesesteaks are now popular in his hometown He said there is also been a growing demand for pepperoni in Italy The Neapolitan style of pizza evolved into New York-style pizza due to coal (and later gas) ovens Neapolitan immigrants had access to but wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas have seen a rebirth in America in recent years Facci owner Gino Palma is one of the Italians bringing wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas to the United States and partnered in other restaurants before opening Facci 14 years ago in Maple Lawn He opened a location in Ellicott City 10 years ago and is hoping to open his Inner Harbor location at 414 Light St Palma said he always wanted a Baltimore City location and noted the Inner Harbor waterfront reminds him of his hometown Palma hopes to open more Facci locations in the future Palma pushed an Italian ice cart along the beach in Monte di Procida when he was a young boy to help bring in money for his family That’s where he met the Scotto family It’s not just the owners of Limoncello and Facci bringing Italian food to Maryland from Monte di Procida Other restaurants with ties to Monte di Procida include Squisito Pizza & Pasta and its many locations; Pasta Mista in Towson and Canton; Frank’s Pizza and Pasta in Overlea;  Trattoria Amore and Go Primo’s in Howard County; Spizzico Italian Kitchen in Arnold; Italian Market in Annapolis; Tony’s Pizza in Williamsport; Pardiso Ristorante in Westminster; and surely many more While Monte di Procida has a big presence in the Maryland dining scene many of the families make a trip back to Monte di Procida every August for the celebration of Patron Saint Maria Assunta Parascandolo said they are mostly too busy to see each other while in America but the trip back to Monte di Procida is always a reunion with their friends from home and fellow Marylanders who emigrated from Southern Italy “We are proof that The American Dream is still alive,” said Tony Scotto  “We had to come here and learn a new language and a new culture Baltimore and Monte di Procida are both home for us.” Gianluca Parascandolo with Nick Mosby and Tim Chin A post shared by Tim “Chyno” Chin (@theboywiththebluebeard) Founder and Publisher of SouthBMore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, dog lover, Little League coach, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com, follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin, and Instagram at PizzaChannelKevin @2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign Italian fishermen and their families return to their roots after moving to the United States This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio But once you have experienced life on a fishing boat BROWN: WORLD Associate Correspondent Chiara Lamberti brings us this audio post card from an Italian fishing village CHIARA LAMBERTI: Monte di Procida is a small village in the province of Naples built on a hill that falls sheer to the sea Its few inhabitants breathe in the saltiness of the air every day they know what the weather will be like the next day It’s a very quiet village and its streets are almost always empty—unless you go down to the small port fishing and gathering what the sea has to offer The locals can tell which fisherman is coming by the color of the boat you can catch a glimpse of buckets of fish Their scales glisten in the first light of day you can hear customers shouting to ask which are the best fish caught it is the customers crowded on the pier who help them with ropes Everyone here knows each other and has experience with the sea the men of the village have handed down information to each other to learn how to recognize winds the depths of the Gulf of Monte di Procida hold no secrets for them fluke—all these make up the basis of the local cuisine But while the sea calls to everyone born here some families were so poor that they did not have enough money to buy a boat and nets So they sought their fortunes further away ILLIANO: I come from a family of fishermen Back in 1976 we decided to emigrate in the U.S in order to make a little money to buy a big fishing boat Alfonso Illiano left Monte di Procida and went to the United States for what he thought would be only a few years ILLIANO: But after being there for so many years It was worthwhile to stay in the States instead of coming back here to do fishing Everyone in Monte di Procida has at least one relative on the East Coast of the U.S Giuliano Carrannante lived for 40 years in New Jersey Carrannante always planned to return to become a fisherman CARRANNANTE: I got a beautiful family overseas but as soon as he retired and got his pension he and his wife started coming back to Monte di Procida He spends his days down at the port with the fishermen CARRANNANTE: We throw the net out at night he is using the time he has now to return to his village and live a more traditional way of life He wakes up early and comes down to the port to spend time surrounded by the fishermen The fishermen stay to clean and mend the nets where they broke Then they’ll go home to get some well-deserved rest—until 3 a.m WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record Please wait while we load the latest comments.. Please register, subscribe, or log in to comment on this article We spoke with the Australian triple-threat about her early love of performing and the importance of trusting your intuition and dancer Belle Procida grew up on a farm outside of Queensland Balancing her time between a budding professional horseback riding career and an early knack for entertaining From studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and Los Angeles’ prestigious Stella Adler acting academy to booking roles in Rock Island Mysteries she has developed a portfolio spanning Australia taking her further into the world of fashion and solidifying her position at the intersection of arts We caught up with Procida to discuss her early love of performing A team led by investor Billy Procida has completed the first of eight buildings that will help complete a long-delayed 507-unit multifamily project in Cherry Hill said the 32-unit property at what’s known as Plaza Grande has finalized inspections and is ready for occupancy It’s one of eight buildings with a combined 251 units that are still to come on part of the former Garden State Park racetrack property at the intersection of Haddonfield Road and Chapel Avenue with Procida planning a staggered completion schedule that will bring additional units online through summer 2024 The milestone follows his announcement in August that a firm he controls had acquired Plaza Grande Procida revealed in September that Coldwell Banker New Homes would be the leasing and sales agent at Plaza Grande Amenities include an 18,000-square-foot clubhouse with an indoor pool the project will add to what is already a massive property with a range of housing options along with an array of retail stores such as Home Goods Veteran developer and real estate investor Billy Procida has taken control of a key parcel in Cherry Hill where plans call for 283 homes as part of the redevelopment of the former Garden State Park racetrack the property is the final piece of a sweeping residential project at the intersection of Haddonfield Road and Chapel Avenue began more than a decade ago under national homebuilder D.R Horton but faced setbacks during the 2008 downturn paving the way for a local builder to take over and complete 224 luxury units for residents 55 and older a firm controlled by Procida acquired the property and set out to build out the remaining 283 units Additional details about the transaction were not immediately available Monday although he said prospective residents can anticipate the arrival of new one- and two-bedroom residences starting in September “It’s an amazing location with the best clubhouse anywhere with indoor and outdoor saltwater pools movie theater and a soon-to-be-included golf simulator room and you can walk to everything you need,” said Procida founder and CEO of Procida Funding & Advisors in Englewood Cliffs the firm cited Procida’s more than 40 years of experience in real estate during which he has won dozens of national and local awards such as Developer of the Year in New York City and the National Association of Home Builders’ Pillar of the Industry Award He was also responsible for the recent $60 million restoration of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House on North Broad Street as well as the $50 million renovation of the nearby Divine Lorraine Hotel Procida’s project in Cherry Hill would add to what is already a massive property with a range of housing options It’s easy for Gabriele Procida to stand out in a room 190-pound frame has been unmistakable in a crowd for a while reached that height right around age 15 while playing youth basketball for Pallacanestro Cantù in Italy his team practiced with Cantù’s professional team where his stature still made him one of the tallest in the room Ike Udanoh remembers the first time he saw Procida take the practice courts.  “He was literally almost the exact same size (as me) maybe minus a few kilos,” said Udanoh who played center at Wayne State from 2009-12 and has played professionally in Europe ever since ‘If at 15 or 16 he’s that type of size PLAY THE RIGHT WAY: Why Larry Brown believes Jalen Duren is in a 'perfect situation' with Pistons Procida’s journey led him to the NBA draft last Thursday where but the Procida selection mostly went unnoticed Even the Pistons’ own Twitter account hasn’t mentioned him joining the organization those who’ve seen Procida play think he has the potential to be more than just a second-round afterthought.  When he continued practicing with Pallacanestro Cantù more of Procida’s game stuck out to Udanoh who now plays for SIG Strasbourg in the French Pro A League but Procida’s mental approach to the game was far above his age “He didn’t have fear when he played with us,” Udanoh said “We didn’t (practice with) a lot of young guys … but he was better than 11 to 12 guys on our roster there’s very few who aren’t afraid [ Why Pistons are unlikely to make big splash in free agency ] the 17-year-old Procida made his professional debut with Pallacanestro Cantù He appeared in just seven games as a rookie recording nine points and three rebounds in just 28 total minutes 2.5 rebounds and nearly 40% from 3 in 28 games.  Procida became the third-youngest player in Lega Basket Serie A history to score at least 24 points in a game Procida declared for the NBA draft but ultimately opted to return to Italy signing a multi-year deal with Fortitudo Kiğılı Bologna in Italy's top league Just like when he first arrived at Cantù ‘Who’s this kid?’” said Jabril Durham who played for Arkansas from 2014-16 and has played for seven European pro teams are you sure he’s Italian?’” Durham said that Procida was pretty quiet off the court when he first came to Fortitudo and the “cool Italian kid” quickly built a reputation as one of the more energetic and charismatic figures on the team SHAWN WINDSOR: Here's what makes Cade Cunningham-Jaden Ivey-Jalen Duren Pistons so tantalizing Procida served as a bright spot for the 9-21 Fortitudo squad After redeclaring for this year’s draft he attended the combine in May and ran a 3.02-second three-quarter court sprint Durham remembers Procida being one of the earliest to arrive for pregame shoot-arounds last that was Procida’s way of saying he was ready to compete with the league’s veterans “He’s a hard working guy,” Durham said If you know anything about (Bogdan Bogdanović) he got drafted and went back to Europe for a few years then came back to the NBA and (signed a $27 million deal with Sacramento) and he’s for sure more athletic … so he’s gonna fit right in.” The Pistons are likely to treat Procida as a draft-and-stash just as Bogdanović was after getting picked in 2014 This move would keep Procida much closer to his home of Como delaying his over 4,000 mile journey to Detroit JEFF SEIDEL: I learned a big lesson watching Troy Weaver crush NBA draft week Udanoh thinks that approach would be beneficial as it would allow Procida to get his body more NBA ready a Warren Woods Tower product who helped Wayne State win the GLIAC championship in 2010 found out Procida was selected by his hometown team while late-night scrolling through Instagram There’s about a six-hour time difference between Detroit and Udanoh’s current home in Italy so it took a while for the news to reach him congratulating him and telling him what he can look forward to in Detroit,” Udanoh said “I think if he’s given an actual opportunity (You want) that really good character guy for the team and he’s bringing that for sure.” Chandler Engelbrecht is a reporting intern at The Detroit Free Press and can be reached at CEngelbrecht@freepress.com Tipoff: July 7-17; Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center Pistons’ schedule: Trail Blazers your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt was put on the map last year when it was awarded Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022 This colourful destination is the first island to be given the title since the award was established eight years ago It follows in the footsteps of cities like Perugia and Parma - last year’s Italian Capital of Culture islands) become a focus for improved cultural heritage and touristic development with numerous projects and initiatives run to benefit the region Now a quarter of the way through its tenure Procida has numerous cultural projects on the go that are inspiring residents and tourists alike a ‘paper fleet’ event will see thousands of little origami boats made by local children cross the bay drawing awareness to the fragility of the environment involving 240 artists and eight regenerated cultural spaces - such as an old sixteenth century palace turned prison “Procida can be considered a metaphor of many places many communities who have rediscovered the enthusiasm and pride for their territory,” the island’s mayor During the application process for the title Procida presented a vision entitled "la cultura non isola" - which translates to "culture doesn't isolate." This concept was a significant part in being awarded the Capital of Culture position with particular resonance in our current times The vision "is capable of conveying a poetic message a vision of culture that reaches out from the tiny reality of an island as a well-wish for all of us in the months to come," said the Capital of Culture Commission in a statement The smallest island in the Bay of Naples, often overshadowed by its neighbours - Capri and Ischia - Procida may seem a surprising choice for such a major title despite being the least-visited of the three islands Procida is exceptionally beautiful with an authentic feel The island only has 10,000 or so inhabitants One of the key reasons Procida was picked was the island’s wealth of traditional artistry with artisan workshops aplenty (especially in Marina Grande) Procida also has its own unique history too with Ancient Greek artefacts from the 16th century BCE found across the island Charles III of Spain turned Procida into his personal game reserve before it became a major outpost for the shipbuilding industry the island has some extraordinary architecture multi-coloured buildings capturing these different periods of history Visitors today can go diving off the coast in search of impressive that Procida has both been featured in and inspired many major works of art Elsa Morante’s 1957 novel Arturo’s Island is set on Procida and the island plays a major role in Alphonse de Lamartine’s legendary novel Graziella you might recognise Procida from the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of Cleopatra in 1963 where the island’s church dome can be seen in the scene where Cleopatra’s barge enters the harbour the island has appeared in The Postman and The Talented Mr Ripley too It's possible to whale watch off the island and one of the Mediterranean's most important dolphin colonies live in the waters surrounding Procida according to the thought-provoking programme outlined by Visit Procida the monumental Palazzo d’Avalos - one of the eight places afforded a re-do - will host ‘SprigionARTI’ a contemporary art exhibition with site-specific works from celebrated Italian artists an exhibition entitled ‘The Greeks before the Greeks’ follows from June - September; a joint initiative between the National Archaeological Museum of Naples the Archaeological Park of Campi Flegrei and the Civic Museum of Procida A number of the projects take an interactive approach ‘Happening of Human Books’ will involve a director overseeing 180 citizens as they each interpret a page from ‘The Immortal’ by Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges This will be acted out in 22 “symbolic places” across the island You can find out more about what’s on here After Procida’s turn in the spotlight next year the baton is going to be passed over jointly to Bergamo and Brescia both cities that have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic was the previous Capital of Culture - a title the city held for two years but it was decided to extend Parma’s tenure in the wake of the coronavirus crisis Il Our market insider Orazio Cauchi gives us a sensational preview Gabriele Procida is one of Olimpia Milano's ideas for the role of deputy Shields but it's a lead to take into consideration For the 3 commercial the management would like to go with an Italian profile so the names of Procida and Abass are the most marketable ones We recall that in the Backdoor Podcast premium chat Silvio Corrias e Lorenzo Neri they answer your questions thanks to the presence of other great professionals is unique in its genre and of absolute quality We at Backdoor Podcast are very proud of it and hope that more and more people decide to be part of it The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries The technicolour coastal harbours of Procida are well worth lingering in Procida has the same tumble of pastel houses, the same boat-speckled harbours, the same bougainvillea-draped streets as Capri – but without the crowds. The Bay of Naples’ smallest island has somehow remained off the tourist trail bar a flurry of vacationing Neapolitans in August leaving near-empty volcanic beaches and silent old towns in their wake Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor… Procida has been quietly seducing film stars for decades. The Bay of Naples’ best-kept secret, this tiny speck is often bypassed for Ischia or Capri It doesn’t yield anywhere near the volume of column inches in guidebooks as its better-known siblings despite catching the eye of Anthony Minghella for his 1999 psychological thriller Scenes were shot in the cobblestoned streets of the 17th-century Marina di Corricella this would see skyrocketing prices and hordes of film fans flocking to the spot – not here The only sign of tourists is RIBs (rigid-inflatable-boats) carting Italian families from their moored boats to the shore for lunch at unassuming trattorias Seafood restaurants occupy the traditional fishermen’s houses on the waterfront – originally painted in vivid shades so they could easily be identified from the sea It’s clearly proved successful: weathered men repair fishing nets on the harbourfront The jumble of candy-coloured buildings clings to the slopes of a steep hill crisscrossed with scalatinelli (staircase streets) climbing past sleepy piazzas as the bells ring out from the lemon-yellow church of Santa Maria delle Grazie It’s easy to imagine Jude Law and Matt Damon striding through the alleys past flaky facades strung with lines of fluttering laundry The pace slips down a few gears over Procida’s 1.6 square miles Tiny buses navigate the island’s narrow streets crawling slowly behind ambling locals who are in no hurry to reach their destination The roads are so slender that locals tuck the wing mirrors in on their cars to avoid damage – but many are still etched with scratches Only a handful of hotels are scattered across Procida mainly due to building regulations preventing overdevelopment visitors can rent fishermen’s houses in Marina di Corricella and Marina Chiaiolella – the nearest village to the Lido di Procida This west-facing beach is popular for its sunsets; the one place on Procida that does get busy and mainly with holidaying Neapolitans and a few French tourists paying homage to the protagonist from Alphonse de Lamartine’s novel who falls in love with a fisherman’s daughter on the island it’s never so crowded as to be impossible to find a towel-sized patch of charcoal-black sand and the only wait in restaurants is for waiters to scribble down the catch of the day on chalkboards sharing Neapolitan pizzas washed down with draught beers as young bar staff dash outside to hug friends parking Vespas Procida has a natural beauty to rival that of Ischia’s But that’s part of its appeal – near-empty beaches with untouched sands marked by blink-and-you-miss-them spiaggia (beach) signs are partially obscured from the street by clouds of bougainvillea Hidden beneath a tangle of twisted cacti and olive trees sheer cliff faces crash down to rugged dark sands Waves drag at the shore and rickety wooden jetties cut across limpid waters The beaches are pretty much deserted during the week filling with local families at the weekend To the west is Pozzo Vecchio, whose black sands provided the backdrop for 1994 Italian feature Il Postino, which follows a local postman’s friendship with exiled poet Pablo Neruda in the 1950s. Time seems to have stood still since then. On the opposite side of the island, boats ferry diners from Marina di Corricella around the bay to Spiaggia Chiaia, where La Conchiglia is perched on stilts above the beach diners feast on day-fresh seafood and fish dishes A string of craggy beaches can be found at Isola di Vivara The protected nature reserve occupies a tiny crescent-shaped islet blasted apart from Procida by an ancient volcanic eruption Remnants of a Bronze-Age Mycenaean settlement have been unearthed on Vivara as well as fragments of Greek pottery dating back to early colonisation the reserve is privately owned but open to visitors a few times a week the medieval town of Terra Murata occupies the highest point of the island Two belvederes (viewpoints) make the most of this prime position offers the most breathtaking view of Corricella and the two rock jetties funnelling into the bay Looking east, the stone terrace by the Abbazia San Michele Arcangelo gazes out across the Gulf of Naples to the hazy silhouette of Mt Vesuvius and A sliver of Palazzo d’Avalos frames the shot This 16th-century palace was the former residence of the island’s governing family and was converted into a prison in 1830 by Ferdinand II (eventually closing in 1988) there are no selfie stick-wielding tourists elbowing each other for the exact same photo Old city walls wrap around the alarmingly steep streets bakers and a tiny teal-coloured bar – all blissfully empty save a few locals going about their business as usual Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. 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Procida Funding & Advisors has named three new principals alongside its founder helping to cement the future of the Englewood Cliffs-based lender and financial services firm Derek Weissman and Brian Foley — assumed their new roles earlier this year after joining the company between 2015 and 2016 The addition of the new partners comes 26 years after veteran developer investor and financier Billy Procida launched the firm with a focus on distressed and complex projects across multiple asset classes Procida has a personal connection to each partner or his family providing a clearer path to a succession plan for his firm personally,” Procida said in a recent interview “And I kind of feel like I can go to work now and know that if I get hit by a car spearheads syndication and distribution of loans made from the firm’s 100 Mile Fund His father and Procida are longtime friends recalling that the younger Coen “walked in seven years ago for an interview at 9 and started working full-time at 9:05.” attended high school and college with Procida’s daughter He completed two internships with Procida Funding and joined full-time in 2015 overseeing the asset management division and a portfolio of more than $250 million is the nephew of another longtime friend of Procida joining the firm in 2016 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business He now leads the company’s originations department after initially focusing on REO assets and distressed deals Weissman and Foley each rose to vice president and thanks in part to their pre-existing relationships had Procida’s trust and the autonomy to deal directly with prominent developers investors and stakeholders involved in the firm’s transactions that opportunity wouldn’t necessarily be available to them at a larger company “We’ve been very fortunate that we’ve all gelled as well as we have but everyone else in the office,” Coen said Weissman added that Procida has already allowed each of the three partners to take the lead in sourcing new business That will likely make for an easier transition from employee to partner and taking an even larger role in growing the firm Billy gives you the ability to find deals that you like to do and push them forward,” Weissman said maybe our title has changed and that carries a little more weight but at least for the last three or four years we’ve been able to pick out and source deals on our own and bring them to the table.” They added that Procida’s personal connections run throughout the firm and go beyond his newest partners the son of a Procida investor and longtime friend whose grandfather was Procida’s first investor in 1982 a member of the originations and due diligence team He joined the firm in 2020 after two internships “It’s very rare that you just walk off the street,” Foley said of how Procida builds his team “He prides himself on cultivating a network of people inside the company that have a connection with him and to the rest of the company.” The vibrantly colorful island of Procida has just won the title of Italy's Capital of Culture for 2022 © Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images The tiny and beautiful island of Procida has just won the title of Italy’s Capital of Culture for the year 2022– becoming the first-ever island to do so since the award was established in 2014 Explore the stunning villages and vistas of Southern Italy with these new hiking trails According to the final statement of the Capital of Culture commission Procida’s vision (titled “La cultura non isola,” culture doesn’t isolate) “is capable of conveying a poetic message A sentiment that is echoed by Procida’s mayor who said that “Procida can be considered a metaphor of many places many communities who have rediscovered the enthusiasm and pride for their territory” Located in the Gulf of Naples in the archipelago of the Phlegrean Islands (together with Ischia Procida is a small island with no more than 10,000 inhabitants and a long history that dates back to around the 15th century BCE have inspired writers and filmmakers alike– from ancient Roman poets like Virgil to modern-day authors like Elsa Morante whose Arturo’s Island is set right on Procida; to directors like Michael Radford and Anthony Minghella who filmed their respective movies Il Postino and The Talented Mr Ripley on the island If you’d like to know more about the title of Italian Capital of Culture and Procida, you can check out the official page on Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities here.