It is the terrace of Procida.
A small piazza suspended between sky and sea that faces infinity.
A crossroad between Corricella, Marina Grande and Terra Murata, the piazza was witness to one of the most tragic events in the history of the island: the hanging of 16 citizens guilty of having adhered to the Neapolitan Republic. Since then, the name Piazza dei Martiri (Martyrs’ Square) replaced the former name “Spassìggio”, or rather “walking zone”, that many inhabitants of the place still continue to use today.
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is typical of the Baroque age, and the Palazzo De Iorio, built in the second half of the 18th century on a preexisting Gothic style building, both dominate the piazza. The statue of Antonio Scialoja (1817-1879) can be found a few meters from the Sanctuary. He was a distinguished citizen of Procida and illustrious economist and was minister several times. Nevertheless, by the name Sèmmarèzio, the Procidani do not just intend the beautiful piazza. On the contrary, they mean the four characteristic casali that surround the zone: Casàle, Casalièddo, Schianata and Vascieddo. They are the first urban installations which were created outside the citadel of Terra Murata. Their architecture is identical: a group of houses all painted in pastel colours inside a courtyard or a blind alley.