![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuTBSYuuhuimoHxnNmVLWel2FLERDpmVDQzWOZzTmrk1vuoEFePt8CDOsnJI9dpjdYRKK0MMQ2ETG9AGtZrsvu7EQUc7cKnArzwajQ-AhXu_pFz69kc8HHcwwdlc87fuM4gj1ZJMhABye/s400/IT-Procida-local.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_lNn_-QremVKK5YidzC367Hoc2GrKBAiGaTfLVu1lJMZjwPoDSWOux_BuJwtjZAgjWDIkzvmzQKFk62mKy5cNlARNoXfEo6MoxysSX4F5eACnRaARTUu8ntTgYbmkOotmG5CunR1Q3Yw/s400/IT-Procida-John.jpg)
We left Naples overcast and drizzly, but Procida was sunny, instantly cheering us up. The port bustled with cafes and gift shops, whining still with the inevitable scooters. Two mins walk though, and it became a sleepy village of an island, all cobbled lanes and crumbling render: just what the doctor ordered. We booked into a little hotel and resolved to put airports from our minds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPRbV_eLuWrG-yW7l2lMduV5K5PGLHLG797-hTYmDw4Or61u2UTDsHF7ucP5C7Ue3Pn8cXZlnQdXSwdTV9jI55-DBpeSLaY3f-5eyrwfzVjokLvA7rAxe3gZNisaf-n3pPsueQxmFQQhn/s400/IT-Procida-old-town.jpg)
It wasn't a big island: we could walk its length in 45 minutes, cross it in 20. The coast was a series of round bays with high cliffs: flooded volcano craters, trimmed with dark, volcanic sand. A daunting 16th century fortress of an historic centre stared down from a high cliff at one end.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmXMFG4jXbu5lDsuTmvPzWNI5I2KqZxssKJdXo__8gBAJP1NX-yzCC1bhiGjENtf6Gst6SVrTrZY7c7buZcYRRm-54KZ4so1MwwJuMhRRmUIh1uT-28vh85-CW3qTD9R7idcDpzWxKutF/s400/IT-Procida-beach-with-tree.jpg)
We spent our days pottering between the three pretty fishing harbours, watching men making nets and learning to drink espresso. We relaxed in the sun for hours on largely deserted beaches, gorging on picnics of local fruit, cheese and salami.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VQbskVIlXczmLCOKIyjTBngBDy5gfkm-LmxQmJs8-uj9Y4gYokTvjG8ZYmaJtfaxEpiZbbb2Pb49CH8x6qyMF5RLKKv3n2oPXdpFG4MO7TU9yR2DVrwHYNcMi_mqD3mDsR4OK9EaSIzP/s400/IT-Ischia-fishermen.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q7C3IQETs069sE2BZu739sI75A55R4-iaF4EAMSR-iL3RdrLSnUQgSe9CC9Z9YAPMUCfQuzUxPY6XKTlzsWiIvPQ5LbGwVTi3JgFYBhGseUZQ0bNzYN5ee6gZrcSBHj4e_8HenCBzwe4/s400/IT-goats-head.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kda77rzL0BxWWstdy_d6fVqJZf7xfcdc7kN8fHZ2DiwKaZeg207R3wf4fEpflZ4GLdK95cJWDZkh1WgO3uA2X5hAIhToefwkbRG5I7Z5-S-7rDVm39aZMLuuIutM0uujSYjw0N_oOSji/s400/IT-Ischia-bay.jpg)
We walked in the sulphurous crater of the Solfatara volcano on another day trip, to Pozzuoli. The ground was warm, even through our shoes and, all around us, steam whisped and curled out of the earth.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIJa9z2LG3B3ad5jrfkBKHIryZOimNaUn8an8raGCKcTORbmDjRlNKDLTGUE5MMr1F9PZFoXanPu5jv4hRm_0OLs576bXSp59Tzt_I-WGn19Rxp8TG3EVHow-baVyx6_7UDLDLwPrTy2P/s400/IT-solfatara.jpg)
If you are interested, there are more sketches from the islands posted on my Picture Gallery.
3 comments:
Oooh, it all looks really nice.
I really like the sketch of Procida, lots of lovely detail :)
The sketch of the goat head is wonderful. Makes you wonder where it came from. At least it looks peaceful.
Thanks for sharing your sketchbook. I love looking at other artists doodles, notes, and thoughts.
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