Up to 1500, the whole population of Procida was concentrated in the old centre of Terra Murata. During the 16th century, under the Spanish reign, it began a period of peace and population increase (the Saracen forays decreased too) which induced the people to occupy also other places in the island. The first inhabited area was the seashore underlying the Terra Murata, named Corricella, where they settled mostly the fishermen, while the sailors gathered on the village of Sancio Cattolico on North, where it was built the harbour. The initial activities in the Corricella were the excavations of caves in the cliff for sheltering the boats, then they built the first houses.

We do not know exactly the origin of the name Corricella: some scholars have proposed its derivation from the ancient Greek, but in this area there are not any ancient remains, as in other sides of the island. Most probably this place name has a popular origin. The village of Corricella faces due south-east and is sheltered from all other sides by the cliff behind. A long ridge of rocks protects the marina from the south-easterly wind (Scirocco), whose gusts are the only ones which could otherwise disturb it. The site is so sheltered that the temperature is pleasantly mild also in full winter.

The fishing village of Corricella grew around a center formed by the church of Our Lady of Grace, whose dome is readily visible from all parts of the Marina and is the essential element of the whole urban landscape. While evidence exists the church was already established in its present location by the beginning of the 16th century, the prominent dome was the last part of the building to be added (during the last hundred years, but closely following the original shapes of the underlying complex) because of the opposition by the owners of the palace in front of the church, since it would had covered the view from their balconies.  [ More...]