You You may or may not have heard of Procida, a tiny island off the coast of Naples, but you'll almost certainly have seen pictures of it. The 17th-century fishing village Marina Corricella appears on the cover of countless Italy guidebooks, impossibly picturesque with its candy-coloured houses and narrow streets. It's also the backdrop for Anthony Minghella's 1999 adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley, where Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow's stylish escapades reignited a love for all things La Dolce Vita.

The vision of Procida Minghella must have seen when he chose the location for Dickie Greenleaf's charmed existence has hardly changed. Dayboats still come in and out, bringing fresh catch to waterside trattorias, and fishermen still sit on street corners smoking and drinking coffee.

The rest of the island, though less iconic, bites deeper with its rich tapestry of lemon groves and crumbling hamlets, giving way to tastefully designed hotels and gelaterias. Covering just five square kilometres, Procida is easy to explore by foot in a single day. That said, the real magic comes after the boatloads of visitors have returned to the mainland and the sun begins to set over the Bay of Naples.

Beyond the picture-postcard images of this tiny island lies a beating cultural heart; one which has earned Procida the title of Italy's Capital of Culture for 2022. The victory was announced by Italian Minister for Culture Dario Franceschini, who paid tribute to the theme of La Cultura Non Isola - "Culture Doesn't Isolate." The proposal that won Procida the honour, and €1 million from the Italian government, includes 44 creative projects, 240 local artists and 8 renovated cultural spaces over the course of the year. Ahead of the action, we share with you some of the best places to soak up that balmy southern Italian lifestyle.