The Best Italian Destinations by yacht

What are the best destinations for an incredible Italian yacht charter vacation?

As we know, Italy is a nation surrounded by the sea, and this has led to the development of great civilizations along its coasts. Consequently, the destinations that deserve at least one visit are innumerable, and months would not be enough to visit them all.

So how to solve the dilemma of where to go and what to see during your yacht charter in Italy? Those we want to talk about are unquestionably among the best locations to spend a yacht vacation in Italy or, better still, to be used as a starting point for an itinerary to discover this fantastic country.

EXPLORE THE YACHTS FOR CHARTER OPERATING IN ITALY

From north to south, from east to west, we present to you our 6 unmissable destinations from which to start or where to end your next charter boat trip along the Italian coasts!

Portofino

Located in the western part of the Gulf of Tigullio and beneath the promontory of the same name, Portofino is part of a protected marine natural area east of Genoa.

An ancient fishing village of humble origins, Portofino is characterized by a small but unique historic center made up of small colorful houses that alternate with elegant boutiques. This famous tourist resort is one of the main attractions during a yacht charter in the Italian Riviera.

Pastel-colored houses, exclusive boutiques, and restaurants specializing in fish overlook the cobbled Piazzetta, which faces the harbor, where the moored megayachts make a fine show of themselves. A path connects the Piazzetta to Castello Brown, a sixteenth-century fortress with an adjoining museum, where art exhibitions are held, and which offers views of the town and the Ligurian Sea.

Its name, whose etymology dates back to the ancient Romans, who called the village Portus Delphini (due to the presence of numerous dolphins along the coast), is indicative of the type of landscape that develops precisely around the port, overlooking the incredible, crystal-clear waters of the homonymous bay. The entire perimeter of the park is characterized by wild cliffs, small inlets, caves, and solitary beaches, mostly accessible only by sea.

Among the town’s symbolic monuments, the Portofino lighthouse stands out. Active since 1910, at a height of 40 meters above sea level, it still serves as a fundamental guide for sailors. Located on the tip that represents the border between the Gulf of Tigullio and the southern area of ​​the Portofino promontory, it is a place of sightings of cetaceans, including dolphins and occasionally even whales.

Recommended: Yachting in Italian Riviera – Explore the Ocean Waters on the Perfect Vessel!

Capri and Positano

The island of Capri, the flagship of the Gulf of Naples, has always been associated with glamorous and elite tourism, but it actually owes its fortunes to cruise tourism and day trips, as well as to the numerous boaters who make it their destination during the summer months.

Actually, the island of Capri is like an extension of the mountainous and verdant Amalfi peninsula, home to the wonderful Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi, from which it is separated only by a short stretch of sea.

Only about six kilometers long and just over two kilometers wide, the island has only two inhabited centers: Capri, which is located on the water, and Anacapri, which is located at a higher elevation.

In addition to being one of the favorite haunts of celebrities and the paparazzi who follow them, the island is known throughout the world for its landscapes, natural wonders, and its lush vegetation.

Do not miss a visit to the world-famous Blue Grotto and the immense “Faraglioni”, three large rocky pillars located just off the coast of Capri, immersed in the blue sea.

A short distance from Capri is Positano on the mainland. One of the most evocative and popular destinations not only on the Amalfi coast but in all of Italy. This town in the province of Salerno attracts thousands of tourists and visitors to Campania every year, offering cultural attractions, the sea, shopping, and excellent local cuisine.

Thanks to the mild temperatures, the pleasant sea breeze, the beauty of the natural landscape, and the enchanting beaches, the city has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

A holiday resort since Roman times, this magnificent vertical city on the Amalfi coast is traversed far and wide by steep stairways and winding paths.

The numerous and beautiful beaches such as Spiaggia Grande, Fiumicello, Fornillo, La Porta, and San Pietro Laurito are easily reachable on foot as well as from the sea, and are a source of pride not only for Positano but for the entire area of ​​Naples and the Campania coast. . In a day tour in Positano, you cannot miss the Path of the Gods and the Emerald Grotto, two natural beauties that will leave you breathless.

Venice

An incredible city, made up of a set of 118 islands joined by over 400 bridges and separated by canals that act as roads, paths for boats, or, as they are called in place, “gondolas”.

Venice is a fascinating and millenary city, guardian of artistic treasures, churches, palaces, museums, and bridges. It can be safely said that the entire city is a work of art, unique in the world and built over the centuries by history and skilled craftsmen.

Venice contains within it authentic treasures of world artists such as the Grand Canal, the largest of the canals that flow towards the sea. Adorned with numerous bridges, including the most spectacular, the Rialto Bridge.

Piazza San Marco is the heart of Venice, one of the most beautiful places in the world, with the stupendous Basilica, Palazzo Ducale, home of the ancient lord of the city, the “Doge”, the Campanile, from whose top you can enjoy a view panoramic view of the city, the clock tower and much more.

There are an infinite number of works of art kept in the churches or in the many museums scattered among the “calli” (as the streets are called) of Venice, such as the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the largest collection of Venetian paintings from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century.

Venice is also synonymous with Carnival, an evocative event that animates the city with incredible and beautiful masks, the fruit of the wearer’s imagination.

Gallipoli

The town of Gallipoli, known as the Ionian Pearl, is divided into two parts: the oldest or “città vecchia”, located on a small island connected to the more modern area, the “città nuova”, which lies on the promontory behind it. The two parts are connected by a brick bridge.

The ancient walls that protected the island have now been resized in the current panoramic road. The old town is crossed by numerous picturesque alleys overlooked by houses built in tuff, painted with lime, and characterized by flowered balconies.

Gallipoli in recent years has become a very popular tourist destination at an international level thanks to the famous beach parties that attract thousands of party addicts.

The history of the city is very long and complex and passes through various dominations, first Roman and later, Byzantine, Saracen, Norman, and Aragonese.

This rich heritage is reflected in the historical and artistic beauties that can be admired in particular in the narrow streets of the old city, such as the medieval “Angioino” castle, dozens of churches, ancient palaces, and representative monuments.

The Angevin castle, in particular, was built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and stands to protect the breast of the Canneto, the old port of Gallipoli where the fishing boats and fishing boats find shelter.

Just a few miles out of Gallipoli to find authentic natural wonders. The whole coast that runs from Gallipoli southwards and towards the Ionian sea is varied and of great naturalistic value, those in the area are in fact among the most beautiful beaches in southern Italy.

Porto Cervo

In the northeastern part of Sardinia, there is the kingdom of luxury holidays. An exclusive seaside village, an architectural jewel set among the natural beauties of the Costa Smeralda.

The undisputed capital of the Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo is a coastal fraction of the municipality of Arzachena, with a few hundred residents. In the summer it becomes an extraordinary and sparkling parade of yachts, yachts, and celebrities.

The seaside village was built around a natural inlet that resembles a deer (hence the name). The old port dates back to the sixties of the twentieth century, when with a brilliant intuition Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, fascinated by the beauty of the coast, decided to buy the lands of this corner of Gallura and give life to the paradise of elite international tourism. In the Eighties, work began on the construction of the new tourist port, today one of the largest and most equipped in the Mediterranean (700 berths), which for several consecutive years has been awarded the Blue Flag for tourist landings, an award conferred by the Fee (Foundation for Environmental Education) for water quality, services offered and sustainability. The port is home to the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club, a prestigious club that organizes international sailing regattas.

The center of the village is built on a raised level with respect to the port. Starting from the iconic square Porto Cervo is an intrigue of alleys, windows, balconies, and shops and boutiques with prestigious brands. All around the most prestigious restaurants, luxury hotels, the most fashionable clubs, and the center of the coast’s nightlife. The splendid villas climb up to the surrounding hills, immersed in the Mediterranean scrub.

Breathtaking beaches shine within walking distance of the tourist center. The arched expanse of soft white sand of the Grande Pevero plunges into the turquoise, green, and blue reflections of the sea, flanked by granite rocks shaped by time and Mediterranean scrub. Behind it, there are well-kept golf courses that make the location a popular destination for passionate golfers.

Related: 7-Day Boat Itinerary between Corsica and Sardinia from Calvi to Porto Rotondo

Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands are one of the 58 Italian sites included by Unesco in the World Heritage List in the section relating to naturalistic heritage.

The archipelago of the Aeolian Islands consists of seven splendid islands: Lipari, Panarea, Vulcano, Stromboli, Salina, Alicudi, and Filicudi and is characterized by wild and uncontaminated nature, also including two active volcanoes, Stromboli and Vulcano, which are visited every year by tens of thousands of tourists.

Lipari is the largest island: its municipality gathers all the islands except that of Salina.

The Archaeological Museum is interesting, located in the Castle of Lipari, which stands in a large bay on the east coast. Do not miss a boat ride to admire splendid coves, such as that of Fico, and the beaches of Vinci, Valle Muria, Punta Della Castagna, and Capo Rosso.

Panarea, on the other hand, is the smallest and lowest island of the Aeolian Islands (421 meters. Its highest point), but the oldest of all and attracts many tourists for its pristine coasts, underwater eruptive phenomena, and nightlife.

Vulcan, according to Greek mythology, is the home of the god Hephaestus, god of fire and blacksmith.

On the island, it is possible to observe phenomena of volcanic origin: fumaroles, jets of steam both on the crest and submarines, and sulfurous muds with appreciated therapeutic properties.

Stromboli is home to the most active European volcano, with spectacular and frequent eruptions that can also be admired from the Navy Observatory in Punta Labronzo.

With a little luck, you can witness the “Sciara del Fuoco”, the lava flow that descends to the sea.

Recommended: 3 Tasty reasons why you should visit the Aeolian Islands this summer

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