• September 11, 2021

Yacht charter in Italy: enjoy the world famous lifestyle on your yacht charter

The beauty of Italy is legendary and one city is more attractive than the other. The country has an immensely rich culture and history, beautiful cuisine, and the lifestyle and elegance of all famous people. For the guest of yacht charter, it offers vast and varied sailing areas, as well as beautiful ports. This, combined with all the breathtaking views, stunning nature, and Italian “dolce vita” make for a perfect boat vacation.

Why is yacht charter so popular in Italy?

Italy and its islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea lie right in the middle of the Mediterranean. Renting a boat in Italy is a great opportunity to explore the incredible Italian culture and the multitude of beautiful cities. With 51, there are more UNESCO world heritage sites in Italy than in any other country in the world. And on top of that, you can enjoy great food and great shopping.

The coast, especially the Italian Riviera in the west, offers many beaches and bays perfectly suitable for anchoring. The islands of Italy are located mainly off the west coast of the continent and all have their own individual character. A favorable climate and almost no tides provide good sailing conditions and there are many interesting possibilities for different sailing routes. Italy has a great tradition in shipbuilding and navigation, which is why boaters benefit from a high frequency of ports. The infrastructure in the charter regions north and south to Rome is very good.

The main airports are Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Olbia, Alghero, Cagliari, Reggio Calabria, Palermo, Trapani and Catania.

Here is general information about yacht charter in Italy:

Location: Central Mediterranean Sea

Total length of the coast: 7,600 km

Capital of Rome

Main rental bases: Genoa, La Spezia, Piombino, Follonica, Castiglione della Pescaia, Salerno, Sorrento, Tropea, Reggio Calabria. Sardinia: Cagliari, Carloforte, Olbia, Alghero. Sicily: Trapani, Palermo, Portarosa.

Population: ca. 60,675,000

Climate: Mild, Mediterranean

Country code: +39

Charter season: May to October

What are the best areas to rent in Italy?

The main charter regions for sailing in Italy are concentrated on the west coast of the continent, that is, Liguria, Tuscany, Elba, Bay of Naples, Capri, Sardinia and Sicily. The Adriatic coast on the east side is not so attractive for sailing. Possible rental bases are Polignano a Mare, near Bari, the area around the Gargano national park, and the Venetian Lagoon, where you can navigate directly through the world famous old town and its impressive buildings.

In the capital of Liguria, Genoa, you will find the Porto Antico which contains the largest aquarium in Europe and many other places of interest. From there it is a short walk to the old town. After approximately 14 NM you reach the impressive port city of Portofino in its sheltered bay. From here it is approximately 30 NM to La Spezia and on the way you will pass one of the most picturesque tourist destinations in Italy, a group of five picturesque and colorful seaside towns located in a national park called Cinque Terre. La Spezia is part of the national park and is the second largest city in Liguria. It is conveniently located in a deep gulf surrounded by high hills.

A little further south is the Tuscan archipelago that contains the islands of Gorgona, Capraia, Pianosa, Montechristo, Giglio, Gianutri and the largest and best known: Elba. There are very good rental bases in mainland Tuscany to explore these islands, or maybe even Corsica. They are Viareggio, Piombino, Follonica and Castiglione della Pescaia / Punta Ala. On Elba, the main town and port is Portoferraio on the north coast, which is well worth a visit. The island also offers beautiful large bays and great anchorages. At the southern tip of Tuscany is Puerto San Stefano, a coastal town on a peninsula with a yacht harbor and a massive fortress.

Sardinia offers a great combination of cruise ship areas and exclusive ports such as the Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo, as well as unspoiled shipping territories such as the famous Maddalena archipelago. There are very good ports such as Cagliari, Cannigione, La Maddalena, Olbia, Palau and Portisco. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery such as the pink beach of Spiaggia Rosa and the gulf of Cannigione, which looks like a fjord.

The Bay of Naples and its islands, the Amalfi Coast and the Pontine Islands archipelago offer more brilliant options for yacht charter itineraries. The Amalfi Coast lies between the charter bases of Sorrento and Salerno. It is a 50 km stretch of coastline with very picturesque villages set on steep rocky cliffs. The cities of Amalfi and Positano are just two examples.

From the mainland you can head to the islands of the Gulf of Naples. Exclusive Capri is where the international jet set meets. The main city and the port with its high-end boutiques and first-class restaurants are located on the north side. However, it is very busy and expensive. You will find a good anchorage on the south side of Marina Piccola. There are no sandy beaches on Capri, its coastline is quite rugged and picturesque. The water is deep so there aren’t too many safe anchorages.

Then there is picturesque and colorful Procida with many beautiful bays and beaches and the Vivara Island nature reserve, which is linked to Procida via a bridge.

You can sail to the popular and busy Ischia, which is the largest island in the Gulf of Naples. It is an extinct volcano with a rich landscape, hot springs, large bays, and secluded beaches. The three main ports are the port of Ischia, Casamicciola and Forio. The south of the island is greener and wilder with a beautiful coastline and the north is more populated.

Finally head to the Pontine Islands. From Ischia to Santo Stefano, uninhabited and unspoiled, there are about 22 nautical miles. There you are only allowed to anchor in the north of the island. Visit the neighboring island Ventotene and then cross the next 22 NM to the Northwest Pontine Islands, Gavi, Palmarola, Zannone and charming Ponza with its many caves and grottos. There you will find well-protected anchorages and an interesting rugged coastline.

Sicily, of course, is very popular for yacht holidays. Choose from the main charter bases such as Marsala or Portorosa in the north, from where you can also explore the Aeolian islands Lipari, Stromboli, Vulcano, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea and Salina. Other possible ports for your Italian bareboat charter are Messina, Taormina, Catania and Syracuse on the east coast. Reggio Calabria on the mainland is also a very good starting point for chartering a sailboat in Sicily.

What weather systems are important for your bareboat charter in Italy?

In Italian waters there are no major tides. The prevailing winds in summer are from the northwest. The afternoon sea breezes generally moderate the heat. Long, dry and hot summers create the perfect weather for sailing.

A brief summary of the sailing time in Italy with the example of Naples:

Months with the highest average temperature: July / August, 25 °

Months with the lowest average temperature: January / February, 9 °

Prevailing wind speeds: 3 – 5 Bft.

Month with the highest average rainfall: November, 140 mm

Months with lowest average precipitation: June / July / August, 30 mm each

Months with the highest average sunshine: July / August, 10 hours a day

Month with the lowest average sunshine: December, 3 hours a day

Months with the highest average sea temperature: July / August, 26 °

Months with the lowest average sea temperature: February / March, 14 °

How much does yacht charter cost in Italy and what types of charter are there?

The average price of renting a yacht in Italy is around € 3,100 per week, but you can rent a 10m sailboat, for example, from around € 1,600. The price depends on the size, model and equipment of the rental boat. In Italy it is quite common to rent a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) for an excursion on the water. For a weekly or longer sailing holiday, you can opt for bareboat or skippered yacht charter and choose between sailing yacht charter or motorboat charter respectively catamaran charter. Then there is the luxury yacht charter, usually with a full crew taking care of your individual needs. Flotilla vacations are a popular way to navigate Italian waters. And a day charter can be a way to test whether you enjoy life on board.

What other highlights are there in Italy besides sailing yacht charter?

Do not miss a visit to Rome and its incredible ancient places such as the Forum, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Other incredibly impressive tourist destinations in the Eternal City are the Vatican and St. Peter’s Church. Sit on the Spanish Steps, admire the Trevi Fountain and soak up the beauty of Piazza Navona and in the pedestrian zone with its endless shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. This city offers so much that you will simply have to come back again and again.

Tuscany is the perfect place for sightseeing. Florence is second to none in the world when it comes to Renaissance art and architecture. There is the statue of David, the great Uffizi museum, the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and much, much more. Pisa and the leaning tower are another fantastic attraction. Equally beautiful and worth visiting are Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca.

If you have a day before or after your sailing charter, head a little further inland to Bologna, with its beautiful old town that is pleasant to gaze at from the top of the church tower. It has the oldest academic institution in the world, dating back to 1088 AD

Explore Cinque Terre, five stunning villages perched on steep seaside hills surrounded by wonderful nature. Manarola, for example, is a very beautiful and colorful city.

Between charter trips, check out Pompeii near Naples. It was destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79 and is now a “city frozen in time.”

Visit the city of Amalfi and its cathedral, the old shipyards and the paper factory, among others.

Drop anchor in Capri and visit the Blue Grotto – the large cave is filled with spectacular blue light from below.

Go up to Castello d`Ischia, an Aragonese castle built in 1438 and originally dating from 475 BC. C.

While sailing with the charter yacht through the Aeolian Islands or eastern Sicily, admire the active volcanoes of Stromboli and Mount Etna.

Finally, take a break from sailing to enjoy the stunning scenery in one of Sardinia’s natural parks such as the Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu.

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