Portofino, so unique

For decades, yacht charterers have adored the tiny port of Portofino in Italy. Portofino was once a charming fishing village on the rugged East coast of Italy.

Its popularity as a quaint and colorful town has now made it a famous port of call for luxury yachts, sailboats, and charter boats. Portofino is a tiny town of cobble-stone streets, framed by hills of silvery, ancient olive groves. From the top of the hill, the views of the harbor and coastline are breathtaking. Cafes, boutique shops, and “gelateria” spill out into the harbor piazza. The portside cafes are a great place to sit and watch the glamorous yachting world go by. Very characteristic is the mountain of Portofino that goes down to the sea crowning the rocky spur of Punta Chiappa and the wonderful San Fruttuoso bay, guardian of the well-known “Cristo degli Abissi”.

Cinque Terre
A succession of five coastal villages, all with the same spectacular views of the seas. These villages are less expensive and sophisticated than their more popular sister, Portofino. There is a stunning and famous walk along this coastal route, linking the five towns, called “Via dell’Amore”. Cinque Terre is five miles of rocks, hundreds of kilometers of nature, crystal clear sea, viticulture, thousands of linear kilometers of dry-stone walls (without any cementing agent), and an extensive network of paths. These are the coordinates of Cinque Terre (literal translations: Five Lands), referred to the five small villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, and Manarola.

Monterosso
The Cinque Terre is just behind the typical terrace the viticulture lands. The main attractions are the beautiful beaches and seaside, with its rocks on the deepwater of the sea. The village is made by an ancient part and a modern one, divided by a medieval tower. Founded in the 11th century, Vernazza developed through the century a strong marine tradition. From Vernazza there is a
nice path that leads to Monterosso, leaving the center and going toward the cemetery. The path is a bit hard in the first part, with a long downhill at the end towards Monterosso. Extremely nice is the nature you go through walking along the path that surrounds Vernazza, with its spices and flowers.
Riomaggiore was founded in the 8th century by some Greeks who escaped from the persecution of Leone II. In 1276 Riomaggiore went under the domain of Genova. The village grows around the river Riomaior and has a medieval structure with houses and towers developed more in high than weight.

Onboard your yacht and with our chefs, you will enjoy the “fruits” that the territory offers: flavored olive oils, famous Ligurian wines, fresh fish that your cook will purchase each morning on the “pescherie” (sea-food shops) close to the ports and excellent “focaccia” (the typical Ligurian bread stuffed with all kind of ingredients like cheese, vegetables, meat, etc…).

This stretch of coastline is scenic and spectacular. The Italian coastline can make an enchanting charter yacht location. Yacht charters for the Ligurian coast, generally start in San Remo or Genova, perhaps even further back up the French Riviera. From this northern point in Italy, it’s easy to follow the coastline down toward Elba, Tuscany’s stunning National Park Island. Further south is Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome and her splendid architectural and historical gems.