AMALFI COAST & SICILY YACHT CHARTER GUIDE

THE BEAUTY AND TRANQUILITY OF THE AMALFI COASTLINE STEMS FROM A COMBINATION OF OLD-WORLD CHARM AND ITALIANS’ APPRECIATION FOR THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE. LA DOLCE VITA ALL THE WAY

Famed for its vertiginous landscape, gourmet cuisine and picturesque coastline, travelers have long been attracted to the Amalfi Coast’s glorious culture, artistic heritage and vibrant culinary scene. Depending on where you cruise, you can enjoy Michelin-starred restaurants and authentic trattorias. Further south, the volcanic Aeolian Islands and Sicily reveal some of the most dramatic landscapes and fascinating historical sites in the Mediterranean. Spend a few days either end of your Italian itinerary discovering these Mediterranean marvels.

CHARTER EXPERIENCE

As you sail by the Amalfi Coast, marvel over the stunning views before stopping in Positano. Follow in the footsteps of actors, writers and lyricists as you roam the streets lined with local artisan’s shops, and pick up a pair of famous Positano leather sandals.

Amalfi, the town for which the coastline was named, sits at the bottom of a ravine, flanked with bluffs, creating dramatic imagery. In the early 1900s, this city was a popular aristocratic destination and has kept its status since. Fine dining can be found at Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi.

The peaceful town of Ravello is renown for its gardens, historical villas and cathedral. Local artisans in this city abound, making Ravello the perfect place to purchase native wares during an Amalfi Coast yacht charter. The public gardens of Villa Cimbrone are available to visit from 9 a.m. to sunset daily. This stunning villa on a cliff was built in the 11th century and served as a family home, later a monastery. After renovations in the early 1900s by a British baron, the villa was restored to its former glory and has welcomed guests such as Winston Churchill and Greta Garbo. Marvel over the Arabic-inspired cathedral, Piazza Duomo, which was founded in 1086.

Just off the Amalfi coast lies the incandescent isle of Capri. The island is home to the famous Blue Grotto. Named for the shimmering cobalt blue color that is created as the sun shines into the cavern, take a tender ride into the grotto for an afternoon of snorkeling and swimming during your Amalfi Coast yacht charter.

Location Highlights

Shop for local artisan wares in Positano
Take in the scenery from Sentiero Degli Dei Lemon Point
Take in an Amalfi Musical
Swim Capri’s idyllic Blue Grotto
Explore Villa Cimbrone in Ravello

Expert Advice

Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, just the names conjure up the romantic beauty of the Amalfi Coast that has enticed generations of visitors and continues to be a favored destination of jet-setters and honeymooners. The best way to visit these fascinating locales, all within an hour’s cruising of each other, is on your own private yacht. Gaze up at the lemon groves clinging to the terraced cliffs, explore the ancient villages perched on the hillside, discover some of the best cuisines in the Mediterranean and plunge into the glittering blue waters.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1

NAPLES TO ISCHIA (16 NAUTICAL MILES)

Step on board your charter yacht in the lively city of Naples and cruise across the bay to the volcanic island of Ischia. Known as the “Island of Wellbeing,” Ischia has been a Mediterranean holiday destination for aristocrats since Roman times and still attracts a gentile crowd. Experience the island’s thermal springs in their natural, unrefined environment to the south of the island where you can lie in pools of thermal water carved out of rock. Anchor in the bay of Punta Molino for an afternoon of watersports before stepping ashore early evening for a stroll around San’t Angelo.

DAYS 2 & 3

ISCHIA TO CAPRI (16 NAUTICAL MILES)

Cruise to the west of Capri for a choice of secluded anchorages before heading to the main town for an aperitif on the Piazzetta. During the summer the island is a victim of its own charms as visitors arrive in flocks. Thankfully, aboard a superyacht you can enjoy a vast array of watersports around the islands more secluded anchorages. Spend a few days anchored off the glamorous island, stepping ashore to enjoy its many offerings as the crowds depart late in the afternoon.

DAY 4

CAPRI TO SORRENTO (16 NAUTICAL MILES)

Cruise back across the bay to the pretty peninsula of Sorrento. Take a stroll through the Museo Correale di Terranova’s terraced walkways and embrace the views over the Gulf of Naples. Wander around the charming pedestrian lanes, exploring little boutiques and restaurants as you go. Take a detour to the Excelsior Vittoria’s “Bosquet” terrace and bar for a limoncello or dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant. The guestbook boasts many famous names including Sophia Loren and Luciano Pavarotti.

DAY 5

SORRENTO TO POSITANO (17 NAUTICAL MILES

Tender ashore to the dramatically perched town of Positano and discover the pretty cobblestone streets that attract a glamorous, affluent crowd. Cliffside houses tumble down to the sea in a cascade of pastel colors making the town the most picturesque and photogenic along the Amalfi Coast. Take the tender to the Treville Beach Club in Laurito Bay or step ashore and drive the hairpin bends to the Michelin-starred Il San Pietro de Positano.

DAYS 6 & 7

POSITANO TO AMALFI TO PANAREA (120 NAUTICAL MILES)

Another day, another colorful town. Boasting past glories as a maritime state, Amalfi offers a day of cultural exploration. Despite being no larger than neighboring Positano or Ravello, in its heyday Amalfi was a major seaport and the whole coastline was named after it. At the hub of the historic center is the Piazza del Duomo which sits in front of the immense 11^th century St. Andrew’s Cathedral. While away a few hours discovering the cathedral’s Baroque interior before strolling the exclusive boutiques that line the piazza. Overnight to the Aeolian Islands.

DAY 8

STROMBOLI & PANAREA (30 NAUTICAL MILES)

A Mediterranean paradise, the archipelago of seven Aeolian Islands – Stromboli, Panarea, Salina, Lipari, Vulcano, Filicudi and Alicudi – have escaped mass development. Spend the day at anchor off the active volcanic island of Stromboli. The island has many bays and inlets that are perfect for watersports. Cruise on to the stylish island of Panarea and step ashore to the rustic and chic Hotel Raya for an evening of dancing under the stars.

DAYS 9 & 10

PANAREA TO TAORMINA, SICILY (67 NAUTICAL MILES)

Cruise through the Messina Straits to Taormina. Strategically located between Europe and Africa, the island has been a magnet for visitors ancient and modern for millennia, all of whom have left their mark. With an abundance of Greek and Roman architecture and myriad natural wonders, the island has enduring appeal. Spend the next few days overdosing on Sicily’s vibrant lifestyle, natural beauty and Sicilian culture.