Chartering a Yacht in Portofino and the Italian Riviera
Italian Riviera (Liguria) Yacht Charter Destinations
About the Italian Riviera | Getting There | Climate | History of Liguria | Portofino | Camogli | San Rocco | Cinque Terre | Lavagna | Ligurian Cuisine | Our Charter Yachts | See it on Video!
About The Italian Riviera
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The pretty port town of Camogli
Camogli at sunset
The nearly hidden entry to Portofino
Portofino Town and Port
Villas around Portofino
The San Fruttuoso Monastery
Riomaggiore - the Cinque Terre
Vernazza - the Cinque Terre
A taste of Ligurian Cuisine |
The Italian Riviera exudes all the best of Italy- old world charm, picture perfect port towns dotting the mountainous Mediterranean coast, Italian cuisine, a friendly relaxed pace and numerous hideaways perfect for getting away from it all.
Less developed than the French Riviera, many feel the Ligurian Coast/Italian Riviera is as good or even better a charter destination than its more famous neighbor. It's hard to argue with this after visiting town after town painted with the traditional orange and red facades, with an attractive church steeple above the town, on a steep hilllside with mountains behind, and a bustling fishing port at your feet.
Liguria Stretches from the French Border, through the large and historic port of Genoa (Genova), and down the villa dotted hilly coast past the famous towns of Portofino, Camogli, San Rocco and the Cinque Terre.
Getting There
The main city/airport for the Italian Riviera is in Genoa, where you can easily start your charter, heading South East. Many charterers, however, start in Monaco or other ports of the French Riviera.
Climate and Weather
Liguria has a mild, delightful Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures range from 9°C/48°F in January to 23°C/73°F in the summer. There is very little rainfall in the summer, making it ideal for holidays and charters. The weather normally remains nice through October, becoming much more unsettled through the winter. The warmth and calm returns in the spring, when it is often delightful to visit the area before the hordes of tourists.
About Portofino
Hidden in a tiny creek, out of sight and almost inaccessible, is an ancient fishing village that has become an international symbol of the Italian Riviera`s style and class. Portofino has always been the resort of choice for chic Italian families, who return year after year.
Portofino`s stunning town square and harbour, surrounded by brightly painted houses, have made Portofino the world's most photographed port. It is rustic yet elegant, provincial yet cosmopolitan, relaxed yet bustling. Stunning villas of the rich and famous are visible all along the hilly coast, with views to the rocky shores of the Ligurian Sea. And during high season, many of the world's most expensive yachts will be anchored just outside the port.
Away from the bustle of the village, the Portofino Natural Park offers relaxing walks with excellent views. The hike to the church above town is a great way to see the sights and build up your appetite. Underwater, the protected reef offers red coral reefs, steep cliffs and ancient ship wrecks.
About Camogli
One of the most pleasant surprises on the Italian Riviera is the small fishing village of Camogli, just a few minutes past Genoa in the way to Portofino.
Camogli (pronounced kuh-moh'-lee) is directly on the sea with two parts - the beach and the fishing harbor - which are separated by a beautiful monastery on a rocky outcropping. The town is perfect for strolling, having a leisurly lunch, or skipping stones into the sea (the beach is pebbles, but don't let that deter you, it's still fun!)
Camogli may not be as internationally famous as Portofino, it is a perfect Italian resort town in many ways, and very much worth a visit in you Italian Riviera itinerary!
About San Rocco
Perched on a steep and pristine cliff just past Camogli, is the spectacular town of San Rocco. It's a small town, but offers extraordinary views of the Italian Riviera, all the way to Monaco, and back to the snow capped Alps.
Visitors often hike from Camogli, then take in a nice lunch or drink overseeing the beautiful coast. A sunset drink in the small bar just past the town on the only path is as good as it gets. We also recommend the Trattoria San Rocco da Mirin restaurant for a great fish or pasta dinner overlooking the town.
About the Cinque Terre
The famous Cinque Terre are 5 villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) set along eighteen kilometers/five miles of sheer rocky coastline beneath steep terraced hills and vineyards. Five little villages are built into the rocks between the beach and the hills, and are famous for their vineyards and local wines. They are so hard to reach that they are almost perfectly preserved - amazing towns to behold.
The attractions of the Cinque Terre are simply marvelling about the terraced hills, sipping a local wine at an impossibly quaint restaurant, and hiking the scenic paths if you're looking for exercise.
Lavagna is a pretty fishing town comparable in beauty to the celebrated Portofino. Offering a long 4km stretch of impeccable beach known as the Cavi di Lavagna the town exhibits a typically Ligurian structure with small, quiet streets, charming shops and plenty of historically intriguing spots.
Lavagna hosts plenty of celebrations in particular recreations of neo-medieval style, the most interesting being the ‘Torta dei Fieschi’. This festival commemorates the wedding that happened in 1230 between Count Opizzo Fieschi and Bianca de Bianchi between 13th to 15th August and an enormous cake, made by the finest Lavanga pastry cooks following the original recipe, is paraded through the streets reuniting the six medieval quarters of Lavagna before being distributed to the people in the crowd!
Ligurian Cuisine
Liguria is nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean sea, which provides a natural and superb combination of fish and fresh grown products such as olives, basil, nuts and mushrooms . Food in the Italian Riviera is simple and unpretentious, healthy, and meant to be consumed continually and without guilt.
Ligurian specialities include Focaccia bread ( flat, salty chewy bread), and Farinata (a thin loaf of chick-pea flour) available in countless bakeries throughout all the towns. This is also the land of Basil, served mixed with pastas of all types. Liguria offers delicate wines and a variety of olive oils and other products.
Vegatable fillings both for fresh pasta and for cakes include "torta pasqualina" or "Cima di Vitello alla Genovese" (rolled beef stuffed with a mix of vegetables and cheese).
With its many fishing ports, Ligurian cuisine also has strong seafood base, with fish like anchovy, white bream, sea bass and many others cooked simply with olive oil, capers and other simple seasonings.
Of course, being Italy, Pizzarias and Pasta houses are everywhere, serving a good combination of seafood, vegetarian, and meat based offerings.
History of Liguria
Like all strategic ports lining the Mediterranean, Liguria has been in the hands of countless hands throughout its history. The strategic port of Genoa both made it a center for immigration as well as a desired territory throughout the ages.
Originally a collection of fishing ports along the Mediterranen the region has been in the hands of the Romans, Barbarians, then the Lombards, Normans and Saracens. Napoleon conquered the region in 1796. Bonaparte's invasion saw the end of the republic of Genoa which had ruled the region and the seas since the thirteenth century.
Following the fall of Napoleon, Liguria was absorbed into the Kingdom of Savoy and Sardinia, one of the many kingdoms and principalities that were to form the unified Italy. That came with the victory of Garibaldi and his army in 1861, when the Duchy of Genoa became the Italian region of Liguria.
Our Charter Yachts
Liguria truly is one of the world's best charter destinations. Boatbookings.com knows the region and boats, and can find you the ideal charter yacht, be it bareboat, crewed, sail, motor or catamaran.. Click here to see our Italian Riviera Charter Yachts or simply contact us and we'll recommend the best boat for you.
Other Destinations: the French Riviera | Sicily | Amalfi Coast | Naples | Tuscany | Sardinia
Photos courtesy of Boatbookings.com Staff (tough job, but someone's got to do it)
