Sun, Scenery, Art, History & Food all Wrapped into One Great Sailing Destination
Between the Gulf of Naples and the southern limits of the Cilento Coast lie three distinct sailing destinations, all within the province of Campania. Each of these destinations can be explored on a week-long charter, though to fully experience everything this region has to offer, you’ll need more time. The attractions and pleasures of this part of Italy are truly abundant, especially when approached from the sea.
Most visitors to the region arrive in Naples, eager to explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum beneath the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. With a couple of extra days added to your charter, this is easily achievable, whether you embark from a base within the Gulf, such as Castellammare di Stabia, or from Salerno further outside.
With its mild climate, breathtaking coastal beauty, rich art and history, and a deep love for food, Campania is an incredibly captivating area to explore. All these elements come together to create an unforgettable sailing itinerary. Charter boat vacationers are often left spellbound by the magnificence of this region, with endless options to discover its charms from the comfort of your own yacht.
I would not choose to see the Amalfi Coast any other way than from the sea - especially during the busy season. The scenery was truly breathtaking, and the number of people travelling to and from and around the major towns was remarkable. We chose to seek out the quieter spots for anchoring, and they certainly exist, allowing for public beach access via our tender to visit and explore at a more leisurely pace.
David, Australia, September 2024
Sailing South Italy's Campania Region: So Much to Do, So Little Time
A yacht charter from or through Naples offers the added bonus of a short on-shore break in one of Europe's most famous cities. When it's time to set sail, you can depart from the major charter base at Marina Sud Cantieri, just 25 km from the heart of Naples, or from Castellammare di Stabia, closer to Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
Once you're sailing in the Gulf of Naples, the main attractions are the nearby islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. All are breathtakingly beautiful, though they can get crowded during peak season. For a break from the crowds, explore some lovely, quieter spots along the mainland coast. Capri, located opposite the Sorrentine Peninsula and the cliff-top town of Sorrento, is upscale and always bustling, serving as the marine gateway to the stunning Amalfi Coast.
The Amalfi Coast is world-renowned for its unique landscapes. Winding roads through rocky terrain offer tantalizing views of small villages and secluded bays, all overlooking crystal-clear blue seas. Lush Mediterranean flora colors the surrounding hills, both natural and cultivated.
From the sea, the Amalfi Coast offers a completely different perspective, one that is truly awe-inspiring. Sail the pristine waters of the Punta Campanella Marine Reserve, find a quiet cove to anchor in, and visit the famous towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello.
South of Salerno lies the Cilento Coast, a less-traveled but equally captivating destination. Charterers who explore this coast are often completely enchanted by it. The first port of call is usually the medieval town of Agropoli, with other popular stops including Acciaroli, Palinuro, and Marina Camerata.
The serene nature of the Cilento Coast makes it an ideal location for a two-week charter—more time to relax and truly enjoy the beauty of this coastal Italian playground. Sail as far as Isola di Dino and back, taking in everything this stunning region has to offer. Along the way, you'll find small but welcoming marinas for overnight stays, provisioning, and land excursions.
There's even more to discover if you have the time! North-west of the Gulf of Naples are the Pontine Islands, known for their peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. Unlike the more touristy islands, these islands offer a sense of solitude. Explore the waters around Ventotene, the virtually uninhabited Palmarola, and the main island of Ponza. From Ponza, it’s only 40 nautical miles north to Nettuno, a gateway to Rome and an excellent starting or ending point for an extended charter.
Western and southern Italy undoubtedly offer some of the best sailing vacation experiences in the Mediterranean, with unforgettable landscapes, history, and adventure.
What a fantastic trip we had! Two weeks is way better than one, plenty of time to relax and enjoy what the Cilento coast had to offer. We went as far as Isola di Dino, just south of Maratia.
The marinas tend to be pretty small, so not a lot of space, but at this time of year we could get in everywhere we wanted. Marina prices for the Cat ranged from E200 per night, to E125. Marina di Camerota has a free tourist wharf for 48hrs.
There is a lot of national park along the Cilento coast, with marine reserves. You can’t anchor in them, but they provide mooring buoys for use. All in all a great trip, and one that I would recommend.
Nigel, New Zealand, October 2024
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Italy
Rating: 5 / 5Well, back home now, but what a fantastic trip we had! Two weeks is way better than one, plenty of time to relax and enjoy what the Cilento coast had to offer. We went as far as Isola di Dino, just south of Maratia.
Everisto from Star Sail was most helpful in giving us the heads-up on the best spots to go, and even booked a restaurant at Marina di Camerota for us for my wife’s birthday! In my opinion way better than the Amalfi coast, fewer people, and fewer tourists. There are many beautiful bays and grottos with clear, clear deep-blue water.
The marinas tend to be pretty small, so not a lot of space, but at this time of year we could get in everywhere we wanted. (Marina) prices for the Cat ranged from E200 per night, to E125. Marina di Camerota has a free tourist wharf for 48hrs.
There is a lot of national park along the coast, with marine reserves. You can’t anchor in them, but they provide mooring buoys for use. All in all a great trip, and one that I would recommend.
October 2024 Nigel, New Zealand, Oct 11th, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5The boat was in excellent condition - only a couple of years old. All equipment and facilities worked faultlessly.
I would not choose to see the Amalfi Coast any other way than from the sea - especially during the busy season. The scenery was truly breathtaking, and the number of people travelling to and from and around the major towns was remarkable.
We chose to seek out the quieter spots for anchoring, and they certainly exist, allowing for public beach access via our tender to visit and explore at a more leisurely pace.
For the most part everything just seemed to line up as planned. With a long lead time to our holiday communications sometimes fell a bit quiet - but that's because there was not much to say. The wheels all turned, the boat was ready and waiting and lived up to our expectations. Nothing was overlooked, and our trip ran very well indeed. David, Australia, Sep 22nd, 2024
Rating: 4 / 5The boat was as expected for a 2018 catamaran. The only issue was with one of the two toilets.
Amazing place with so many anchorage options. A great 2 weeks with nature and small villages. We loved it!
(Your servise was) Perfect as usual! I can't wait for us to work again together for another destination. Your advices and reliability are priceless :) Thanks again to Sue and Robert! Eric, Canada, Aug 20th, 2024
We had a great time in the Aeolian Islands, and I highly recommend them as a destination. The beauty is that the islands each have a different character and are close to each other. The longest ‘passage’ is about 10 miles, and some are a lot shorter. Two of the largest islands, Vulcano and Lipari, are only 800m apart, but very different!
The marinas are well located and were reasonably priced (€70-100 per night) and at Panarea there are only moorings but for €70 you also get a 24/7 water taxi service which was perfect. We found mid / late July to be superb.
David, New Zealand, Aug 16th, 2019
Rating: 5 / 5We found the boat to be nicely designed and very comfortable. The sails were near new and a treat to sail with. The highlight destination was Capri where because of unsettled weather we stayed in the marina. We found a brilliant restaurant in Ana-Capri and enjoyed strolling the narrow streets. San Michelle villa was delightful. Service was 10/10. Mario at the marina went out of his way to help us with ideas advice and making sure we wanted for nothing. Peter, New Zealand, Oct 24th, 2018
Rating: 5 / 5The cat performed well with everything working as expected. The only issue was batteries not lasting a night and having to run an engine both in the morning and again in the late afternoon when sailing and not motoring. Sails were easy enough to hoist and the electronics worked well.
Lipari was a great spot to stop with a nice town to explore. But the nicest island I found was Panarea. Less tourists with very friendly locals. James, Australia, Jul 22nd, 2018
Rating: 4 / 5The Aeolian islands are a beautiful part of the world with many highlights. The standout was watching Stromboli erupt at night from nearby offshore. Sail Connections service was as always excellent. Russell, Australia, Jul 16th, 2018
Just a quick note to say we had a fabulous holiday and fantastic charter. The boat was perfect and the skipper Salvo and hostess Lucia were excellent could not fault anything. Salvo took us to some amazing places, always had our comfort and safety in mind, and was a lovely guy, Lucia was an amazing cook we ended up having most of our meals on board she was so good, also great company and very friendly and helpful. Everyone at North Sardinia Sail were also helpful and very friendly. Tony, Australia, Aug 31st, 2016
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