Yachting from Portofino to Cinque Terre
A yacht holiday in Portofino is the perfect occasion to enjoy the discreet fashion of a chic and exclusive destination. Portofino’s cinematographically Mediterranean harbor has stolen the heart of many a celebrity, including Rex Harrison, Elizabeth Taylor and innumerable artists. Guy de Maupassant called the town an “arc of the moon enveloped around a calm basin”.
Our recommended luxury yacht tour leaves from Portofino to Cinque Terre, sailing on the trail of the best atmospheres of this strip of Ligurian Riviera.
Yachting in Portofino
The famous harbor lies in the heart of a natural promontory formed by the Bay of Portofino’s inlet and reaches the town’s small piazza. Dock your yacht at the Marina and dine at Da Puny, Condè Nast Traveller’s top rated culinary spot in town. Located in Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, the restaurant menu includes an ample choice of appetizers, fresh fish, and the excellent lasagna al pesto corto, classic pesto with a touch of tomato.
Go on a luxury shopping spree before returning to your yacht. Sail to the tiny bay of San Fruttuosio to visit the Benedictine abbey, once a property of the Doria family and recently restored by FAI, the Italian National Trust.
Once in San Fruttosio, one of the best diving spots of the Mediterranean , admire the bronze statue of the Christ of the Abyss that the famous scuba diver Duilio Marcante placed in the waters opposite the Abbey in 1954. Every year at the end of August a blessing of the waters takes place. Scuba divers lead a torch procession and lay a laurel crown on the statue. The event is followed by a Mass that celebrates the lives of those who died at sea.
Sail back to Portofino on your yacht and enjoy dinner at one of the town’s many great restaurants (including Taverna del Marinaio, Trattoria dei Pescatori, and La Cucina di Nonna Tina), or at the exclusive Hotel Splendido where you will spend the night before leaving the promontory of Portofino towards Cinque Terre.
Yachting in Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is a unique destination of spellbinding bays and peninsulas, cast like gems between Punta di Cavo Montenero and Punta Mesco. Its five main towns resting on old terracings, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola e Riomaggiore, boast a magical atmosphere. Fans of diving especially enjoy the three protected marine areas of Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre that feature the impressive underwater paths of Panettone, Via dell’Amore, and Franata di Corniglia.
Lovers of trekking can choose among the many trails unfolding along the coast and in the interior going:
– from Riomaggiore to Monterosso
– from Biassa to Riomaggiore
– from Monterosso to Santuario di Soviore
– from Riccò del Golfo to Vernazza
– from La Foce to Riomaggiore
Cinque Terre also hosts a number of cultural events such as Sagra dei Limoni , Torneo delle Noci, and the fireworks of 14 August.
Sail to Portofino and Cinque Terre for a wonderful weekend on your luxury yacht and enjoy the elegance, nature, and delicious gastronomy of Liguria.
Categories
