10 Italy destinations to see before you die

1) Italy / Alghero – Old Seaside Resort with Catalan Charm

Not many Yacht Charter holidaymakers that come here every year to enjoy the beautiful weather, the even more beautiful beaches and the lovely food know that Alghero used to be known as little Barcelona in the past.

This idyllic town on the western coast of Sardinia enjoys a lot of popularity among Yacht Charter circles for its distinct Catalan character, due to the influence of Pedro IV of Aragon who took over in the 14th century and then proceeded to colonize it with Spanish people. Today, it’s known as a busy an important port on this side of the Mediterranean.

2) Italy / Cagliari – Enjoy the Magnificent View From the Castello

Safely tucked away in a natural bay in the southern tip of the island of Sardinia, the port of Cagliari also happens to be the capital city of this region of Italy. To Yacht Charter enthusiasts who come here to spend a few days in the sun the name Cagliari doesn’t mean anything, but to the locals Casteddu (Sardinian) means “the castle”.

Apart from being the main entry point into Sardinia, the old town of Cagliari is also a vibrant cultural and economic hub set in a very picturesque region of Sardinia which is known for the numerous sunny days which earned it the nickname “The City of Sun” from the Yacht Charter community.

3) Italy / Cannigione – the Heart of the Luxurious Costa Smeralda

The northeastern corner of Sardinia seems to be packed full of small resorts that are just emerging as Yacht Charter destinations. Apart from Olbia and La Maddalena, Cannigione is another diamond in the rough close to the famous Costa Smeralda.

The town itself is located just off the west shore of the gulf of Arzachena by a natural bay which makes it perfect for Yacht Charter sailors arriving here by boat. Originally, the town started out as a fishing village but the natural setting didn’t go unnoticed for too long and now bigger and bigger groups of Yacht Charter visitors arrive here each year.

4) Italy / Carloforte – The Beating Heart of Saint Peter’s Island

Starting its life as a fishing town on the island of San Pietro just south of Sardinia, Carloforte was founded by 30 families of coral fishermen who gave the name after (Carloforte – Charles’ Fort) after the King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia who granted them permission to settle here. Today it’s famous among the Yacht Charter community for its beaches, remote location and history.

The main activities these days are Yacht Charter tourism and some fishing, though the tuna fisheries are now a thing of the past and the former processing plant is now a museum. There is also a strong a strong tradition of wooden boatbuilding with lots of local craftsmen producing fishing or sailing boats that can be seen in the harbor.

5) Italy / Castiglioncello - “La Perla” of the Tyrrhenian Sea

Few people can imagine the sheer beauty of this former Etruscan village that has blossomed through the years into an elite Yacht Charter destination for the well-to-do and the famous. Dating back to the days of the Roman Empire, Castiglioncello is one of the best kept secrets of the Italian west coast.

So why do Yacht Charter adventurers choose this small town set out on a promontory on the Costa Fiorita, hidden behind the Livorno hills in Tuscany? Is it the pinewoods that cover most of the country side, right down to the rocky beaches? Is it the Tuscan countryside and its old world charm? Or is it the large amount of history embedded in the rocks that form the very foundation of the city? The answer lies in the town itself which is greater than the sum of all its parts.

6) Italy San Vincenzo - Tuscany's Best Harbor

Another cozy little town on the Tuscany coast in western Italy, San Vincenzo is located between Piombino and Livorno. Actually, the town is located in the Province of Livorno, about 130km southwest of Florence. It’s widely known among the Yacht Charter community its location on the Italian Tuscan shore and the numerous attractions in the area (including the island of Elba, Corsica and Sardinia) does offer a lot of potential.

The area where the city can be found is nicknamed “The Coast of the Etruscans” after the first people that settled and inhabited this part of the country and the Italian Yacht Charter boatmen regard it as one of the best equipped resorts for nautical sports and sailing in Tuscany.

7) Italy / Salina Island - The Garden of the Aeolians

One of the Aeolian Islands, Salina is located north of Sicily, in southern Italy and apart from being the second largest of its groups, it’s known to locals and Yacht Charter aficionados as the Garden of the Aeolian Islands due to its large green spaces.

However, the island of Salina won’t show up on any major Yacht Charter travel routes due to its remote location, its lack of sandy beaches and tourist facilities. But the island still manages somehow to attract visitors to its rocky shores. A testament to the beauty of Salina is the fact that the famous movie Il Postino was shot here.

8) Italy / Venice - The City on the Water

Venice’s name is synonymous with a romantic holiday and it’s so popular in fact that annually, there are more tourists staying here than there are residents. Still, more than just a pretty town by the Italian Adriatic Sea, Venice is a famous Yacht Charter destination that draws millions each year to the shores of the lagoon it sits on and that has remained unchained for some 600 years.

Venice has managed to maintain its Renaissance look, though in later decades the overall architecture has decayed. The Yacht Charter tourist might also be interested in the 118 islands out to sea that make up the various district of Venice.

9) Italy / Trieste – The Mediterranean Border Town

This city has benefitted from its geographic position in northeastern Italy, near the Slovenian border and expanded as a port on the Gulf of Trieste opening up to the Adriatic Sea. Despite the fact that it changed hands throughout the ages, being disputed by many nations, the port has always been prosperous and under the Habsburg rule even enjoyed popularity as a cultural center.

Today, it has lost some of the cultural feel but retained its architecture and, aided by the local setting, has managed to become a harbor for all Yacht Charter sailors coming from neighboring countries but also as far as Germany or the Scandinavian peninsula.

10) Italy / Palermo – Island Capital with Two Characters

Palermo is not only the biggest and most important city in Sicily, it’s also the capital of the autonomous region that bears the same name and has been a key location in this part of Italy and the Mediterranean for 2700 years, ever since it was first founded. For Yacht Charter sailors traveling to these waters it’s a must-see.

The name comes from the ancient Greeks which named it Panormus, something that translates into “all-port”. Even today, on the north shores of Sicily, you’ll find that the port still plays a crucial role in the development of the whole region, not just for Yacht Charter holidaymakers.

If you afford, I suggest you to charter a yacht in Italy and enjoy all these destinations, but make sure you have at least one full day for each destination.

Happy traveling!