Three must-do boat itineraries between Liguria, Tuscany and Sardinia

We have chosen for you three dream itineraries along the coasts of Liguria, Tuscany and Sardinia.

1. Liguria: Cinque Terre and Palmaria

The Cinque Terre, five inimitable villages erected sheer above the sea, and Palmaria Island facing Portovenere, are the beauties of eastern Liguria not to be missed for those seeking a vacation among nature, history and art.

A dive into the nature and history of the Levant

They are called Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore and are the five ancient fishing villages that give their name to the area located halfway between Genoa and La Spezia. While only two of these, that of Monterosso (44°08′ 57N – 09°38′ 65E) and that of Vernazza (44°08′ 11N – 09°40′ 01E) are ports that have moorings available to boaters, countless are the possible landings in this area so beautiful that it is protected by a nature reserve (on the parconazionale5terre.it website info on rules and limitations).

The first landing place not to be missed is the one located near Monterosso and known as Porto di Levante (44°08′ 52N – 09°39′ 63E): it is a small jetty that juts out from the coast and against which a large quadrangular tower is conspicuous. Another fascinating anchorage is the one located near Manarola (44°60′ 00N – 09°43′ 50E): north of the small village, in front of the steep Punta Buonfiglio, you can in fact give bottom in front of the cliff.

Instead, those who want to discover typical local cuisine will find Fuori Rotta (0187 920838) in Riomaggiore, where they can also eat in a panoramic location. A few miles of sea in a southeasterly direction then lead to another village nestled on the Ligurian coast: it is Portovenere, a unique and monumental town that has the distinction of having been erected on a promontory that is the extreme offshoot of the Gulf of La Spezia.

Just in front of it are three small islands, the largest and most fascinating of which is Palmaria (44°02′ 00N – 09°51′ 20E): not to be missed is Cala del Pozzale, the most beautiful inlet on the island, which is reached on the west side. Finally, the other two islands of Tino and Tinetto are really tiny: they host only wild vegetation and small beaches, although on Tino one can admire the ruins of the ancient Abbey of San Venerio.

2. Tuscany: Argentario and Giglio Island

A mountainous promontory jutting into the Tyrrhenian Sea, Argentario composes, along with nearby Giglio Island, a pair of beautiful seaside destinations that combine high cliffs, bays and stunning beaches with historic villages worth visiting.

Two “islands” facing each other on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

A territory with a peculiar morphology, Argentario is a promontory with a diameter – given its circular shape – of about 30 km. Along its fascinating circumnavigation, there are many coves, some reachable only by sea, that dot its coastline. At either end then are the beaches of Feniglia and Giannella, which are also the natural sandy isthmuses that close Orbetello Lagoon to the north and south. Among Argentario’s many landings, the first one not to be missed is Cala Piccola (42°25′ 00N – 11°07′ 00E), a sandy bay located 2 miles south of Punta Cala Grande, which also has a beautiful beach.

Equally fascinating is Isola Rossa Bay (42°22′ 39N – 11°07′ 49E): it is located on the southern coast and includes several smaller sandy coves. Finally, a few hundred meters south of Porto Ercole is the rocky Isolotto, north of which one drops anchor for a special swim. Before leaving Argentario to make the 8 miles of sea that separate it from Giglio Island, one cannot fail to visit the two ancient and charming villages of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole and the bay of the latter dominated by the mighty Spanish Fortress. After a short sail in the Tyrrhenian Sea here is a glimpse of the delightful shores of Giglio Island, so called because in spring it transforms into a green oasis covered just by the white flowers.

Mountainous and wild, it is the second largest in the Tuscan Archipelago and is home to three villages: Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello and Giglio Campese. While the first two have medieval origins the third nascecol tourism due to the presence of the eponymous Campese Bay (42°22′ 18N – 10°52′ 79E), which also encloses a beautiful beach. Another anchorage worth visiting is Cala delle Caldane (42°20′ 37N – 10°55′ 20E): small and wild, it is enclosed by a charming little beach.

3. Sardinia: Emerald Coast and Gallura

Ancient and modern, sacred and profane, tranquility and nightlife. Gallura and Costa Smeralda together are this total oxymoron that captivates, especially those who want to discover these regions of northern Sardinia by sailboat.

Between magical coves and rocks that look like sculptures

A tourist destination with an international reputation, the Emerald Coast shows visitors only the best-known side of this corner of Sardinia. To discover everything but everything about this area then you need to organize a cruise that stretches from the 55 km of the splendid coastline located between Poltu Quatu and Cala Razza di Juncu, to the very close Gallura. Whose coastline stretches from Palau to Santa Teresa di Gallura among bays almost as beautiful as the “emerald” ones, but whose hinterland is home to ancient jewels such as the village of San Pantaleo or the nuraghi surrounding the town of Arzachena. But we start from the sea and in Costa Smeralda from one of the bays really not to be missed, that of Cala di Volpe, (41°04′ 89N – 09°32′ 38E): endowed with beautiful turquoise waters it is enclosed by a magnificent beach.

Then also magnificent is the inlet of Golfo Pevero (41°07′ 2N – 09°32′ 8E) located just south of Porto Cervo. Continuing towards Santa Teresa here then is where we meet the spectacular and well-sheltered Cala dei Mucchi Bianchi (41°07′ 74N – 09°27′ 93E): we are already in the Gulf of Arzachena and the cove is protected by the grandiose massif of Capo Tre Monti. Near Palau, on the other hand, here is Porto Puddu (41°11′ 5N – 09°19′ 7E), another fascinating, well sheltered inlet, characterized by its narrow mouth. A few more miles of sailing and you reach the spectacular Capo Testa: an extraordinary granite promontory, it was carved out by the Romans (for the Pantheon) and the Pisans (for the Duomo), its rocks have been shaped over the centuries by water and wind until they take on their present surreal shapes, a true spectacle of nature. Just a couple of kilometers before the cape here is the village of Santa Teresa di Gallura: in its center where the ancient Tower of Longosardo stands out, you can try true Gallurese cuisine at Trattoria Barabattula (tel. 333.8973251).

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