Capri Island, Tyrrhenian Sea
- 40°33’02″N 14°14’33″E
- distance from PortoMirabello: 300M
Colored by a long history of splendor and suffering, the Amalfi Coast has changed little since the Roman emperors made it their headquarters in the first century AD.
A place where terraces of lemon trees are chiseled into the mountainsides, too steep to sustain the rhythm of modern tourism, but thanks to its topography it has maintained intact its idyllic features.
Famous for its “cinematographic” scenery and its culinary specialties, the islands of Capri and Ischia are the best places visited by luxury yachts, while the important inland towns of Amalfi, Positano, and the ancient city of Pompeii offer cultural treasures of incalculable value, all worth discovering.
The magic of this small Mediterranean island can be understood only by actually visiting it, when the last rays of the sun paint the sea stacks with indescribable copper tones.
The sea, visible from every part of the island, blends into the blue sky along the horizon. Other sensory experiences include the villa gardens and green tree-lined paths, the magical blue of the world’s most famous cavern, the white and pastels of the Capri homes, the aroma of lemon trees and other island essences, the tastes and aromas of Neapolitan cuisine, and the sounds of the wind blowing through natural cove arches and sea stacks. All unique sensations of a unique island.
Marina Grande is the first point of landing in Capri, where the larger vessels and hydrofoils from the mainland dock. It is located in the island’s northern bay, right in front of the Gulf of Naples, and it is also a seaside resort with a wide beach. The houses lining the port maintain the typical structures built by fishermen of old, with a lower level reserved exclusively for boats, because in the past the houses practically brushed the surface of the water, another fact that surprises tourists.
The most captivating dock, however, is Marina Piccola, on the southern end of the island, featuring a beach with a view of the sea stacks, protected by a steep rocky cliff. For this reason it is always hot with very little breeze.
While it is a small island, Capri offers much to do and visit, its narrow streets branching out of the Piazzetta lined with exclusive boutiques, and many artisan shops that are just as enticing. Also worth visiting are the artistic masterpieces, including 12 churches, seven museums, and various monuments, not to mention the natural wonders that are recognized worldwide.
Panarea Island, Aeolian Islands, Tyrrhenian Sea
- 38°38’15″N 15°4’3.58″E
- distance from PortoMirabello: 420M
Panarea is the second island of the Aeolians, and it features the most interesting geological formations in the Mediterranean, charming coves and breathtaking landscapes produced over the course of millions of years. The volcanoes here are dormant, unlike the nearby Stromboli, but there are still some hot geothermal springs near the village of Punta di Peppe e Maria. There are only 300 inhabitants on the island, but with the arrival of the warm season the number increases, filling the island with fashionable visitors on the lookout for excellent restaurants and spectacular views.
And even if Panarea is off the beaten track, it is full of life even at night. With its luxurious and exclusive atmosphere, it seems like a location reserved just for owners of superyachts.
Zimasi (also known as Milazzese Bay), provides a pleasant, safe mooring in Mediterranean. Wonderful, crystalline water with incredible sea floors, magnificent scenery made of volcanic rocks – it is truly a paradise for lovers of scuba diving.
Ponza Island, Pontine Islands, Tyrrhenian Sea
- 40°54’00″N 12°57’26″E
- distance from PortoMirabello: 270M
Ponza: Natural pools, cliffs, mule tracks, and small fishing towns that make the location extremely attractive. It boasts one of the cleanest seas in Italy, with Technicolor sea bottoms that entertain divers arriving from all over Europe. An evening rite of islanders is a walk along the half-moon Bourbon port, ancient and evocative with its pastel-colored houses.
The most important island is Ponza, only eight square kilometers, filled with rocky and sandy beaches, natural arches, sea stacks, uncontaminated water, romantic coves for mooring, and a magnificent landscape filled with rocks and hills. In fact, the island of Ponza has dozens of beaches and coves, the most famous including the sandy, bright beach at Chiaia di Luna; the beach at Lucia Rosa, loved for its sunsets; the Fèola cove bay with its natural pools; and the beach at Frontone, where many go in their small boats for cocktails.
And then there’s the town with its narrow streets, artisan shops, and many locales where tourists love to spend their evenings. Magnificent houses with barrel-vault roofs and simple facades painted in pastel colors watch over the port.
Positano, Amalfi Coast, Tyrrhenian Sea
- 40°37’41″N 14°29’03″E
- distance from PortoMirabello: 330M
Since the 1950s, VIP tourists have frequented this fishing village on the Amalfi coast, transforming it into one of the in places to visit along the Mediterranean. Of course the best views of Positano are from the yachts anchored in the bay below. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching the lights come on in the village as the sun sets.
Whether you dine in an award-winning restaurant or a small trattoria on the coast, don’t miss the local specialties like spaghetti with clams, prepared with extra virgin olive oil and fresh parsley, or anchovies marinated in mint, garlic, and vinegar, or classic impepata with mussels. And don’t miss the traditional desserts like Bavarian cream with cream and wild strawberries.
If you’re looking for a place far from the crowds don’t forget to visit the nearby Li Galli archipelago consisting of just three islands, a protected oasis offering spectacular scenery for all lovers of scuba diving.
If your goal is a cruise along some of the most captivating coastlines in the world, Porto Mirabello is the right starting point to reach the best yacht anchorages in Italy: from the north to the south of the Mediterranenan Sea.