The Gulf of Naples & Amalfi Coast

Sun, Scenery, Art, History & Food; Wrapped into One Great Sailing Destination 

The Gulf of Naples lies in the Campania Region of southwestern Italy at latitude 40º north. The city of Naples is watched over by Vesuvius, in the shadow of which the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum mark the once-thriving Roman towns destroyed by the mountain's eruption in 79 A.D.

The mild climate, the spectacular coastal beauty, the rich art and history and the love for food make Campania the fascinating territory that it is: all combining to create a magical sailing holiday itinerary. Charter boat vacationers are left quite simply spellbound by the magnificence of this part of Italy, where there are  host of options for exploring the famous region from the comfort of your own yacht.

Sailing South Italy's Campania Region: So Much to Do, So Little Time

A yacht charter out of Naples provides the added bonus of  a short on-shore break in one of Europe's most famous cities. Then when it comes time to cast off, set sail from the major charter base of Marina Sud Cantieri, which is just 25km from the heart of Napoli. 

A few miles from the coast lay the breathtakingly beautiful islands of Capri and Ischia. Capri is situated in the south of the Gulf, opposite the Sorrentine peninsula and the cliff-top town of Sorrento. Up-market and always busy, Capri is the marine gateway to the stunning Amalfi Coast.

The Amalfi Coast is renowned throughout the world for the unique beauty of its landscapes. Twisting roads winding through the rocky terrain reveal tantalising glimpses of small villages and secluded bays that all look out over a clear blue sea. Lush green Mediterranean flora both natural and cultivated colours the slopes of the surrounding hills.

From seaward the Amalfi Coast takes on a completely different perspective, one that leaves a lasting sense of wonder. Sail the pristine waters of the the Punta Campanella Marine Reserve, find a quiet cove to stop a while, and visit the famous towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello.

A charter out of Naples opens up to exploration a lot more than the Gulf and Amalfi Coast. Southwards beyond the city of Salerno is the Cilento Coast, less well-travelled but fascinating in its own right. First port of call on a Cilento Coast cruise is usually the medieval settlement of Agropoli, while other popular local destinations include Acciaroli, Palinuro and Marina Camerata.

North-westward beyond the Gulf of Naples are the Pontine Islands with their own unique character. In comparison to the inshore settlements these are places of peace and tranquility. Explore the waters around Ventotene, virtually uninhabited Palmarola and the main island of Ponza.

From Ponza it is only 40 nautical miles nortwards via Monte Circeo to Nettuno, sailing gateway to Rome and an alternative option for starting or ending your boat charter holiday.

Surely, western and southern Italy delivers some of the very best sailing vacation adventures in the whole of the  beautiful Mediterranean. 

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Our client reviews about charter sailing in Italy

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 / 5
We 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 / 5
The 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 / 5
The 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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