With Christmas fast approaching, now is the time to start planning your yacht charter in Italy! Spend the festive season with your family cruising some of the world’s most spectacular coastlines and enjoying time in some of the most stunning locales. Italy offers some of the Mediterranean’s best cruising grounds, including the famed Amalfi Coast, the island of Sardinia, and along the Adriatic Sea.
Here are three top destinations to consider exploring during a family Christmas yacht charter in Italy.
Yacht charter in Italy
Amalfi Coast yacht charter
The bold, colourful lights along Amalfi’s Tyrrhenian coast will draw you into this Christmas wonderland. Lights not only reflect off the water, but illuminate the many small villages starting in November. The most stunning display of festive lights, however, is in Salerno, where local artists create a new theme every year. Live concerts are held most evenings at venues along this famed coast, and even the Emerald Grotto near Amalfi displays the spirit of Christmas with its underwater nativity scene.
Grab a warm sweater or shawl and head to Ravello’s charming Villa Cimbrone Gardens, perched on a cliff for grand panoramic views. Despite the chill, seasonal flowers and plants abound.
There are so many side trips to consider as well – to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius, for instance. Wine tastings, of course, are always on the menu of things to do during a yacht charter in Italy, as well as shopping at the classiest stores along the coast.
The best Christmas decorations are said to be seen in Sorrento, with its giant tree with a music and light show in the main Piazza Tasso.
And do not miss the most spectacular fireworks display on Christmas Eve, culminating with the “descent of the holy star” from the rooftop terrace of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary. The shooting stars and colours seemingly rain from the sky before the final dramatic moment.
If you’re planning to stay through New Year’s on your Amalfi coast yacht charter, get ready to party the night away at Spiaggia Grande beach in Positano.
Sardinia yacht charter
Italy’s second-largest island after Sicily, Sardinia offers more than 5,000 years of history, and its Emerald Coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea is said to rival the French Riviera.
Emerald green waters and white sand beaches are the hallmarks of Porto Cervo, nicknamed the “capital” of the Emerald Coast. The magnificent marina welcomes superyachts, and for a day trip onshore, you’ll be delighted by the designer shops and fine restaurants. Enjoy an espresso at one of the cafes in the charming town’s piazza, or play a round of golf at the world-famous Pevero Golf Club, known for its panoramic views.
Regardless of your destination along the coast of Sardinia, you’ll find great opportunities everywhere, whether snorkelling and diving, exploring a stunning stalactite sea cavern – Neptune’s Grotto – on the northwest side of the island on the Mediterranean, or wine-tasting at Vigne Surrau in the northern Gallura region – the only Sardinian DOCG.
Finally, Christmas in Sardinia is the perfect time for your yacht charter in Italy, as families gather for traditional meals and visit the local markets and historical churches. Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve.
And if it’s a white Christmas you’re wishing for, you’re in for a treat! It often snows in Barbagia in the mountainous region of central Sardinia in winter, and there are even several ski resorts, making it ideal for a heli-skiing adventure.
Venice yacht charter
Venice, as you might expect, is at its most dazzling, magical, and inviting during the Christmas season. The air of the Adriatic Sea is crisp, but not too cold, the crowds are gone, and the city is lit up for the holidays.
A visit to Venice is ideal for a family Christmas yacht charter in Italy. Take a leisurely Vaporetto ride around the Grand Canal; enjoy fine dining at any number of elegant restaurants; climb to the top of the Campanile bell tower for the best panoramic view; shop the Christmas markets, such as Natale in Laguna at Campo Santo Stefano; take the family to the skating rink at Campo San Polo; and take part in Hanukkah celebrations with food and dancing in Ghetto Square.
Do stay through New Year’s Eve, when spectacular fireworks light up the sky, and music and Bellini toasts usher in 2022. And for the brave and the daring, join in the traditional New Year’s Day “polar bear plunge” at Lido Beach.
The holiday season is just around the corner, so schedule your family Christmas yacht charter in Italy soon!
