Sorrento has a long history of tourism inspired by the poet Byron who stopped off here on his ‘Grand Tour’. With its luxuriously elegant hotels, sweet-smelling lemon groves, and cliffs that plunge down to beautiful beaches, its popularity is no surprise. The town is also the gateway to the island of Capri and Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the perfect place to cruise with a Sorrento holiday charter. Before you set sail from the Marina Grande, take a ‘passeggiata’ or stroll through the town’s cobbled streets and admire the grandeur of the Basilica di Sant’Antonino. Set sail on a holiday yacht charter from here to enjoy a different perspective of the landscape with its isolated beaches and cliffs that spectacularly change color throughout the day. And, from a yacht, those isolated beaches are within your reach. Well away from the summer crowds.
Set sail and head across the Gulf of Naples to the island of Capri.
Your marina nestles at the bottom of a majestic cliff dotted with bougainvillea-clad villas and restaurants. This island is the haunt of celebrities and perfect for people-watching over a coffee or limoncello. Take the chairlift up Monte Solaro for panoramic views or explore the Art Deco Villa Lysis before swimming in warm blue waters and snorkeling in the famous Blue Grotto. Then, dine on freshly caught fish and seafood by the waterside.
From Capri, the Amalfi Coast is a leisurely sail away.
This coastline is so typically Mediterranean that it’s a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along its length, forest-covered mountains plunge into the sea. In between are impossibly pretty towns that nestle where rivers end. Quaint and petite now, it’s hard to imagine that Amalfi was once a maritime superpower. Its Arabic-Norman cathedral is a remaining testament to this. If that is too grand, pop into the Paper Museum or simply spend an hour or two wandering the streets of this photogenic town.
Positano really is home to the jet-set, a reality reflected in the chic stores, wisteria-covered restaurants, and superyachts. This doesn’t detract from the sheer glory of the pastel-colored houses climbing the cliffs above the beach and harbor. Despite its celebrity reputation, Positano is truly Italian with families escaping the heat of Milan to enjoy gelato by the sea or browsing for a new wardrobe in the boutiques. Fashion has a long history in Positano, ‘Moda Positano’ saw its birth here in the 1960s and the town was the first in Italy to see bikinis on the beach!
