As your luxury charter yacht draws near the plunging
cliffs and glistening beaches of Corsica, there are several chic
seaside towns worth exploring. Corsica combines the best of Italy
and France with stylish resorts and dramatic mountain ranges.
The mountains of Corsica are ideal for hiking; the most famous and
challenging is the legendary GR20 trail that cuts through the high
central mountain peaks, often snow covered until June. Visit a
local shop to sample the mouth watering assortment of cheeses and
charcuteries found almost everywhere on the island. Try something
different and uniquely regional such as the cannelloni al brocciu
(a pasta dish) and fiadone (a type of cheesecake); both of which
use the island cheese brocciu.
Circumnavigate around Corsica's 1000km of shoreline on board a
superb megayacht and discover picturesque seaport towns like
Ajaccio, dramatic plunging cliffs at Golfe de Porto and sparkling
beaches and bays at Calvi. At the southern tip, Bonifacio, with its
serrated limestone cliffs and cliff-top citadel, is the departure
point for your luxury charter to head to Sardinia,
Italy, and an entirely different world.
Ajaccio is the island’s capital and is most famous for being the
birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Visitors will be immersed in the
city’s unique historical palaces and buildings, winding Genoese
alleys and fascinating museums. Take a stroll to Place Foch, a
beautiful oblong square shaded by palm trees and surrounded by
charming restaurants. Sample local delicacies and do a bit of
people watching. Or return after dinner on board your deluxe
yacht to enjoy the summer evening in Ajaccio, when the
bars invade the walkways and bands play everywhere, and everyone
dances in the streets.
Dockage is readily available for charter vessels at the
Bonifacio marina. From the deck of yourcharter
yacht, marvel at the medieval style houses on the edges of the
limestone cliffs. Throughout the island guests can view the
spectacular wine vineyards; grape cultivation of Corsica dates back
over 3,000 years.
Propriano lies at the head of the Valinco Gulf and is now one of
the most popular resorts in Corsica, due to the numerous beautiful
beaches that are close by including the Plage de Lido, just 1 km
from the town. The crew can navigate your elegant sailing
yacht from beach to beach, for swimming, snorkeling,
sunbathing or playing in the sand. The coast north of the town is
very built up and the renowned village of Campomoro is nearby, with
its fine beach and lovely setting, it is always a very popular
place with visitors to this region of Corsica.
Bonifacio is separated from Sardinia by the picturesque Strait of
Bonifacio that encompasses a marine park and a nature reserve and
makes for a fascinating day of sailing aboard a luxury charter
yacht. Bonifacio has the best and only harbor on the
southern coast of Corsica and due to its strategic position on the
Bay of Bonifacio has a remarkable past that includes two
prehistoric sites, the earliest has been carbon dated to 6570
BC.
The town's charm and proximity to idyllic beaches make it a popular
tourist destination in the summer, with many vacationers arriving
from mainland France. Bonifaccio is a town of immense charm and a
wonderful destination to embark on a yacht charter or
to incorporate as a stop on an itinerary. There are plenty of shops
to visit and the regional cuisine is worth sampling if you venture
to any of the colorful local bars and restaurants.
Porto-Vecchio is a popular seaside resort town overlooking a lovely
harbor that is ideal for docking all types of charter yachts from
head turning
sailing superyachts to high performance
power yachts. Originally built on salt marshes, salt continues
to play an important role in the town and if you visit in September
you can still witness the annual salt harvest from the Porte
Gènoise.
Porto Vecchio is renowned for beautiful beaches and coastline just
south of the town. The town boasts an attractive and busy marina
with cafes and restaurants overlooking the harbor. The old town
next to the Place de la Republique has some lovely ancient
buildings pressing in on narrow streets.
During the summer evenings especially, the streets of the old town
come to life with music and entertainment and many Italians come to
enjoy their holidays here.
Porto-Vecchio makes a fine base for exploring this part of Corsica
on board a
luxury catamaran. Palombaggia is a beach internationally
renowned for its beauty. The mountainous landscape behind
Porto-Vecchio has breathtaking scenery to explore, with craggy
mountain tops, parasol pine woods and sparkling mountain lakes.
Bastia is the principal port of the island and its principal
commercial town, especially famous for its wines. There are three
sections of particular interest to visitors: the old town, the
citadel, and the old harbor.
The old town has an alluring charm defined by narrow streets and
alleys lined with tall, crumbling buildings, dating largely from
the 18th century and the old port that contrasts dramatically with
the
spectacular yachts moored in the harbor. Imagine that Victor
Hugo lived here as a child. The walk to the citadel passes by the
gardens and once posh houses of the Terra Nova district. Within the
citadel of interest are the grand Governor's Palace, the church of
Sainte-Marie de l'Assomption and the Oratoire-Sainte-Croix.
The old harbor has many bars and restaurants and a vibrant
nightlife. For a quieter evening, the promenading along the front
and the Quai des Martyrs de la Liberation provide beautiful views
of the harbor.
To the north of Bastia is Cap Corse, an interesting peninsula to
explore with small fishing villages attractively set against a
backdrop of mountains that run along the middle of the peninsula.
Many of the villages are in remarkable craggy and picturesque
settings, and there are several splendid viewpoints as around the
peninsula, and also a few good beaches en route.
L'Ile-Rousse has a planned layout of straight streets, lined with
expensive boutiques and restaurants, and exudes sophistication. The
town is in a splendid setting, with popular Plage de Rindara beach
to the south and scenic rocky islands to the north. The
architecture here largely dates from the late 18th and early 19th
centuries. Disembark from your elegant power catamaran
and enjoy a leisurely stroll through this very pleasant town.
The centre of the town is at Place Paoli, where a pleasant covered
market offers interesting local fare and cooling shade under the
palm trees. Central to both old and new towns, the old town, with
its paved streets and old houses will be of most interest to
visitors.
Stimulating and relaxing, upscale and artisan, ancient and high
tech, vibrant and pristine, Sardinia is an island of complimentary
contradictions. A luxury charter to enchanting ports
of call on Sardinia and the surrounding islands is a unique and
unforgettable journey. The stunning coastline will lure your
luxury sailing yacht through crystalline seas to a
pink and golden shore.
Meld into this summer destination of billionaires, super models,
celebrities and royalty, who relish being a part of the glamorous
scene. Seaside resort towns, such as Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo,
are lined with shops from the famous Italian houses of Gucci,
Armani, Prada, Bulgari and Dolce & Gabbana. Evenings are spent
sipping champagne at the posh Costa Smeralda Yacht Club or the
exclusive Billionaires Club, prestigious establishments patronized
by an assortment of jetsetters from around the world.
Charter guests can board their elegant charter yacht
to easily escape the glitz and glitterati by sailing to one of many
deserted beaches and pristine bays, or a marine park teaming with
life or a nature preserves of breathtaking beauty. Set the course
of your deluxe sailing yacht to explore the Neptune
Caves in the north of Capo Caccia, or Bosa, a medieval town of
architectural and cultural interest. Make time for a scenic drive
through Sardinia’s interior, with snow capped mountain peaks,
fragrant citrus valleys, and sweeping pasturelands.
Porto Cervo is a point of embarkation, or a must-experience port of
call, for luxury yacht charters in Sardinia. This
modern resort was fashioned to fit the vision of the jet-setting
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who, bewitched by the translucent green
waters of the island’s northeast region, purchased miles of coastal
land from the locals, hired top international architects and
designers, and created a medieval-Moorish style village.
The village is in the Old Port, Porto Vecchio, on the southeastern
side of the harbor, and the Porto Cervo Spa, with its outstanding
charter yacht amenities, is on the northern side of
the harbor. Explore the narrow streets of the Piazzetta, with
designer boutiques, contemporary galleries, upscale restaurants,
champagne bars and trendy nightclubs. Visit Stella Maris, a
beautiful little white church containing a painting that is thought
by many experts to be an El Greco.
The prince's dream development also includes a world-class golf
facility, private villas and extravagant resort hotels, such as the
Hotel Cala di Volpe. Featured in the 1977 James Bond film, "The Spy
Who Loved Me," the hotel offers a Presidential Suite at the rate of
$32,736 per night, which ranks it number 7 of the "World's 15 most
expensive hotel suites" complied by CNN Go in 2012.
With required reservations, charter sailing yachts and
superyachts dock at the exclusive Yacht Club Costa
Smeralda (YCCS), which has superb amenities. The iconic Yacht Club
hosts races and regattas throughout the sailing season, including
the spectacular, biannual, Perini Navi Cup, an event generally
exclusive to owners, but there are Perini Navi charter
yachts that participate. The 2012 Audi Sardinia Cup,
organized by the YCCS in conjunction with the TP52 Class and with
the support of the European Soto40 Class, will be sailed in the
waters of Porto Cervo between the 12th and the 17th June 2012.
A visit on a luxury yacht charter to Porto Cervo
waters is an unforgettable experience. Whether crewing a race,
appreciating the beautiful scenery from the sundeck, or being
lavishly indulgent in town, this premier yachting destination is
not to be missed.
Porto Rotondo, a seaside village a few kilometers from Olbia, is
another one of Italy’s premier yachting centers, a
renowned luxury vacation destination and magnet for high-end
yachting aficionados. Similar to the flourishing of
Porto Cevo, it too was launched in the 1960s. Prominent architect,
Luigi Vietti and his team of developers, constructed
world-class marinas, resorts, boutiques and amenities
targeting the well heeled holidaymaker. Porto Rotondo has a
chic nautical ambience with a sophisticated, upscale atmosphere
that is slightly less frenetic and a bit more intimate than Porto
Cervo, with first rate facilities, spectacular beaches and
unforgettable cruising grounds.
Noteworthy architects have contributed to the design and buildings
of the village of Porto Rotondo, including artist Andrea
Cascella, responsible for the controversial Church of St.
Lorenzo (patron saint of cooks), which resembles an overturned
hull. Inside, 200 remarkable wooden statues representing
sacred scenes are aglow in votive candlelight. There is also a
stately amphitheater built entirely of granite that offers lively
summertime concerts and cultural events.
Olbia is the main connection between Sardinia and the Italian
peninsula, and the most convenient airport for embarking on a
luxury yacht charter from Porto Cervo. Olbia has a
very ancient history and archeological findings suggest that the
port was possibly founded by the Punics, The city and environs
contain ruins dating from Phoenician and Carthaginian settlements
to the Roman Era and the Middle Ages. History buffs should hop on
the tender of their charter yacht for a shore
excursion to visit the National Archeological Museum.
Sailing yacht charters