Exploring Sardinia and the Amalfi coast

La Maddalena itself is the largest of twenty-three islands scattered amongst Sardinia’s most transparent water. With its sheltered anchorages and sandy beaches, this paradise is irresistible to sailors. Why not spend a relaxing afternoon parading through the picturesque centre for a spot of shopping.

Cala Spalmatore is a natural bay situated in Sardinia on the island of La Maddalena (NE). This natural harbour is widely appreciated for its picturesque location in the Spreader Bay. Located on the Northern part of the island, Cala Spalmatore offers 20 moorings and berths and is a good departure point.

There are few towns that can boast such a dramatic, seemingly precarious position as Bonifacio! Teetering perilously atop an eroding limestone promontory that juts out into the sea, east to west, for around1.5km, it has to be seen to be believed. This jaw-dropping context is not, however, Bonifacio’s only attraction. Panoramically speaking, Bonifacio is extraordinary: 360-degree vistas take in Corsica’s coastline, vast swathes of the Tyrrhenian Sea and, 12km to the south, the neighbouring island of Sardinia.

The unique conformation of this stretch of sea and land lends its name to the location, the protected port. Which having its own stream, was the occasional refuge of pirates of the Mediterranean. As one of the most exclusive marinas in the Emerald Coast, Poltu Qualtu combines luxury and discretion at the same time.

Sardinia’s north-eastern coast is fringed with low cliffs, inlets, and small bays. This has become an upscale vacationland, with glossy resorts just outside the confines of the famed Costa Smeralda. Some of Italy’s most magnificent yachts are anchored in the waters of Porto Cervo. Golf courses, yacht clubs, and numerous alfresco restaurants and bars cater to those who want to see and be seen.

The island is thin and less than two miles long, steep and rocky on one side and sloping towards the sea on the other. Ventotene’s old Roman port is still in use today. It has been altered over the millennia and the rock chambers cut to store Roman goods are now used by fishermen and diving businesses. There isn’t much traffic on Ventotene, and the narrow Via Olivi offers a pleasant stroll along the island. You may catch glimpses of migratory birds, such as hoopoes.

Sitting serenely in the Gulf of Naples, Ischia is an international tourist destination, offering crystal clear waters, unspoiled landscapes and cultural sites. Its rugged coasts are characterized by a succession of headlands, coves and beaches. The island, of volcanic origin, hides in its underground a concentration of thermal springs and a variety of waters that makes Ischia the capital of European spa.

An island that offers a landscape of wild beauty sculpted by wind, sea and the hand of man, this is Capri. With a precipitous, jagged coast, and encircled by the famous faraglioni (sea stacks), enormous and uniquely-shaped boulders, and by numerous caves that tell of evocative plays of light.

The delightful fishing village of Nerano is yet another slice of paradise on the Amalfi Coast, famous for its pristine coastline, pretty historic center, and traditional seafood restaurants. The village is said to have acquired its name after the emperor Tiberius Nerone built a summer residence here.

Italy’s Amalfi Coast boasts a classic Mediterranean landscape, a sensual blend of both natural and cultural wonders. The breath taking terrain includes dramatic coastline topography scattered with terraced vineyards, orchards, and pastures—often with enchanting views of the vibrant waters below.