Italy is home to some of the most popular tourist destinations, from Lake Como to romantic Rome and picturesque Tuscany. But there is a hidden side to Italy that travel guides don’t reveal. This side is particularly interesting for sailing aficionados on the hunt for new adventures. Click&Boat has gone the extra mile to help you discover the real Italy.
The Aegadian Islands, three Sicilian pearls
Just a stone’s throw from Trapani on the west coast of Sicily, the Aegadian Islands have escaped mass tourism. Home to one of Europe’s best preserved marine reserves, these islands offer sailing fans plenty of bays and coves to explore. The islands also boast many hiking paths and trails, all with a whiff of the traditional dolce vita.
Favignana
You can hire a boat from Trapani in Sicily and sail to Favignana, the biggest Aegadian island. It’s also known as La Farfalla among locals due to its butterfly shape. Dock your boat in the port of Favignana, a picturesque fishing village with a long history. This history is ever present through gracious buildings such as Palazzo Florio and Fort of Santa Caterina. The island is famous for its delicious local tuna. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit a trattoria to try a local speciality, such as bottarga (dried tuna roe). The island’s stunning beaches include Cala Rossa, Cala Azzurra and Cala Rotonda. Each a little paradise with crystal clear waters, ideal to enjoy the Mediterranean sun in the summer. For something more adventurous, explore the island’s remote grottos, particularly Grotta Azzurra (the blue cave), Grotta dei Sospiri (the cave of sighs, due to the sigh-like sound produced when the wind hit the cave’s rock), and Grotta degli Innamorati, or Lovers’s Cave.
Levanzo
Your next stop could be Levanzo, the smallest of the islands. Archaeology fans will appreciate the Palaeolithic cave paintings in “Grotta del Genovese”, depicting pictures from everyday life, including tuna fishing. Levazzo also happens to be a hiker’s paradise with its hilly landscape, particularly the peak of Pizzo dei Monaco.
Marettimo
If you want to sail the extra mile, there is also Marettimo. It’s both the most remote of the Aegadian islands, and the most rewarding in terms of sailing delights. Its rugged cliffs and hilly interiors, will blow your mind with their natural beauty.
Tremiti Islands, rugged and beautiful
A few miles from the ‘spur’ of the Italian boot, the Tremiti islands are a perfect sailing destination in late summer or early autumn. Isolated from the hustle and bustle of Italy’s eastern coast, they offer a combination of natural beauty and serene ambience that characterises the country’s South. The islands are part of the Gargano National Park, which also includes the Mount Gargano promontory.
San Domino
Sail from Bari, Vieste or Garganico to reach Isola San Domino, the largest of the islands. This Mediterranean gem of hidden Italy lends itself to a one-day boating trip; we recommend the circumnavigation of the island to explore its remote caves: Viole, Sole and Bue Marino. The beaches won’t disappoint you either, especially Cala delle Arene and Cala Matana.
San Nicola
Just a few hundred meters from San Domino is the island of San Nicola. Home to some of Southern Italy’s most beautiful coves, you can start your trip from Acquedotto, a rocky beach. Then head to the Punta del Cimitero on the northern tip of the island to admire its steep cliffs. On the eastern part of the island, you can explore the mystical Grotta del Ferraio. And La Muratta, an ancient promontory hanging from the cliffs, reminisces of the times when the isolated island attracted pirates.
Isola Caprera
For the last leg of your trip you can visit Isola Caprera on the north of San Domino. The island is uninhabited most of the year. However, it’s home to a gorgeous lighthouse and a small beach, Cala dei Turchi.
Note that there is no sheltered harbour to dock at night on the Tremiti islands. The only anchorage is Porto San Nicola on the southwest of the island. Sailing in these waters can also be treacherous. Shoals and reefs abound, while the depth of the water can be less than 2 metres. But that’s perhaps part of the allure of this unique place, a monument to the beauty of hidden Italy.
