10-Night Southern Italy Explorer — Naples to Maratea
Route Overview
The Route
Day 1 — Naples: Embarkation
Board at Mergellina marina. A welcome dinner on board, with Vesuvius visible from the aft deck as dusk falls over the bay.
Day 2 — Capri
The mandatory first stop — anchor at Marina Grande and explore by foot and tender. Blue Grotto in the morning, Anacapri and Villa San Michele in the afternoon, dinner at Il Riccio.
Day 3 — Positano & Praiano
Sail along the cliff face of the Sorrento Peninsula to Positano. After lunch ashore, continue to the quieter anchorage at Praiano — a fraction of the crowds, a fish restaurant carved into the cliff, and a beautiful bay all to yourself.
Day 4 — Amalfi & Atrani
Berth at Amalfi for a morning exploring the cathedral and the town. Walk east along the coastal path to Atrani — a tiny, almost entirely intact medieval village that most tourists miss entirely. Lunch in the square, then continue by sea to Cetara for the finest tuna anchovies in Italy.
Day 5 — Paestum & Agropoli
Sail south past Salerno to anchor off Agropoli — a charming town with a Norman castle on a headland above the bay. A short drive to the UNESCO-listed Greek temples at Paestum, among the best-preserved in the world, followed by a buffalo mozzarella lunch at a nearby farm.
Day 6 — Scario & Gulf of Policastro
Continue south into the Gulf of Policastro — an almost entirely undiscovered stretch of Italian coastline, with dramatic cliffs, sea caves and a handful of tiny fishing villages. Anchor at Scario or Sapri for a peaceful evening.
Day 7 — Maratea
Maratea is one of the great secrets of southern Italy — a beautiful hillside town overlooked by a giant Christ statue (second only to Rio de Janeiro's), with the extraordinary coastline of Basilicata below. Anchor in the Cala del Porto or at Fiumicello beach.
Day 8 — Tropea (Calabria)
Continue south around the toe of Italy to Tropea — a town built on a sandstone cliff above a perfect white beach. The medieval old town, the Cathedral and the view of the Aeolian Islands on the horizon are the highlights. Excellent local red onions, bergamot and 'nduja to buy at the market.
Day 9 — Capo Vaticano & Pizzo
A scenic cruise along the Calabrian coast to Pizzo — famous for its tartufo ice cream and the unique church of Piedigrotta, carved by hand into a seaside cave. A peaceful anchorage for a final night aboard.
Day 10 — Return North
A morning cruise north before disembarking at Salerno or returning to Naples. Transfers to Naples Capodichino Airport available.
Day 11 — Disembarkation
Final breakfast aboard before guests depart south through Calabria or north to Naples.