11 January 2012

Discover Sicily on a Magical Mediterranean Yacht Charter

Discover Sicily
Slightly off the beaten track but more than worth the visit on your Italy yacht charter is the stunning island of Sicily. Situated at the toe of mainland Italy, Sicily is the Mediterranean’s largest island separated from the Italian region of Calabria by the Strait of Messina, which at its narrowest measures just three kilometers wide.
The triangular shaped island is hugely popular as a destination for those on a Mediterranean yacht charter and it does not take a genius to see why. The island boasts more than 1,200km of breathtaking coastline, offering plenty of opportunity to sail in and out of picturesque ports before stopping off in a secluded bay for a swim on your Italy yacht charter. The region of Sicily covers more than 25,000 kilometers, much of which is mountainous or even volcanic. Indeed, arguably the most famous destination in inland Sicily is Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, which is well worth a day trip from your Italy yacht charter. Other ports of call recommended during a Mediterranean yacht charter of the Sicilian coastline is the ancient city of Siracusa, on the south-eastern coast. Siracusa was once one of the great cities of the Greek world, on a par with Athens and Rome, and was home to Archimedes, Pindar and Aeschylus.  Its Temple of Apollo is believed to be the oldest Greek temple outside Greece today.
Palermo, from which many of those on an Italian yacht charter choose to depart from, is also a wonderful city to explore, with its teeming markets, exotic palaces and Baroque churches. No visit to the waters around Sicily would be complete without a tour of the Aeolian Islands, which are part of a huge 200km volcanic ridge, stretching from Mount Etna to Naples.  The seven islands of Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Alicudi and Filicudi lie to the north of the eastern coast of Sicily. Here you will find acres of olive groves, fascinating ancient ruins and a number of long, unspoiled black sand beaches. Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, whilst Stromboli is home to another of Sicily’s active volcanoes. Meanwhile the smallest island, Panarea, boasts the wonderfully picturesque port of San Pietro which is thoroughly recommended for any Mediterranean yacht charter.