La Spezia Guide: Luxury Yacht Charter in La Spezia and Cinque Terre

The Gulf of La Spezia – known for over a century as the Golfo dei Poeti, the Gulf of Poets – is where Italy’s Ligurian coast reaches its most dramatic crescendo. Byron swam its waters. Shelley lived above its shores (and died in them, drowning in a storm off Lerici in July 1822). D. H. Lawrence wrote here. The literary attraction was always the same: a deep, sheltered gulf backed by mountains, rimmed by medieval villages that cling to cliffs as if gravity were optional, and fronted by water so clean it reflects every colour the sky throws at it. Today, the gulf and its surroundings are home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Cinque Terre (five terraced fishing villages on the Riviera di Levante) and Portovenere (a fortified harbour town with a church balanced on the rocks at the very tip of the western headland) – plus the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, the marble mountains of Carrara visible from the sea, and some of the finest cuisine in northern Italy.

From a yacht, this coastline is at its most rewarding. The Cinque Terre’s five villages – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso – are famously difficult to reach by road and often choked with hikers in summer; arriving by tender from your yacht, you bypass the crowds entirely and see the villages as they were meant to be seen: from the water, their terraced vineyard walls and pastel houses stacked above rocky shores. Portovenere’s fortified waterfront is most spectacular from the harbour approach. And the connection to Portofino – just 29 nautical miles up the coast – makes this one of the most complete short-charter destinations in the western Mediterranean.

Enquire with Boatcrowd for availability and pricing on our Ligurian Riviera fleet.

Why Charter a Yacht in La Spezia

Two UNESCO Sites in a Single Day

The Cinque Terre and Portovenere (including the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) share a joint UNESCO World Heritage listing granted in 1997, recognising the outstanding cultural landscape of terraced hillsides, medieval villages and a harmonious relationship between people and nature stretching back to the 12th century. The Cinque Terre’s dry-stone terrace walls alone amount to roughly 7,000 linear kilometres – more than the Great Wall of China. From your yacht, you can visit Portovenere’s fortress and the church of San Pietro (balanced on the rocks at the headland’s tip) in the morning, cruise along the Cinque Terre coastline at lunch, anchor off Vernazza for a late-afternoon swim, and be back at Portovenere for dinner. Two World Heritage Sites, one extraordinary day.

The Cinque Terre from the Water: The Way They Were Meant to Be Seen

The five villages of the Cinque Terre were built facing the sea, not the road (which arrived much later). From your yacht, you see what the original inhabitants saw: Riomaggiore’s dark stone houses stacked in a narrow ravine above a tiny harbour; Manarola’s tower houses perched on a black-rock promontory; Vernazza’s natural harbour (the only one of the five) with its medieval watchtower and colourful boats; and Monterosso’s crescent of sand – the only proper beach in the Cinque Terre. Corniglia, perched on a clifftop 100 metres above the sea, is the one village without water access (no ferry or tender landing), but its terraced vineyards and the dramatic cliff drop are best appreciated from below. Your crew navigates between villages by tender, landing at the small harbours and piers, while the yacht rides at anchor offshore.

The Gulf of Poets: Byron, Shelley and Literary Romance

The Italian writer Sem Benelli gave the gulf its famous name in 1910, but the poets arrived a century earlier. Lord Byron lived in the area and legendarily swam 7.5 kilometres across the gulf from Portovenere to Lerici to visit Percy Bysshe Shelley – a feat of athletic poetry that gave Byron’s Grotto (Grotta dell’Arpaia) at Portovenere its name. Shelley lived at Casa Magni in San Terenzo, an isolated boathouse on the gulf’s eastern shore, before drowning in a storm in the Bay of Spezia on 8 July 1822. The literary heritage is woven into every harbour, cliff and villa along the coast, and lends the region a romantic gravitas that few charter destinations can match.

Portofino Just Up the Coast

La Spezia to Portofino is 29 nautical miles – roughly 1.5 hours at a comfortable cruising speed. This means a Cinque Terre charter can easily include a day at Portofino, the Ligurian Riviera’s most famous harbour village: the painted façades around the tiny piazzetta, the hilltop church of San Giorgio, the castle with views along the coast, and the cluster of waterfront restaurants where fresh pesto trofie and chilled Ligurian Vermentino are the order of the day. Santa Margherita Ligure (36 nautical miles from La Spezia) is another natural stop, with a larger harbour, a more relaxed atmosphere and excellent dining.

Ligurian Cuisine: Pesto, Focaccia and Sciacchetrà

Liguria’s cuisine is one of Italy’s most distinctive: maritime, aromatic and built on simplicity. Pesto alla genovese – the original pesto, made with basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano, pecorino and olive oil, pounded in a mortar (the name comes from pestare, to pound) – is served on trofie (hand-rolled pasta without eggs, invented in Recco near Genoa) or trenette. Focaccia alla genovese is the benchmark against which every other focaccia is measured. Monterosso’s anchovies – bright silver, mild in flavour, fished from June onward and preserved in salt in chestnut barrels – are considered among the finest in Italy, a tradition maintained for centuries by local fishing cooperatives. And Sciacchetrà, the Cinque Terre’s rare sweet passito wine (praised by Petrarch, Dante and Cervantes), is produced in tiny quantities from grapes dried on the terraces – a bottle on the aft deck, with views of the vineyards where it was made, is a genuinely special moment.

Key Destinations Near La Spezia

• Cinque Terre – Five UNESCO-listed fishing villages on the Riviera di Levante: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia (clifftop, no water access), Vernazza (the most photogenic, with a natural harbour) and Monterosso (the largest, with the only sandy beach). Roughly 7 nautical miles of coastline from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. Accessible by tender from your yacht at four of the five villages.

• Portovenere – A fortified harbour town at the tip of the western headland enclosing the Gulf of La Spezia. The striped church of San Pietro perches on the rocks at the point. Byron’s Grotto (Grotta dell’Arpaia) is at the base of the cliff. UNESCO-listed since 1997. Colourful houses, narrow lanes, and harbourside restaurants serving the freshest Ligurian seafood.

• Palmaria Island – The largest of three islands (1.89 km²) in the Gulf of La Spezia, a 5-minute boat ride from Portovenere. Part of the UNESCO site. Walking trails, a ruined fortress, hidden coves and excellent snorkelling. Tino and Tinetto, the two smaller islands, are largely off-limits but visible from the water.

• Lerici – A handsome harbour town on the gulf’s eastern shore, with a 12th-century castle guarding the bay entrance. This is the Shelley side of the gulf: the poet lived at nearby Casa Magni in San Terenzo. Sheltered bay, clear water, and a more relaxed pace than the Cinque Terre.

• Portofino – 29 nautical miles up the coast from La Spezia, and the Ligurian Riviera’s most celebrated harbour. A tiny, perfectly painted piazzetta surrounded by waterfront restaurants. The hilltop church of San Giorgio, the Castello Brown with its coastal panorama, and the marine reserve at Punta del Capo make it worth a full day.

• Levanto – A beach town 4 nautical miles north-west of Monterosso, with a sandy beach, good anchorage, and a more relaxed atmosphere than the Cinque Terre villages. A useful provisioning stop and overnight berth, and the northern gateway to the Cinque Terre coastal walk.

• Carrara Marble Quarries – The Apuan Alps rise north of the gulf, their white marble quarries visible from the sea like patches of snow on the mountain peaks. Michelangelo sourced his marble here. The contrast of white stone against green mountainside and blue sea is striking from the yacht – particularly dramatic in the morning light.

Best Time to Charter in La Spezia

Peak Season: July and August

The warmest months (28–32°C / 82–90°F) with sea temperatures at 24–27°C. The Cinque Terre is at its busiest (the villages can feel very crowded on shore), but arriving by yacht avoids most of the congestion. Portovenere and Portofino buzz with summer energy. Charter rates are at their highest. Book early.

Shoulder Season: May–June and September–October

Warm and pleasant (20–27°C / 68–81°F), with fewer visitors and a more authentic atmosphere in the Cinque Terre villages. The sea is warm enough for swimming from late May through mid-October. June and September are the insiders’ months: perfect weather, lower prices, and the terraced vineyards are either in full leaf (June) or turning golden for the harvest (September). Ferry services to the Cinque Terre villages run from mid-March through October.

Early and Late Season: April and November

Mild days (15–20°C), cool evenings and a beautifully quiet coast. The sea is still cool for swimming, but the hiking trails along the Cinque Terre are at their best (April wildflowers, November autumn colours), and the restaurants in Portovenere and Lerici serve without queues. Sciacchetrà production peaks in autumn. An atmospheric time for guests who come for the culture, the food and the literary history.

Signature Experiences

• Cinque Terre by Tender – Cruise along the UNESCO coastline and land by tender at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso. Explore the terraced villages, taste freshly made pesto, and swim from Monterosso’s beach – all while your yacht rides at anchor offshore, bypassing the crowds that arrive by train and foot.
• Portovenere at Sunset – Anchor in the harbour as the evening light turns the fortified waterfront to gold. Walk to the church of San Pietro on the tip of the headland – the Romanesque striped façade against the darkening sea is one of the most atmospheric sights on the Ligurian coast. Dinner at a harbourside restaurant: fresh trofie al pesto, grilled branzino, a glass of Vermentino.
• Swim at Byron’s Grotto – Take the tender to the Grotta dell’Arpaia at the base of Portovenere’s cliffs, named for Byron’s legendary swim across the gulf. The water here is deep, clear and dramatic, with the medieval walls rising above you.
• Portofino Day Trip – Cruise 29 nautical miles up the coast to Portofino’s famous piazzetta. Lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants, walk to the hilltop church of San Giorgio, and visit the marine reserve at Punta del Capo for a snorkel. Return to La Spezia as the sun sets over the Ligurian Riviera.
• Monterosso Anchovy Tasting – Land by tender at Monterosso, the Cinque Terre’s largest village, and taste the local anchovies – bright silver, mild and delicate, fished from June onward and salt-cured in chestnut barrels by the local fishing cooperative. Pair with a glass of chilled Sciacchetrà.
• Carrara Marble from the Sea – Cruise north and watch the Apuan Alps rise behind the coast, their marble quarries appearing as white scars on the mountainside. Michelangelo chose this marble for his David. The visual contrast – white stone, green hills, blue sea – is spectacular in the morning light.

Yacht Types Available

Motor Yachts (55’–99’)

The ideal choice for the Ligurian coast, where the compact distances (La Spezia to Portovenere is 10 nautical miles, to Portofino 29) and sheltered gulf conditions mean you spend your time exploring rather than transiting. Crewed motor yachts sleep 6–8 guests with a crew of 3–5. Weekly rates start from around $40,000–$65,000.

Superyachts (100’+)

Porto Mirabello in La Spezia can accommodate superyachts up to 100 metres across its 1,107 berths (100 of which are designated for superyachts from 25–130 m). The gulf’s sheltered waters and the proximity to Portofino make it an excellent superyacht cruising ground. Weekly rates start from $90,000–$175,000 on MYBA terms.

Luxury Catamarans (55’+)

Catamarans offer stability for the occasional open-water stretch between La Spezia and Portofino and generous deck space for enjoying the Cinque Terre scenery. Their shallow draft allows close-in anchoring near the villages. Weekly rates start from approximately $35,000–$47,000 for a crewed 60’ catamaran.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit all five Cinque Terre villages by yacht?

You can visit four of the five from the water. Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso all have piers or harbours where your tender can land. Corniglia is the exception – it sits on a clifftop 100 metres above the sea with no water access (it’s reached by a long staircase from the train station). From the yacht, however, Corniglia’s terraced vineyards and dramatic cliff position are spectacular to view from below.

How far is Portofino from La Spezia?

Portofino is 29 nautical miles from La Spezia – roughly 1.5 hours at a comfortable cruising speed of 18–20 knots. It’s a natural day trip from a La Spezia-based charter, or the starting/ending point for a longer Ligurian Riviera itinerary. Santa Margherita Ligure, with a larger harbour and more berths, sits 36 nautical miles from La Spezia.

Is La Spezia a good home port for a charter?

Excellent. Porto Mirabello offers 1,107 berths including 100 for superyachts up to 130 metres, with full services (100-ton travel lift, 1,300 parking spaces, fuel, provisioning). The gulf’s sheltered waters are calm even when the open Ligurian Sea is choppy, and you’re within easy reach of the Cinque Terre (7 nautical miles), Portovenere (10 nautical miles) and Portofino (29 nautical miles).

What is the best time to visit the Cinque Terre by yacht?

June and September are ideal. The villages are less crowded than in July–August, the weather is warm (22–27°C), the sea is swimmable (22–26°C), and the terraced landscapes are at their most beautiful – lush and green in June, turning golden in September as the grape harvest approaches. Ferry services run from mid-March through October.

Can I combine La Spezia with Sardinia or the Amalfi Coast?

Yes, though the distances are longer. La Spezia to Sardinia’s Porto Cervo is roughly 180 nautical miles (an overnight passage or a full day’s cruise). La Spezia to the Amalfi Coast is roughly 300 nautical miles, typically done as a multi-day repositioning cruise with stops along the Tuscan coast (Elba, the Argentario) and Rome’s Pontine Islands. A more natural pairing is La Spezia with the Tuscan Archipelago – Elba is roughly 100 nautical miles south – or with the French Riviera (Monaco is roughly 120 nautical miles west).