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NJ Charters Blog
Visiting Venice by Yacht Charter
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St. Marks Cathedral
Imagine pulling up in your own yacht and tying up the quay just down from St. Marks Square and listening to the bells of St. Marks Cathedral as they toll the hours. With enough advance planning, dockage reservations are available along this famous waterfront, with all of Venice, Italy laid out in front of you to wander as you will. Or perhaps to have a coffee at one of the many cafes along the edges of St. Marks Square with wandering musicians livening up the evening hours. And, of course, there are shops and great restaurants, although you may prefer to dine on board on the deck entertained as life passes by on the quay in front. Read the rest of this entry »
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, sailing, Western Mediterranean - Italy, yacht
Vietri sul Mare, Italy, Amalfi Coast, Crewed Yacht Charter Itinerary
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Vietri sul Mer – Amalfi Coast
Located along the Amalfi Coast at the beginning of the Sorrento Peninsula is Vietri sul Mare, otherwise known as the “mother lode” of Italian hand painted ceramics. We wandered into Vietri purely by happenstance. While exploring the Sorrento Peninsula, we found ourselves on a main road of Vietri surrounded by shops and “factorias”, where ceramic objects of all sizes, shapes and purposes, were being made, hand painted and of course, sold.
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, sailing, Western Mediterranean - Italy, yacht
Camogli, Italy; Sagra del Pesce, Charter Itinerary Ligurian Coast
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Camogli Harbor
Chartering is not only about enjoying being on the water, with great food and a great crew; it is also about enjoying the area in which your charter takes place. At Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we like to include in our suggested charter itinerary information, the extra special local activities an area offers, like the annual Sagra del Pesce (Feast of Fish) in Camogli, Italy
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, sailing, Western Mediterranean - Italy, yacht
Spend a Day in Ischia on Your Next Crewed Yacht Charter
Pontine Islands of Italy: Ponza
Ponza: One of the Unspoiled and Relatively Unknown Pontine Islands of Italy
 Port of Ponza
I was very excited to hear about the Pontine Islands, when I first did, years ago from an Italian sailing friend. Not long after I was able to cruise through the Pontine Islands on a 110′ Sangermani sailing yacht, and I was not disappointed.
These islands, are only about 25-50 miles off of the west coast of Italy, near Rome and easily reached out of the harbor town of Gaeta. However they are still relatively unknown and unspoiled. There are no airports and limited ferry service, making this archipelago an ideal location for crewed yacht charter.
Caves of Ponza
Ponza, rumored to have been named after Pontius Pilate, is the main island of the Pontine Island group, and is one of only two inhabited islands in the archipelago. Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Pontine Islands are known for crystal clear waters in varying shades of blue, which surround these land masses created by ancient volcanic activity. Ponza is the main island and in the middle of the Pontine Islands, and is believed to be the remains of the edge of a volcanic crater.
Ponza
During the reign of Rome’s Caesar Augustus, Romans were encouraged to settle Ponza and Ventotene. In ancient times it is believed that Ponza was connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus of land that eventually sunk into the sea. Modern marine archaeology is now confirming that fact. During the Middle Ages Ponza was abandoned due to constant pirate attacks until re-colonized by the Kingdom of Naples in the 1700′s. However is the the Roman civilization that has left the strongest historic mark on this island.
Ventotene
There are many Roman ruins remaining on Ponza, including the ruins of the palace of Julia Lavilla, a sister to Caligula, who was exiled to Ponza. And a feat of Roman technology still exists; a 180 meter tunnel dug through the rock of the island from the fishing village of Ponza to Half Moon Bay, on the other side of the island, a spectacular beach ringed by white cliffs. Unfortunately, after centuries of use, recently workers damaged this tunnel which is now temporarily closed. I was lucky enough to be there before the damage and had the thrill of walking through this ancient Roman tunnel from the town side of the island to Half Moon Bay, and into a bright greeting of sun rays reflecting off of the water and white cliffs when emerging on the Half Moon Bay side of the tunnel. Many of the local inhabitants dig up Roman and Etruscan artifacts just while gardening.
Luna Bay and Roman Tunnel Ponza
Further along the side of the island where Half Moon Bay is located, are a series of caves washed into the cliff sides including what was thought to be the “Grotto della Maga Circe”, the home of the sorceress Circe featured in Homer’s tale, “The Odyssey”. The Sirens were thought to have lived on the nearby islands of the Pontine Archipelago. This side of the island is best visited by yacht. Once anchored, take the ship’s tender along the cliff sides to explore the sea caves and grottos along this coast.
Caves on Ponza
Include the island of Ponza in your next crewed yacht charter itinerary along the western coast of Italy, and you will not be disappointed.
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, sailing, Western Mediterranean - Italy, yacht
Ventotene: One of the Unspoiled Islands of the Pontine Archipelago, Italy
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