About The French & Italian Riviera
    Sample Riviera Yacht Charter Itineraries
    Riviera Map
    Complimentary Riviera Yacht Charter DVD
    Riviera Charter Yachts

About The French & Italian Riviera

France
Occupying the Southern coastal area of France , between Marseille and Menton, can be found the towns of Toulon , St.Tropez, Cannes , Antibes , Nice, and Monaco . Inland are some beautiful hilltop villages it seems that time has forgotten. The Alpes-Maritime provide protection to these coastal towns.

The French Riviera has an envious reputation for being the playground of Europe 's rich & famous. Film & pop stars, models, racing drivers & business tycoons all come to these Mediterranean shores for some serious frolicking in the sun.

Chartering a superyacht berthed just a stone's throw from the startline has to be the ultimate way to experience the unique event that is the Monaco Grand Prix. Yachts can be booked to provide a supreme race-view for groups of 10-150 guests, and can provide accommodation for up to 36. With our experience and contacts, we can book some of the most sought-after berths in the harbor, offering some of the very best views over the Startline, Swimming Pool, or the Rascasse.

There is a great deal for the less flamboyant traveler as well. You do not have to be rich to explore the charms that this area has in abundance.

With moderate breezes, multiple anchorages, various landscapes, the sunshine-guaranteed Côte d'Azur is charming in so many different ways. It is a privileged navigational zone bursting with ports, towns, villages and islands. You will navigate from one pleasure to the next, whether it be navigational, gastronomic, or cultural.

Italy
Sheltering on the seaward side of the mountains that divide Piemonte from the coast, Liguria is the classic introduction to Italy for travelers journeying overland through France . There's an unexpected change as you cross the border from Nice and Monaco : the Italian Riviera (as Liguria 's commercially developed strip of coast is known) has more variety of landscape and architecture than its French counterpart, and is generally less frenetic. The mountains which, in places, drop sheer to the sea are treated as an irrelevance by most visitors eager to press on to their chosen resort, but Liguria's lofty hinterland can offer respite from the standard format of beach, beach and more beach. Teetering on slopes carpeted with olives and vines are isolated mountain villages that retain their own rural culture and cuisine.

The chief city of the region is Genoa , an ancient, sprawling port often acclaimed as the most atmospheric of all Italian cities. It has a dense and fascinating old quarter that is complemented by a vibrant social and ethnic mix and a newly energized dockside district. The city stands midway between two distinct stretches of coastline. To the west is the Riviera di Ponente and San Remo, the grande-dame of Riviera resorts, which is flanked by hillsides covered with glasshouses, and is a major center for the worldwide export of flowers; Albenga and Noli are attractive medieval centres that have also retained a good deal of character; and Finale Ligure is a thoroughly pleasant Mediterranean seaside town.

On Genoa 's eastern side is the more rugged Riviera di Levante . Umbrella pines grow horizontally on the cliff-faces overlooking the water, and in the evening a glassy calm falls over the little bays and inlets. Walks on Monte di Portofino and in the coastal scenery of the famed Cinque Terre take you through scrubland and vineyards for memorable vistas over broad gulfs and jutting headlands. This mix of mountains and fishing villages accessible only by boat appealed to the early nineteenth-century Romantics, who "discovered" the Riviera in the eighteenth century, preparing the way for other artists and poets and the first package tourists. Now the whole area explodes into quite a ruck every July and August, with resorts like Portofino qualifying as amongst the most expensive in the country. Visiting out of season, of course, is a peaceful way to enjoy the beauty without the hubbub.

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Sample Riviera Yacht Charter Itineraries

Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - France

After your flight into Nice, greet your yacht in the colorful fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. It's old-world charm has made it a featured location in many James Bond films as well as The Jewel of the Nile .

Anchor off St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to take in the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild perched between the port and the mainland. After mooring in Monaco , a glamorous night-life scene is guarenteed at Place du Casino the center of Monte Carlo . The chic, neo-Deco bistro Quai des Artistes provides fabulous cuisine and people-watching.

En-route to Antibes , visit one of the medieval hilltop villages. Shop along the cobblestone streets and visit the sculpture garden and the modern art collection at Foundation Maeght. Spend the evening docked alongside other spectacular yachts at The International Yacht Club.

Considered one of the most romantic old towns on the Mediterranean coast, Antibes inspired Picasso to paint on a panoramic scale. Stroll Promenade Amiral-de-Grasse along the crest of Vauban's seawalls. View the impressive collection in the Musee Picasso.

Make a quick trip into Provence to visit charming St. Paul de Vence. Then cruise past Jan-Ies-Pins for beautiful views over cocktails and appetizers. Anchor off romantic Iles de Lerins for a quiet alfresco dinner onboard before your next stop -- "over-the-top" St. Tropez!

Moor at Jean-Jaures and head ashore early to tour the medieval backstreets before the crowds. Be sure to visit the Musee de I'Annociade, which traces the evolution of painting from impressionism to expressionism. Or, if you danced until the wee hours in one of St. Tropez's many chic clubs, it may be your day to sleep late.

Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - Italy

Rustic and elegant, provincial and chic, cosmopolitan and small-town are blended together in the coastal villages dotting the rocky shores of the Ligurian Sea . Begin your cruise in elegant Portofino .

One of the most picturesque villages along the coast, Portofino emanates an aura of romance. From the harbor, follow signs up to the Castello di San Giorgio where views of medieval relics and impeccable gardens are well worth the climb. That afternoon, visit the medieval Abbey of San Fruttuoso, which is only accessible by foot or boat.

Palm trees, hotels, cafes and galleries line the waterfront of the beautiful resort town of Santa Margherita Ligure . La Stalla restaurant, two miles up from the port, serves superb catch-of-the-day Ligurian-style as well as breathtaking views of the picturesque coast from the terrace.

Cruise on to Portovenere where the Grotto Arpaia was the starting point for poet Lord Bryon's courageous swim across the gulf to the village of San Terenzo to visit his friend Shelley. The 13th century Gothic church of San Pietro is easily recognized from your yacht.

Dramatic scenery amid isolation characterizes the five coastal villages known as teh Cinque Terre. Your yacht allows access to their secluded beaches. Walk the most famous of the trails, Via del l'Amore (Lover's Lane), which links Riomaggiore with Manarola by a flat path cut into the cliff side.

Enroute north, stop at Rapallo and anchor among the other yachts in the harbor. Head ashore to the town center, highlighted by the cathedral of Santi Gervasio, founded in the 6th century. That evening, dine aboard as you cruise to Genoa .

Exploring Genoa could take up much more than a day, but don't miss the ancient town center between the port and Piazza de Ferrari. Visit the 17th century Palazzo Reale palace and the impressive Via Garibaldi prior to your flight out of Genoa 's airport.                        

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Riviera Map

       Map of French Riviera
                   

Complimentary Riviera Yacht Charter DVD

To obtain your complimentary Riviera yacht charter dvd or additional information about yacht charters in the Riviera and around the world, please call us on 1-877-3YACHTS (392-2487) or (202) 882-2127.

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