Here, however, the shore is littered with fishing villages, some of which, like Portofino or Forte dei Marmi, have achieved super-chic status; others, like the island of Elba or Cinque Terre, retain an authentic salt crust on their tumbling technicolour buildings.
There are plenty of extraordinary coastal walks, sheltered bays, secluded beaches and lofty cliffs, but what makes the Italian charter experience so special is that it fuses maritime tradition with 21st century luxury to better effect than anywhere else in the world. The calm waters surrounding the area make it ideal for snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing. Relish in the delectable specialities of Ligurian cuisine paired with a fine Italian wine. True culinary heaven.
As a historical refuge for some of Europe’s most pampered elite, the balmy Ligurian resort of San Remo is arguably the showiest destination on the Riviera. Widely known as the `City of Flowers’ for its seasonal show of blooms, it is more useful to think about the modern manifestation of this old Roman settlement as a hotbed of ritzy, casino-style nightlife. The enormous harbour is a renowned superyacht hub and the bars, shops and cafes ooze with appropriate cosmopolitanism.
As the hub of the Riviera, the capital of Liguria and one of Italy’s foremost seaports, Genoa is the worldly counterpoint to the compact elegance of the outlying towns and villages. In addition to a buzzing arts scene, a huge waterfront aquarium, a plentiful supply of high-class dive sites and a beautiful old harbour, it offers several classical districts, where the manic mishmash of multicoloured villas plunges sharply to the sea. What could be more Riviera than that?
The traditional seaside resort of Viareggio has grown in popularity among the yachting elite – and like most towns in this region, the long promenade is the heart of the shopping, dining and late-night scene. The high-spec marina sits at the apex of the two main beaches, and while the town’s shipbuilding roots have largely given way to tourism, the youthful energy of its upmarket beach scene is extremely attractive. It also makes an ideal stopover for a daytrip to Pisa or Florence.
The Isle of Elba is like a Caribbean paradise in the middle of the Med. Its shores abound with lofty headlands, sandy bays and protected rural landscapes, and with a variety of exposed and sheltered coasts, the water sports options are first class. The clear, richly stocked waters are great for diving, and Portoferraio, the historic centre, is at once an authentic fishing town and a sophisticated leisure destination. With its great cuisine and extraordinary Napoleonic heritage, it makes a superb charter detour.
Technically, the Tuscan seaside resort of Porto Ercole falls a good way outside the limits of the Italian Riviera – but as a pretty town wrapped around a natural deep-water harbour with an expansive and entertaining marina at its heart, its value to the roaming superyacht skipper is beyond question. Up on the hill, various 16th century fortifications keep watch over the town’s pastille-coloured streets, and the seasonal effervescence in and around the long town promenade is brilliantly infectious.
The fabled Italian fishing village of Portofino nestles between herb-strewn hillsides in a protected reserve at the apex of a turquoise inlet. That alone makes it an alluring charter venue, but if the modest size, pristine loveliness or seasonal throng gets a bit much, head instead to the nearby port towns of Santa Margherita and Rapallo. They may be a touch less chic and a lot less famous, but for the charter yacht explorer, they’re every bit as good.