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travelweekly.co.uk
DESTINATIONS ITALY | EUROPE
Yacht cruising is ideal for an
intimate, island-hopping escape along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, writes Monica Meade
ice, but a little overrated. That was my verdict seven years ago, following my first visit to the Amalfi Coast. But this time,
steadily approaching Positano on the cushioned front deck of the Amalfi Dream catamaran, it clicked. This was the view I’d seen on the postcards. Steep, tree-topped mountains soared behind the
colourful stacked-up buildings of this cliffside town, dropping straight down into the Mediterranean Sea. Just as Route 66 must be seen from the road, Italy’s Divina Costiera deserves to be explored on the water.
OLD-WORLD PROCIDA On the first morning of Dream Yacht Charter’s eight-day cruise around the Bay of Naples aboard the six-cabin catamaran, I was woken by a gentle rocking as we pulled up at the island of Procida. The rising sun cast its dusty pink glow on the centuries-old, pastel-painted houses around a harbour formed by an extinct volcanic crater. Sending small waves toward the coast of fishing village Marina Corricella as we tendered in, the only signs of life were the busy hands of a fisherman fixing his net and a waiter setting out chairs, keen to catch his first customers. Only small vessels can access the eastern side of the 1.6-square-mile island, so thanks
to our early wake-up, we’d beaten the crowds from larger ships arriving at the main port. On the way down from the Civic Museums’
rooftop terrace, the highest point on this rustic island, I looked around fortified 17th-century village Casale Vascello, and the medieval Terra Murata village. It felt incredibly peaceful, with a naturally slow pace even as visitors arrived to admire its viewpoints or grab a mid-morning coffee. Back on board, I took the opportunity to cool
off with a swim – there are plenty of opportunities to hop off for an impromptu dip or try snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding with the equipment provided. Then I dried off just in time for lunch prepared by resident chef Aldo. “I grew up in Rome and started cooking at home when I was just a boy,” he said. “I owned a restaurant in the city before coming to work on the yachts.” Like Aldo, the chefs and skippers on crewed charters are always local. His cooking was hearty, wholesome and with a dash of Italian flair. Even with the option to dine ashore, we found we didn’t want to. All three meals a day can be tailored to dietary requirements, with fresh fish each evening. Sailing from Procida to Capri, we anchored for ²
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PICTURE: Shutterstock/DaLiu
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