Italy · Liguria
Yacht Charter Portovenere
A striped church on a headland where a temple to Venus stood, and the best arrival on the Ligurian coast.
Portovenere takes its name from a temple to Venus that stood on the point, and the church of San Pietro was built on the same rock in the twelfth century — black and white striped, standing straight out of the sea at the end of the village. Coming round the headland and seeing it appear is the finest approach on this coast, and it is only available from a boat.
The village and the point
A single wall of tall painted houses runs along the water, built as a defensive facade by Genoa in the twelfth century, with the Doria castle above and a lane behind them that is the whole town. It is UNESCO-listed together with Palmaria and the Cinque Terre.
Beyond San Pietro, the Grotta Byron is the cave the poet is said to have swum from before crossing the gulf to Lerici. The rock platform above it is where everybody sits at sunset.
Palmaria across the channel
The island is two hundred metres away across a channel deep enough for anything. Its seaward side has the Grotta Azzurra, reached only by tender, and a coast of white marble quarried since Roman times.
Behind the village the Gulf of Poets opens out — three kilometres of sheltered water that holds in any weather, which is why boats working the Cinque Terre keep it in reserve.
Practical notes
- The nearest base is Cala de' Medici, a comfortable day south
- The approach round the headland past San Pietro is the reason to arrive by sea rather than by road
- Palmaria is two hundred metres across the channel, with the Grotta Azzurra on its far side
- The Gulf of Poets behind holds in any weather; the Cinque Terre begin twenty minutes north
Reached from: Cala de' Medici
Where to dine
A table by the water
Antica Osteria del Carugio
PortovenereIn the lane behind the painted facade, where the village eats rather than where it is photographed.
Locanda Lorena
PalmariaAcross the channel on the island, with a boat that comes to fetch you from the quay.
Le Bocche
PortovenereUnder the church of San Pietro on the point, with the water directly below the terrace.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
San Pietro
A black-and-white striped church of the twelfth century standing out of the sea on the point where a temple to Venus stood.
The Doria castle
Genoese, above the village, with the whole gulf and Palmaria laid out from the walls.
Grotta Byron
The cave below the church that the poet is said to have swum from before crossing the gulf to Lerici.
Palmaria
Two hundred metres across the channel, with the Grotta Azzurra on its seaward side and white marble quarried since Roman times.
The fleet
Yachts available for Portovenere
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about Portovenere
- What makes Portovenere worth the stop?
- The approach. Rounding the headland and seeing the striped church of San Pietro stand out of the sea is the best arrival on this coast, and it exists only from the water.
- Can we visit Palmaria?
- Yes — it is two hundred metres across the channel. The Grotta Azzurra on its seaward side is reached by tender, and the island's white marble has been quarried since Roman times.
- What does a yacht charter to Portovenere cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season, the crew and the positioning, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
Charter here
Enquire about a charter at Portovenere
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.