We have it on our doorstep and it is beautiful. One of the great fortunes of living in Italy, for sailing enthusiasts, is that there is no shortage of destinations.
Whether you are looking for an alternative holiday for your family, a few days of fun with friends or a romantic getaway, here are ten cruise ideas in the Mediterranean.
Let us add just one thing: our well-established Milly boat, with its traditional wood and interior, can accompany you on all these trips.
You can choose the path of comfort without renouncing the so natural beauty and pleasantness that the human eye has found in wood for centuries.
Let’s not waste any more time.
Follow us on this list and get ready to sail the seas!
The 7 best cruises to do in the Mediterranean on a sailing boat
The Mediterranean, with its crystal-clear waters and millennial history, offers some of the most beautiful destinations for sailing enthusiasts. Here are 7 destinations not to be missed.
1) Amalfi Coast
“Here is the garden
that we always and futilely seek after the perfect places of childhood.
A memory that is tangible above the abysses of the sea,
suspended on the leaves of orange trees and sumptuous cedars
in the hanging gardens of convents’.
The words poet Salvatore Quasimodo spent on Amalfi are a perfect summary of what most poets, writers, artists and travellers have seen on the Amalfi Coast.
The Amalfi Coast in Italy is a true paradise for those seeking a sailing experience enriched by beauty and culture. Its picturesque coastal towns perched on sheer mountains near the sea make it a location of beauty envied by the whole world.
If you’re looking for a reason to go with your family or your better half to the Amalfi Coast, you won’t just be having a picture-postcard experience. There are now so many opinions, reviews or starred chefs talking about the local gastronomy… Is there really anyone left who does not know about these food and wine wonders?
The great advantage of seeing the Coast by boat is the chance to slip into beautiful hidden coves, otherwise inaccessible from inland.
2) Cyclades Islands, Greece
The Cyclades archipelago, located in the heart of the Aegean, is a small utopia of white, cubic houses with their characteristic blue roofs. Santorini, with its crater views, and Mykonos for a taste of the nightlife, are just two popular destinations, but by no means the only ones.
On a cruise you can lose yourself in the smaller, lesser-known islands, listen to the songs of Mediterranean animals and really get in touch with unspoilt nature. And if your family is getting bored or you need more contacts, more services or more nightlife… just get back on the boat!
Paros, Naxos, Milos, the beautiful Sifnos and Amorgos are waiting for you!
3) Dalmatia, Croatia
The Dalmatian coast, located along Croatia’s Adriatic coastline, is a region of incomparable natural and historical beauty. Perhaps less well-known as a Mediterranean cruising destination than the previous two destinations, this area is slightly less populated and certainly provides a little more privacy when docking in port.
Another great strength of Dalmatia are the many small islands, where you can touch and go until you get your fill of this beautiful Mediterranean landscape.
Prepare yourself for the medieval walls of Dubrovnik, the islands of Hvar and Korčula, famous for their clear waters.
You can lose yourself among the ancient ruins, and at the end of the trip stop for a meal in a sheltered local tavern.
Ever heard of Peka?
It is a typical Dalmatian dish, usually involving lamb or veal, or fish or seafood. This, let’s say, protein part is cooked with potatoes and other vegetables in a ‘peka’, a bell-shaped iron cot, which is then placed on burning embers under a covering of hot ash.
This slow, low-temperature cooking method allows the meat or fish to cook in its own juices, absorbing the flavours of the herbs and vegetables.
4) Corsica, France
Considered by many to be Sardinia’s smaller cousin, Corsica actually has its own distinct visual identity.
Wild, crystal-clear beaches and unspoilt nature, from Cape Corse further north, dotted with picturesque lighthouses and pine forests, to Bastia, the island’s main port, with its diverse and festive seaside setting.
Then we have the ports of Bonifacio and Calvi, to get a taste of the island’s proud culture.
Sailing along the Corsican coast allows you to discover isolated bays and white sandy beaches, ideal for swimming and snorkelling. In addition, the island offers exceptional cuisine, combining French and Italian flavours, with dishes such as the Corsican ‘Fiadone’ and ‘Bouillabaisse’.
5) Majorca, Spain
Who has never seen the ponderous Gothic cathedral in Palma de Mallorca?
Who has never heard of ‘Paella’?
Well, Mallorca is more than just these two, especially for those who take a Mediterranean cruise and go as far as Spanish waters.
Mallorca is excellent as a cruising destination: Baia de Palma is a great starting point for a sailing adventure, which can continue to Cap de Formentor, a promontory that offers some of the most spectacular scenery in Mallorca. Then, Cala d’Or, Cala Figuera, Sa Calobra and Torrent de Pareis, the Cabrera Archipelago National Park in the south of Mallorca…
Or, the port of Sóller, enchanting and surrounded by mountains.
In short, in Majorca you certainly don’t run the risk of getting bored!
6) Sardinia, Italy
One could not fail to mention the jewel of the Mediterranean, with its impeccable and luxurious Costa Smeralda.
But there are not only chic beaches in Sardinia: don’t make this mistake! Here you will find plenty of unspoilt areas, just a stone’s throw from a hinterland where the food is rich and tasty and the sheep graze freely, where nuraghi tell thousands of years of history, along with many archaeological sites.
7) Ionian Islands, Greece
Corfu, with its rich history and Venetian architecture, offers a good combination of culture and nature. If you want to get lost in Kefalonia, the advice is always to visit the Melissani Cave, an oasis of tranquillity.
Between local cuisine and the slowness of a pace of life that no longer exists, the Ionian Islands can really make you re-evaluate our urban everyday life and make you think: why don’t we move here for good, with our boat?
Did you like our proposals? Have you found what you were looking for for your Mediterranean cruise?
