It’s not just for the convenience of mooring in the center of Genoa, nor solely for the opportunity to take advantage of the city’s major port’s network of nautical services : many boaters choose Marina Porto Antico as their home port every year because of its strategic location on the Ligurian coast, which is perfect for organizing all kinds of sailing trips in every season of the year. In the summer, our marina in Genoa is the ideal starting point for cruises Whether you’re heading to the Côte d’Azur, Corsica, Sardinia, or Tuscany during the warmer months—or when you only have a weekend to spare—it’s wonderful to treat yourself to some hikes along the coast. When you’re short on time, you can head to nearby Camogli, on your way to San Fruttuoso or Portofino; when you have more freedom, however, you can go further, and thus in the direction of the Cinque Terre or even further on, perhaps to spend a night in beautiful Portovenere. So today we’ll offer some tips for those who are toying with the idea of setting sail from our marina in Genoa To sail to Portovenere: Enjoy the read!
Sail to Portovenere from Marina Porto Antico
Our marina in downtown Genoa is 45 nautical miles from Portovenere: given the distance—and knowing full well the beauty of this famous seaside village—it would certainly be best to set aside two days for this boat trip, one for the trip there and one for the return trip.
The route winds naturally along the Ligurian coast, offering a succession of views that alone are worth the boat trip: once you’ve left the harbor of Genoa behind, you set course eastward, passing the fishing villages that dot the shore, until reaching the waters off Camogli and then San Fruttuoso and Portofino (when you see Brown Castle, just beyond the Portofino lighthouse, you’ll be 15 milesfrom your mooring in Genoa).
We continue sailing eastward, toward Sestri Levante and the beautiful Baia del Silenzio: once we arrive here , it won’t be long before we’re captivated by the Cinque Terre, unmistakable with their colorful houses perched on the cliffs, framed by hills and vineyards. As these postcard-perfect scenes pass by on the port side, the final few miles of the voyage fly by, and we finally arrive at our destination, Portovenere. At this point, it’s worth offering a word of advice: this stretch of coastline has shallow waters and very few shelters worthy of the name, so spending the night at anchor is not recommended .
Visiting Portovenere: A Few Tips
We mention this for anyone who’d like to keep sailing: the classic destinations from Portovenere are the islands of Tino, Tinetto, and Palmaria—truly “must-see” summer getaways; and the idea of continuing on to Tuscany to visit Lerici or Tellaro is certainly appealing.
But it’s certainly worth spending some time in Portovenere, a seaside village brimming with attractions and charm. As you arrive by boat , you’ll immediately be struck by the distinctive row of buildings facing the sea, with its tall, narrow tower-houses. Must-see sights include the church perched high above the sea, Byron’s Grotto —for diving enthusiasts—the tall Capitolare Tower, and Doria Castle.
As boaters who have chosen Marina Porto Antico as their home port in Liguria for years are well aware, Portovenere is just one of many weekend sailing destinations at these latitudes. Are you planning a few days on a boat in Liguria? Contact us, and reserve your berth in Genoa!