The “Mediterranean” motor boats are a passion for many owners and are not just a kind of boat, but a real way of living the sea. This philosophy was born in the Mediterranean Sea, between breathtaking bays and ports that taste of history, including sailors, shipowners and fishermen. These are places that remain in the hearts of those who navigate there, because it is from the boat that those places, otherwise inaccessible to all the others, are known.
1. Bodrum (Turchia)
The city, located in the southwest of Turkey, is none other than the ancient Halicarnassus, governed by the legendary king Mausolus (hence the word mausoleum): Bodrum exudes history, starting with the gigantic medieval castle, built by the Knights of Rhodes, which guards the entrance to the bay. A point of union between the Aegean and the Mediterranean since ancient times, Bodrum is known for yachts and pleasure boats. Even today, the men of the trade continue the traditional construction of boats such as the Tirhandil, with the bow and the pointy stern and the “Gulet”, with a wide beam and a round stern. Explore the coast around the city, full of caves and ravines, and do not forget to immerse yourself in search of the colorful sponges.
2. Bonifacio (Corsica)
The entrance into the long and narrow fjord that ends with a delightful port deserves the view alone. The town climbs among the high walls in white limestone, which make it a safe harbor, but above all unique in the world. Breathe in the scent of salt, it’s worth it.
3. Dubrovnik (Croazia)
Crystal clear waters, ideal weather conditions and over 1200 islands and islands to explore make the Dalmatian coast one of the best destination for a cruise in the Adriatic. It is no coincidence that it was included in the “50 best places to visit by boat before dying” by the American journalist Chris Santella. Dubrovnik is the icing on the cake: one of the best preserved medieval ports in the Mediterranean, after the restoration and repair of the damage caused by the bombings of 1991, it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Formentera (Spagna-Baleari)
If transgression and unbridled tourism are not for you, avoid mooring in Ibiza and drop anchor near Formentera: you will admire views of equal beauty and equally clear waters, but much less crowded (except August). A unique sight is offered by the pink beach of S’Espalmador, an islet only 150 meters from the northern tip of Formentera: you can safely bottom in 4-5 meters of water and enjoy one of the most beautiful shelters of the Mediterranean.
5. Golfo del Quarnaro (Croazia)
The arm of the sea that separates Istria from the islands of Losinj and Cres is a “must” for any self-respecting navigation in the Adriatic. A place of great seafaring traditions, he saw the growth of the famous admiral Agostino Straulino, born in Mali Lošinj. From here you reach Krk, the largest of the Dalmatian islands famous for its sinuous hills covered with fragrant Mediterranean vegetation and its karst caves. Always pay attention to the bora.
Mediterranean Ports: part two
6. Gramvousa (Grecia-Creta)
One of the most magical and wild places on the island of Crete, surmounted by the most important Venetian fortress of the island, it is ideal as a starting point to then sail to the nearby Balos lagoon. The sea near the fortress assumes an original green-blue tint. Today Gramvousa is a protected natural oasis.
7. Kastellorizo (Grecia – Dodecanneso)
It is the smallest of the Dodecanese islands but is one of the most famous Mediterranea ports. 70 miles from Rhodes, it is the extreme eastern outpost of Greece. You can moor anywhere and the area is known for very quiet weather. A small corner of paradise lost in the limelight in 1991 when Gabriele Salvatores turned his masterpiece “Mediterraneo” on the island. Unfortunately, tourist flows have increased strongly, especially during the summer. The best time to drop the anchor is between September and October when you can enjoy crystal clear water and breathtaking sunsets in total relaxation. “Remember that night, white steps in the moonlight” recites the opening words of the song “Castellorizon, on a island” by Pink Floyd leader David Gilmour, bewitched by the charm of the island . Explore these 9 square kilometers of enchantment and poetry, and do not forget to taste the excellent moussaka!
8. Porquerolles (Francia)
Easily accessible from Hyères, the largest of the Gold Islands to the north, it boasts wide beaches, while to the south the profile of the coast becomes more jagged, crowning itself with the classic Mediterranean scrub: spend a night at anchor among the scent of pines and heather is an exciting experience, like plunging into crystal waters surrounded by fish of all kinds. Also worth a visit are the smaller Port-Cros (home of the homonymous nature park) and Île du Levant, where in 1931 one of the longest naturist villages was founded, Heliopolis.
9. Saint Tropez (Francia)
The most classic of the Mediterranean ports. Saint-Tropez is in Côte d’Azur with its splendid fortified citadelle and the medieval village. Although, until the ’50s, it was a simple fishing village, it became a place of international fame for being the background of “Piace a troppi”, the 1957 film that launched Brigitte Bardot as a European star and for the famous song “Saint-Tropez Twist” by Peppino Di Capri. The commercial port soon became a tourist resort and currently houses the great yachts belonging to the international jet-set, while preserving all the charm of Mediterranean France.
10. Zante (Grecia ionica)
In the words of Ugo Foscolo it echoes the myth of Zante, or Zakynthos, a large island of the Peloponnese, which gave birth to the poet. In the photo, one of its most famous corners, the so-called “beach of the wreck” or “Navagio”: accessible only by sea, owes its fame to the wreck of the MV Panagiotis, a vessel used for smuggling cigarettes, which had been landed on site in 1982 On August 12, 1953, the island was devastated by a strong earthquake, but now it has returned to its splendor. If you are fond of marine fauna, we recommend the south-west area of the island: inside the marine national park of Zakynthos you can admire some specimens of the now very rare Caretta caretta, the Mediterranean tortoise.
