6 7 days from Rimini to Trieste via Venice on a superyacht

This seven-day tour of Italy’s north-east coast by luxury yacht is simply spectacular.

Day 1: Rimini

Rimini is good-honest seaside resort, popular with the Italians themselves, it bustles with life in the summer months. There are 15km of beaches in Rimini, the main draw for many tourists, but the old town is well worth a visit. Away from La Marina as the beachfront is known, one can appreciate the ancient history of this port.

The Augustus Arch was built in 27BC, and the Tiberius bridge – completed in 21AD, was so well-constructed it still carries important road traffic to this day. A host of historic buildings and churches span the ages and the archaeological museum tells the story… At night the beach bars become nightclubs and the streets of La Marina are lively and full of fun.

A cruise up the coast to Ravenna should blow any cobwebs away after a night in Rimini. In ancient times it was a lagoon city like Venice, built on pilings in the marshy lagoon, but it has since become land-locked and is connected to the Adriatic via the Candiano Canal. Its long and tumultuous history is told in numerous churches, mausolea and mosaics.

Lord Byron lived and wrote here for two years and Ravenna has inspired many other poets and writers. This is a charming town to explore on foot, sit at a pavement cafe and have a coffee, or drop into a small pizzeria or trattoria and sample the local speciality – ‘piadina’ a small flat bread often served with cold meats and soft squacquerone cheese

Enjoy the long cruise North to Venice. Entering the lagoon by yacht is one of the most romantic harbour entrances on the planet. Following in the wake of centuries of explorers including Marco Polo; you can even make berth at the Venice Yacht Pier, just a short distance from St Mark’s Square.

Although there is plenty to do on a Venice luxury yacht charter – the view from your aft deck as you sip cocktails or have supper will be unforgettable.

There is an abundance of things to see and do in this unique city – many of which revolve around life afloat. Venice is a pedestrian city – the absence of cars make it a delightful city to explore on foot (apart, perhaps, from high summer when it can be very humid, a little smelly and buzzing with mosquitoes and flies).

There are churches, museums, exhibitions, and galleries galore. The shopping is wonderful and the lack of extensive nightlife may be a good thing- there’s far too much to see by day to waste it sleeping off the night before!

Take local advice to discover the best restaurants – it’s accepted that by and large the quality of food here is not always what one would except in Italy and apparently the worst pizzas are found in Venice!

Look for Veneto specialities that use cuttlefish and its black ink. It is also worth visiting the islands of Murano (for glassware) and Burano (for lace.) In July and August the city is rammed with tourists and those attending the Film Festival. In cold February, elaborate costumes for Carnival may keep you warm…

Bid farewell to Venice as you re-enter the Adriatic and make for Trieste, right up in the northernmost head of the bay, close to the Slovenian border. Trieste is a very safe city – you can stroll here at night and explore the old town without worrying.

As Trieste is a border town on the crossroads of the Latin, Germanic and Slavic worlds, it is quadrilingual: the official languages are Italian, Slovenian, Ladin and German.

The architecture also reflects the many cultural influences on Trieste; there are some good Roman remains, fine Austrian empire buildings of the type you’d find in Vienna alongside Mediterranean styles. There are several museums and interesting churches and castles as well as coastal walks with wonderful views.

The cuisine here has also melded the flavours of the Germanic and Slavic tastes with Italian food. Try the gnocchi, in the style of Austrian dumplings and head to a pastry shop to pick up some torte or strucolo de pomi – a variation on the strudel. Other local delicacies include fish soups and risotto.