The Ligurian and Tuscan coast down to Elba is a wonderful destination for a luxury yacht charter in Italy. The tiny inlet at Portofino is one of the loveliest yachting ports in the world, and is on most charterers must-do list.
Moving on to the historic city of Genoa, marinas at the heart of the old town allow you to stroll among unique shops and discover wonderful restaurants where you can sample traditional Ligurian dishes such as Trofie al Pesto.
Further down the coast lies the stunning Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where five unspoilt villages cling to the cliffs and surround tiny coves along this beautiful coastline. The villages are linked by sea, rail and track, no cars can penetrate here.
Over the ages, terraces have been worked into the hillsides, where grapes and olives are grown, producing local wines. Exploring the Cinque Terre is almost a trip back in time, to an Italy that Christopher Columbus (born in Genoa) would recognise.