Located on the Ligurian Sea, Cinque Terre is often visited by tourists in love with the classic package which comes with the idea of a holiday spent in a seaside resort: beaches, sun, and sand and, of course, the sea and the waves. It’s true Cinque Terre is famed for its hugely rewarding hiking trails more than for its sea-related activities. However, the Ligurian Sea yields, it too, great tourist opportunities all visitors should consider exploring.
The ports in Cinque Terre proper and the ones in its vicinity enable visitors to search out the sea at leisure and enjoy the specific pursuits. The following is the list of the most important ports, marinas and docking places in Cinque Terre and the neighboring localities.
In Cinque Terre proper there are only two ports: the one in Vernazza and the one in Monterosso. The Vernazza Port is a pretty modest docking place, with few modern facilities, but a port all the same. It blends in perfectly with the general set delineated by old shelled off historical buildings. The port counts some 100 berths. The port authorities can be contacted at 0039 0187 808150.
The Monterosso Port, called Porto di Ponente, is a more modern venue, fitted with a wider range of facilities. The port consists of some 40 berths, and, in part, it is privately administrated during the summer season, whereas in winter, when the tourist flow diminishes, it is used by the locals who live on fishing. Porto di Ponente is where the sailing club of Monterosso is located. The port authorities can be contacted at 0039 0187 808150.
Sestri Levante is not located in Cinque Terre proper, but some 25 kilometers north west of Monterosso al Mare. It can be used, however, by people who want to search out the Ligurian coastline in depth, and the Sestri Levante Port will not be a disappointment at all. It counts some 150 berths, and, on top of its fairly reasonable range of facilities, it benefits from a scenic backdrop, since the two bays of the city, the Bay of Fairytales and the Bay of Silence, enrich the scenery with their specific Ligurian charm. The port authorities can be contacted at 0039 018541295.
Santa Margherita Ligure is located some 50 kilometers northwest of Monterosso al Mare, in the vicinity of yet another important port on the Ligurian coastline, namely, the Rapallo Port, and the port pertaining to it is one of the most completely fitted, as far as the specific amenities are concerned. It counts some 350 berths, and plenty of wharfs are managed by private businesses. The port is open all day long, and the authorities can be contacted at 0039 0185 287029.
Secondly, the private port of Rapallo, called Marina Carlo Riva, counts about 400 berths, and it is fitted with all the specific facilities. In order to learn more about the technical essentials of the private port of Rapallo, as well as about the leisure opportunities it makes available (including a yacht club), please visit Marina Carlo Riva.
Portovenere is located some 10 kilometers south of Riomaggiore, somewhere halfway between Riomaggiore and La Spezia, on the coastline. The port pertaining to Portovenere is a smaller docking venue, counting only about 30 berths. It is open all day long, and the port authorities can be called at 0039 0187 790768. The port management is, however, a distinct entity, and it can be contacted at 0039 0187 793042. In order to learn more about the facilities and services available at this port, please visit Porto di Portovenere.
Ameglia pertains to the province of La Spezia. It is a rather small docking place, counting no more than 80 berths, but the range of commercial and leisure facilities evens the disadvantage of its size. The port is fitted, for instance, with a lounge area and with a solarium. A club house is also located here. The port authorities can be contacted at 0039 0187 648066. In order to learn more about the ports’ amenities and tourist opportunities, visit Ar Nav.
Bocca di Magra pertains, it too, to the province of La Spezia. The port makes available more than 250 berths and it is very well managed. The port authorities can be contacted at 0039 0187 2581, whereas in order to call the managing authorities, tourists must dial 0039 0187 608037. In order to find out about the technical essentials of the port, visit Porto Bocca di Magra.
Chiavari is located on the Ligurian coastline, halfway between Sestri Levante and Rapallo. It pertains to the province of Genoa, and its port counts more than 450 berths. It is also referred to as the Luigi Gatti Port, and it enjoys the status of and international tourist port. The port authorities can be contacted at 0039 0185 308240, and in order to learn about the services and amenities of this docking venue, visit Marina Chiavari.
Fezzano is located between Portovenere and La Spezia. The total number of berths amounts to 250, and they are available 24 hours a day. The commercial infrastructure is complemented by a marina, a yacht club and a shipyard. The port authorities can be contacted by dialing 0039 0187 258101. Complete information on the Fezzano Port are available on Marina del Fezzano.
The Genoa Port is one of the most modern ports on the Ligurian coastline. Together with Cristoforo Colombo Airport, the port forms one of the most important transport infrastructure hubs on the Ligurian Sea and the adjoining inland destinations. The tourist and leisure infrastructure of this port is hardly matched by any other docking venues on the Ligurian Sea. For instance, the port is dotted with bars and restaurants, a wellness center and plenty of sports facilities. Shopping is also available here. The total number of berths amount to about 500. By visiting Marina Genova Aeroporto, tourists can learn more about the leisure and commercial platform of this port.
Marina Duca degli Abruzzi neighbors on Marina di Genova Aeroporto, and, without being a public docking place, it still counts as a notable spot on the marine infrastructure of the city of Genoa. The port is managed by sundry private businesses and it counts some 380 berths.
Fiera di Genova is a major trade fair and exhibition center of Genoa. Its importance for the cultural and commercial life of Genoa is, amongst others, evidenced by the fact the center is serviced by a docking venue. The port counts some 300 berths, and it is also replete with leisure opportunities. Briefly put, this is one of the most notable ports on the Ligurian Sea.
This is a docking venue located in the heart of the historic port of Genoa. In fact, its location is one of the main features that have helped Marina Molo Vecchio to build the reputation is actually did. The port is obviously a tourist-oriented venue, making available a plethora of leisure opportunities (restaurants and cafes, shops, sports facilities, cinemas). Marina Molo Vecchio is more of a luxury yachting port, and its capacity is of 160 berths. In order to learn all that is to know about the Molo Vecchio Port of Genoa, visit the official website of the venue [www.mmv.it].
With a capacity of almost 1200 berths, the Genoa Sestri Bocca di Ponente Port is one of the largest ports on the Ligurian Sea. Most of this port is managed by the Genoa Cantieri Navali Sestri, and the rest of it by private organizations. It is located in the very proximity of Cristoforo Colombo Airport.
The Assonautica Port is managed by Assonautica della Spezia, and it is a highly tourist-oriented venue. It is endowed with all sort of specific facilities, and, featuring a capacity of some 600 berths, it is one of the largest ports on the Ligurian Sea. For complete information on the services and amenities available in this port, visit Assonautica della Spezia.
The Lotti Port counts more than 500 berths and, located in the La Spezia Gulf, it keep a high tourist profile. The leisure infrastructure consists of a range of restaurants and bars, shopping opportunities, beauty care centers, a congress hall and several sports facilities. The managing authorities also run a shipyard in Porto Lotti. In order to learn all about the services and facilities available in this port, visit Porto Lotti.
Located southeast from Chiavari and pertaining to the province of Genoa, Lavagna is home to one of the largest ports on the Ligurian Sea. Thus, the Lavagna Port has a capacity of more than 1500 berths. In order to learn more about this docking venue, visit Porto di Lavagna.
Lerici is located in the province of La Spezia, at a considerable distance from Cinque Terre, in fact. However, given it is one of the largest ports on the Ligurian Sea (a capacity of 1300 berths), the port can be visited by tourists who want to search out the Ligurian coastline in depth by sea.
From a tourist point of view, Portofino appeals by its historical background, since it is said to be the oldest village in the Tigullio Bay. It is also located in the Regional Park of Portofino. The port which pertains to this village has a capacity of 260 berths. It is located some 3 kilometers south of Santa Margherita Ligure, in the province of Genoa.