A HIDDEN CORNER OF EUROPE

Until the railway arrived a century ago, the Cinque Terre were five far-flung fishing villages cut off from the rest of Italy. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore were sustained only by olive oil, fresh fish and wine from their own vineyard-filled valley. Today, these colourful stone villages tumble into the sea to form a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding vineyards are still all-organic, but are now criss-crossed by cycling routes, jogging paths and hiking trails. 

ITALY’S COOLEST BEACH RETREAT

Boutiques in Italy’s chicest beach resort advertise the locations of sister branches:St Tropez, St Moritz, St Barths. Forte dei Marmi mixes ultimate luxury with brazen hauteur like no other destination. Visitors accessorise with fur in winter, Tod’s in summer, and small dogs all year round. The town’s magnificent beach became the byword for sandy sophistication in the 1950s, attracting the country’s industrial elite from the Agnellis to the Pirellis. 

TOWERING OVER CINQUE TERRE

Riomaggiore’s colourful case a torri, or 'tower houses', tumble seawards from the Ligurian Alps. Centuries of building upwards has rendered the village a Disney-on-Sea, as vibrant façades teeter over a labyrinth of shady streets. Guests keen to stretch their legs can saunter the romantic kilometre-long seaside footpath, the Via dell’Amore. This ‘lovers path’ connects Riomaggiore with Manarola, the equally beautiful Cinque Terre town next door. Sublime sustenance can be found at either end.

DIVING THROUGH A MARINE PARK

The Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre’s crystal clear waters are one of the Mediterranean’s most enchanting spots to dive. Canyons, caves and steep sea walls are riddled with sea daisies, sponges and neon starfish. For deep-sea divers seeking a challenging experience, the World War II destroyer Marcella is now a marine zoo on the spooky seafloor. Guests can see plenty from deck too. The surrounding seas are home to an estimated 40,000 dolphins, as well as around 1,000 whales.

THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO SUPERYACHT CHARTER

Cinque Terre is one of the more low-key superyacht destinations on the French and Italian Rivieras.  As one of the smaller luxury yachts in the fleet, the 24m Ruff One is the perfect low-key base from which to explore these ‘Five lands’ and makes a great choice for families, couples or first time charter guests.  Ruff One has an ingeniously spacious interior and offers excellent value for up to 6 guests. 

LUXURY YACHT RUFF ONE