This
is a good option for travel both within
Italy to places like the islands of Capri,
Elba, Sardegna, Sicilia and the Aeolian
Islands. It is also a good option to consider
when leaving Italy for places like Croatia,
Greece and north Africa. The major ports
in Italy are in Sicily, Venice, Bari, Ancona,
Trieste, Brindisi and Naples. Bookings can
often be made online and is recommended
in the busy seasons. However there are usually
seats available if you want to risk it and
turn up at the port to make a reservation
in person.
SICILY
Ferries come to Sicily from Genova, Livorno,
Naples, Reggio di Calabria and Cagliari
and also from Malta and Tunisia. Tirrenia,
Tel. 091 333 300 in Palermo, Tel. 06 474
2041 in Rome. Runs Naples to Palermo (13
hours), Calgiari to Palermo (14 hours).
GNV also runs from Palermo and Genova to
Sicilia.You can book online and get current
schedules at www.traghettiservice.com
Grimaldi Grandi Traghetti, Tel. 091 587
404 in Palermo, Tel. 06 4281 8388 in Rome.
Runs Genoa to Palermo (20 hours). Sicilia
Jet hydrofoils (tel. 081 761 2348) leave
Naples Maritime Stazione at 5.30pm between
April and October and take four hours to
Palermo, Euro 55-69. The overnight ferry
to Palermo (tel. 081 720 1111) is 8 hours
and costs Euro 40 plus Euro 15-20 for a
sleeping berth. It leaves Naples Maritime
Stazione (catch tram 1 from Napoli Centrale)
at 8pm daily. Book well in advance in summer.
Ferries from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria (end of the Italian mainland) to Messina leave every 20 minutes. They take 25 minutes and cost Euro 16-20. You can take a car on the ferry. SARDEGNIA
Ferries for Sardegnia leave from Genova,
Livorno, Civitavecchia (near Rome) and Bonifacio.
Companies include Moby Lines, GNV, Sardinia
Ferries. Ticket reservations can be made
online at www.traghettiservice.com.
Please check the website for the most up
to date schedules and itineraries that can
change depending on the season. Some companies
have just one ferry departing each day,
some have as many as three. ELBA
Ferries leave mainland Italy from Piombino
on Toremar and Moby Lines. (Piombino is
north of Rome on the coast and is serviced
by train). On Toremar ferries go to three
points on the island – Portoferraio, Rio
Marino and Porto Azzurro. Moby Lines go
to Portoferraio. Ticket reservations can
be made online at www.traghettiservice.com AEOLIAN ISLANDS
These Islands can be accessed off the coast of Sicily by ferry from numerous ports in Italy including Naples, Palermo, Messina, Milazzo, Cefalu, Catania, Reggio Calabria, S.Agata Militello and Rome. All ferries leave all year round but services can decrease over the winter months so it is best to check schedules before you leave. The best place to access the islands is generally from Messina or Milazzo on the Sicilian coast.
One useful website that contains phone numbers and details is:
www.netnet.it
Siremar - www.siremar.it
Snav - www.snav.it
Covemar - www.covemar.it
are some of the ferries that service the
islands.
Small boats connect Lipari and the other
islands. CAPRI
Napoli and Sorrento are the most common
ports for leaving the Italian mainland for
Capri. Caremar ferries run about four times
a day to Capri from Sorrento and up to seven
times a day from Napoli. The website for
online bookings is www.caremar.it
Caremar also runs ferries to Ischia. adviseable
for in between periods.
ACCOMODATION
Obviously this will depend on your mode
of transport. If you are coming ashore at
night you may consider some of the accommodation
options we offer through our booking
engine. If you are camping on a water
route make sure you practice low impact
camping (i.e what you bring in you take
away – note that on some water ways
even human waste is supposed to be brought
out).
CROATIA AND ALBANIA
Ferries leave Venice, Ancona and Pescara for Croatia. There are more services during the summer months. Contact Kompas Italia in Venice (tel. 041 528 6548) for trips to Croatia and the Istrian Peninsula. Stazione Maritima in Venice is where you can catch ferries to the Adriatic ports in Albania, Croatia and Greece.
Adriatica www.adriatica.it
has a ferry service to Croatia, Albania
and Yugoslavia. See the website for full
schedules and details.
The Croatia Jet - www.snav.it
can be reached by tel. 39-010-582080).
It has a catamaran (car and passenger) from
Ancona (Italy) to Split (Croatia). This
is seasonal from 14th June to 29th September
2003 - daily departure - 4,5hrs trip. Departure
from Ancona (Italy) 11.00am arrival to Split
15.30pm Departure from Split (Croatia) 17.00pm
arrival to Ancona (Italy) 21.30hrs.
Ustica Lines - www.ustica.it
leaves from Venice: (Tel. +39-041-2712646)
From Venice (Italy) to Parenzo (Croatia)
seasonal departure with catamaran (pax only)
(Tue/Wed/Fri). From Venice (Italy) to Rovinj
(Croatia) seasonal departure with catamaran
(only pax) (Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat).
SEM Maritime Company - www.sem.hr
leaves from Ancona to Split in Croatia (tel.+385-21-338292)
From Ancona (Italy) to Split (Croatia).
From Ancona (Italy) to Hvar Island (Croatia) Seasonal (Mon-Fri-Sat-Sun). From Ancona (Italy) to Vis Island (Croatia) Seasonal (Sat-Sun).
ITALY-GREECE
There are lots of ships travelling daily between Italy and Greece so the
prices are quite affordable with prices one way to Greece starting at Euro
58 for a spot on the deck. However the overnight journey can get very cold
and if you want a good sleep you may consider a cabin. A car obviously makes
the journey more expensive. The four ports in Italy leaving for Greece
include Trieste, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi, and Greece has Kerkyra,
Igoumenitsa and Patras. From Brindisi the crossing takes just 3 hours by
catamaran. From Trieste it is 24 hours to Igoumenitsa or 31 hours for
Patras. Fares are subject to the season with low, high and mid ranges. High
season this year from Italy is July 4 to August 10. Minoan Lines depart from
Porto Venezia in Venice for Greece year round. Tel. 041 271 2345.
Check any of the following links for schedules and prices:
ITALY-CORSICA
Ferries to Corsica leave from Genova, Livorno,
Savona and S. Teresa di Gallura. All of
these ports can be reached by car or train.
Companies include Moby Lines, Corsica Ferries
and Saremar. Reservations and schedules
are available online at www.traghettiservice.com.
The first ferry from Genova leaves at 9am and arrives at 1.45pm. It returns at 2.45pm to Genova at 7.30pm. The annual schedule changes depending on the season so please check for updated schedules. From Livorno the ferry leaves at 10am and arrives at 2pm. It returns at 3.30pm and arrives in Livorno at 7.30pm.
ITALY-TUNISIA
Tirrenia has a service to Tunisia. See the website www.tirremar.it
SAFETY
Weather conditions can change fast on water.
Know the weather forecast and the expected
weather at that time of year. Also keep
an eye on tides and estimated sun down times.
Always take a medical kit with you. Remember
any trip on the water should be planned
bearing in mind it could turn into an overnight
trip even if it is supposed to be a 1-day
activity. The best solution for the first
signs of hypothermia are a warm, sweet drink.
Take a compass, first aid kit and additional
supplies of food and water with you.
BOATING IN ITALY
There are plenty of inland waterways in Italy. South of Venice in the Po
Delta, is a myriad of rivers and lakes mainly in a nature reserve passing
within a few hundred metres of the sea. You can cruise around Venice and the
islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. To the west of Venice is the River
Brenta to the historic town of Padua, to the north-west, the River Silé to
Treviso. It is now possible to cruise north and east along the Litoranea
Veneta canal parallel with the famous Lido di Jésolo coast to the Golf of
Trieste.There are over 700km of navigable waterways in a spectacular area.
If you are planning to do your own sailing, kayaking or canoeing trip around
Italy then you need to prepare adequately. We would assume people doing
their own kayaking or canoeing trips will have adequate experience and skill
on the water and examine the route they are taking carefully. Some of the
following handy hints and absolute essentials should be obvious:
- a basic repair kit and safety equipment for your boat. This will include
extra rope (make sure it is tied up and out of the way), life jackets, a tow
rope (if you need to help someone out), flares etc.
- extra snack food and water (it can be a long way between towns in some
parts, particularly if you get marooned with an injury or get lost!)
- pack light! You can buy extra food as you go and you really only need
basic water gear and a change of clothes if you go into towns.
- get some maps (detailed for any small rivers that you might take)
- itinerary - give someone a copy of your itinerary and check in with them
every few days so they know you are okay.
- learn some Italian that you will need to use in small towns or on the
water for directions.
Canoeing clubs in Italy:
Federazione Italiana Canottaggio
V.le Tiziano 70
00196 Roma
Tel: (+39) 63233770
Centro Canoe e Rafting "Le Marmore"
Voc. Tiro a Segno 19
Collestatte - Terni
Tel: (+39) 74467158
Fax: (+30) 686212249
Or visit the website - www.raftingmarmore.com
Canoa Club Topino
Via Roma 64
Nocera - Umbra
Tel: (+39) 3358334274
Fax: (+39) 74274530
Or visit the website - www.bcsnet.it
