Santo Stefano Al Mare – A Relic From the Middle Ages
This little place has gone through a lot. Barbarians and Saracens invaded it and destroyed everything they saw. Nowadays things are back to normal, so that Yacht Charter sailors can enjoy their holidays to the full.
General Info
Founded by the Romans, this small seaside town can be found on the western part of Italy, close to the French border, in the region known as Liguria. Due to the fact that it sits on the European mainland and not on the Italian peninsula, it can be considered a part of the Italian Riviera, which is very appreciated by Yacht Charter regulars.
The Roman remains of the bridge can be seen on the Via Julia Augusta which was destroyed in medieval times by successive barbarian raids. This is why the locals were forced to move further inland and set up the nucleus of the “Sancti Stefani” town at the foot of the Sansteivi hill. All this history can be seen today, much to the delight of the Yacht Charter enthusiasts.
Travel & Arrival
Less than 50km from the French border, San Stafano al Mare is easily accessible from both Italy and France, especially since it’s on the E80 European road, which corresponds to the A8 highway in France and the A10 in Italy. This means that the easiest means of access for Yacht Charter travelers is by car.
By air, you could consider taking a flight to Nice in France and then crossing the border into Italy, since this is one of the biggest air transport hubs in the region. On the Italian side, there are few major international airports in the region and the benefit of a short travel time by air is cancelled by the long transfer time back to the city. Any way you look at it, Yacht Charter travelers will arrive faster when coming from France.
By sea, the leisure port of Marina degli Aregai is far too small to cater to any regular ferry rides, so only if you’re going to arrive in your own yacht is this going to be a viable solution. But if you’re keen on taking a boat here, you could try one of the bigger commercial ports, again Nice seems the most sensible choice or Vado Ligure in Italy which has links with Corsica.
Avant & Apres Sail
Among the most appreciated attractions in this ancient town are the foundations of a Benedictine abbey, the Town Hall which is a polygonal fortification built by the Saracens in the 16th century for defensive purposes on the mouth of the Rio Torre, the parish church of Santo Stefano rebuilt in the 18th century and of course, the large Tore beach which is used by Yacht Charter crews for a hoard of water activities, including diving, windsurfing and canoeing.
The shopping and eating out in the area is not the greatest but that’s expected since this is a small town we’re talking about. The good news for the Yacht Charter enthusiasts is that most of the venues are centered around the marina and that means you only have to step off the boat and step into a bar or restaurant.
Events & Actions
People come here for one reason: experiencing the old Mediterranean at a slower pace, which is quite funny since just kilometers away across the border there are Monaco and Saint Tropez, some of the most crowded and visited places on the Riviera. Yacht Charter sailors will enjoy the old town feel doubled with the hospitality of the locals which provide a range of water-based activities to fill up your days. When canoeing, diving and sailing becomes a bit boring, it’s time to get out of the city and begin exploring the Ligurian countryside. Some of the neighboring cities also bear ancient names like Cipressa, Pompeiana and Terzorio.