Sailing pleasure on the Italian Riviera

If you have a few Euros to spare then the Italian Riviera is a place where you can lose your money elegantly and dock a yacht with calm.

It's claimed the resorts of Sanremo, Bordighiera and Ospidaletti, in Italy's Liguria region, formed an Italian Riviera that predated its French counterpart. Many other of Liguria's classic fishing ports have now also become touristic ones.

Just a little further along from Nice, Cannes and Monaco, the Italian Riviera consists of the western Riviera di Ponente and the eastern Riviera di Levante and provides many opportunities to broaden your sailing horizons.

The exclusive waters of Portofino, for instance, with the exquisite Paraggi Bay nearby. Cruising the temperate coast of flowers and palms, the possibility of spotting dolphins and the occasional whale is likely.

Sandy beaches and bathing establishments at Alassio, Andora or Diano Marina tempt enthusiasts of beach volleyball, water gymnastics and the vibrancy of summer crowds. Alternatively, smaller, traditional fishing villages offer a quiet, more secluded sailing stop over. Like Camogli, which hosts an annual blessing of the fish festival and public fish-frying feast.

Italy's largest commercial port, Genoa, is home to the Museum of the Sea. Founded in the oldest building from the heyday of the Maritime Republic, the museum has displays that reconstruct historical sea battles, an arms collection, as well as over 6,000 maritime exhibits dating back to Columbus.

The Naval Museum can also be found in Genoa and the city hosts an annual international boat show. Liguria's strong relationship between Man and the Sea built a trustworthy guild of shipwrights. The Maestri of the past were apprenticed for 12 years and traditional wooden gozzo boats from the region developed a fierce reputation for strength and stability.

The ancient craft of shipbuilding has developed to modern high-tech leisure models. La Spezia port hosts the luxury motor-yacht centre of the Ferretti Group, one of the world's leading companies in design and construction of luxury boats.

Cruising the Italian Riviera is not difficult by boating standards. The climate is temperate and the sea relatively calm and unsurprising. Its maritime appeal though is anything but, with a variety of beaches, bays and underwater worlds to experience and a series of lively and elegant ports in which to spend the night.