SAILING THROUGH MYTHS

Embark on an enchanting trip along the Tyrrhenian coast. Aboard your private speedboat you will revel in the beauty of Campania’s spectacular shoreline and soak up marvellous views of its colourful towns from the sea. You will cruise past hidden grottoes, bathe in idyllic coves and dive into the legends that envelope the region’s favourite summer destinations.

Glide along the Amalfi Coast and around the island of Capri, beauty spots that have inspired haunting tales of love and loss. Every rock, cave and village conceals a different, gripping story. While you sail past Amalfi, if you listen carefully, you might still hear grief-stricken Hercules’ cries of despair. According to legend, the Roman hero fell in love with a nymph called Amalfi with eyes the colour of the sea. After her tragic death, he searched the world over to locate a place that could match the beauty of his gorgeous nymph and decided to bury her on this very spot. Above her tomb he built a town in her honour ensuring her name and allure would live forever.

The first glimpse of Positano will strike you with its magical allure and picture perfect hues. A jumble of pink, amber and white houses encircles the multi-coloured majolica-tiled dome of the cathedral and stands out against the lush green background of the Monti Lattari; in the foreground pebbled beaches and the crystalline waters lend touches of silver-grey and turquoise – Positano: a divine experiment with colour. The Greek god of the sea, Poseidon is responsible for this coastal gem, created as a tribute to his beloved nymph Pasitea.

You are now approaching Li Galli Islands so… beware of mermaids! Can you hear the Sirens singing? As the Odyssey recounts, the waters that surround this tiny archipelago were once haunted by these dangerous sea creatures. They used to bewitch sailors with their seductive voices, inducing them to lose control of their ships that inevitably crashed onto the rocks. No worries! Ulysses actually succeeded in defeating the Sirens long ago by inventing an ingenious trick. Before sailing past the Amalfi Coast he filled his companions’ ears with wax and asked them to tie him to the mainmast so as not to succumb to temptation. The Sirens were so humiliated by their failure that they flung themselves into the sea and turned into the lonely rocky islands you see today.

From here cruise smoothly towards the wonderful island of Capri. As you draw near you will definitely spot the soaring Arco Naturale – ghosts of those who tried to climb up to the top of this towering rock are said to fly through its arch, but only at night! – and the dramatic Faraglioni. These three monumental rock formations which jut out from the sea, just off the island’s coast, are believed to be the boulders hurled down by the furious cyclops Polyphemus after being blinded by Ulysses.

Depending on queues, sea and weather conditions, you might also want to take a peek inside Capri’s most famous natural attraction: the Blue Grotto. Witches and monstrous creatures are believed to have inhabited this wondrous sea cave. Superstition was so deeply rooted that the terrified islanders refused to set foot in it. The grotto eventually sank into oblivion until it was rediscovered in 1826. Today it is a completely monster-free marvel in which all can delight – high tides permitting.

Cool off with a swim in limpid waters, relax to the swishing sound of the rippling waves and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze as you float along the myth-drenched coasts of the Mediterranean.