Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has paid lip service to sustainability, but seemingly didn’t get the memo that slow, eco-friendly Italian travel is in and polluting mega yachts are out.
Photos of the OG tech bro’s 118-meter-long (387 foot-long) superyacht, which has been described as a “city on water,” splashed across Italian news outlets earlier this month after the gigantic luxury boat was spotted cruising off the island of Elba. As part of an apparent Mediterranean tour, Zuckerberg later docked at the southern Italian port of Castellammare di Stabia, and his conspicuous arrival attracted curious onlookers and prying paparazzi. Zuck’s colossal watercraft — complete with a basketball court, movie theater and helipad — is valued at an estimated $300 million.
Yawn. No matter your tax bracket, there are better, greener ways to enjoy the water. Here are five people-powered, planet-friendly water sports in Italy that you can feel good about.
Set sail
Embark on a wind-assisted adventure in search of the perfect sunset. With nearly 5,000 miles of coastline stretching up and down the Italian peninsula, it’s not easy to choose just one spot for sailing. From Portovenere and Portofino in Liguria to Capraia and Giglio in Tuscany to Ponza in Lazio and Procida in Campania, soak up the seafaring lifestyle on Italy’s briny depths.
Companies like BeBlue offer dozens of different tours, ranging from fully skippered group sailing packages for landlubbers to bareboat rentals that cater to more experienced sailors. You can even gather sailing-savvy friends to form a Flotilla — a small fleet of boats that “float” around together. The folks at Sail Utopia conduct drifting voyages around Sicily’s seven Aeolian islands with a focus on sustainability and conservation of marine life. A day trip to trek up to Stromboli’s active volcano is a highlight.
As an alternative to sailing on the high seas, Lake Garda and Lake Como have strong thermal winds that blow constantly from the Alps making them favorites with sailors in the know.
Pedal, paddle or row your boat
The Lake Trasimeno area is a family-friendly destination where you can rent a pedal-propelled boat (pedalo in Italian). Operating much like a bicycle, they’re perfect for navigating expansive bodies of water. Since 1955, La Bussola in Capodimonte (Viterbo province) has offered boat rentals on the shores of Europe’s largest volcanic lake, Lago di Bolsena. Both canoes and paddle boats are on offer.
After a long day of monument hopping in the Eternal City, Rome’s human-made Lake Borghese provides a shady respite from the summer temps. Within the Villa Borghese city park, keep your eyes peeled for the boathouse set along the encircling footpath near the Temple of Asclepius. Row boats are hired in increments of 20 minutes.
Try kitesurfing
Top destinations for kitesurfing in Italy include Tuscany’s Elba, Talamone, Marina di Grosseto and Castiglione della Pescaia. The Salento peninsula of Puglia is also a top pick for its year-round temperate climate (though we prefer spring and autumn for kitesurfing, since beaches are less crowded).
Don’t forget to consider the crystal-clear waters of Sardinia. Particularly stellar spots include San Teodoro, Badesi, Porto Botte, Porto Pollo, and Punta Trettu — a unique strip of land surrounded by sea to create a flat-water lagoon with a shallow seabed. It’s especially popular with freestyling riders, as is Sicily’s Stagnone.
So many gorges, so little time
Brave Italy’s rushing rivers and streams in a rubber raft or kayak. Piedmont’s Valsesia offers rides backdropped by stunning views of Mount Rosa. Described by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful places in the world to go rafting, il fiume noce set in the Val di Sole of Trentino accommodates green-conscious riders of varied experience levels. In the Sibillini Mountains National Park that cuts through the regions of Umbria and Marche, the Velino and Nera rivers come together to create the spectacular man made Marmore falls. One of the highest waterfalls in Europe, the rivers are very popular among rafters. If you’re near the Renaissance capital, check out these whitewater rafting experiences along the Sieve river through the Mugello area, vetted by the Florence convention and visitors’ bureau.
“Walk” on water
If slow and steady are more your speed, consider the gentler option of SUPs (standup paddle boarding). Sign up for one of ToscanaSUP Florence tours for a unique and relaxing day on the Arno, where you’ll wind your way under the city’s most iconic bridge, the Ponte Vecchio. The company also has SUP tours in the Lucca and Garfagnana areas, the Cinque Terre and along the Tuscan coast.
