Rent a boat
Experience Sicily from the sea

The map (Google Maps) provides an overview of the coastline of Santa Flavia.

The red line marks the minimum dis­tance (150 m / 500 ft) that you must keep from the shore when operating your rented boat. This safety distance is primarily intended to protect swimmers and divers. The area also contains shallow waters that can be difficult to spot.

The area in which you are allowed to use your rented boat extends from San Nicola l'Arena in the southeast to Aspra in the northwest.

The map also shows two Santa Flavia Shuttle stops near the harbour, as well as the walking route from the train station to the harbour.

Since the summer of 2026, you can rent a boat at the fishing harbour of Porticello.

The boat rental service is located on the small pier in the northern part of the harbour (see map). It also rents out stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).

No boating license is required for the small motorboats. If you would rather relax and let someone else take the helm, you can also hire a skipper.

Notes:

• The easiest way to book is directly at the pier, ideally a few days before your preferred date.
• No boating license is required. A valid ID is sufficient.
• If you have never operated a motorboat before, it is advisable to take your first trip with a skipper, who can also show you the basics.
• Although it is noticeably cooler on the water than on land, you should still bring plenty of drinking water.
• The cost of the fuel you use will be added to the rental price at the end of your trip.

Holiday apartments are now also available in Porticello. Solemar Sicilia's apartments are located in the old town and around the harbour of Porticello, placing you right in the heart of au­then­tic Sicilian life. The boat rental is just a few minutes' walk away.

And there's even more: For selected holiday apartments, you can also rent high-quality bicycles, making it even easier to explore the surrounding area at your own pace.

Have you been dreaming of owning an apartment - or even a house in Italy? If so, Porticello could be the hidden gem you've been looking for.

Because the town has been spared from mass tourism, property prices remain remarkably affordable by Northern European standards. Another advantage is the large number of vacant homes, many of which have stood empty since millions of Sicilians left their homeland over the past 130 years.

As a result, expats and long-term residents are not taking housing away from local people. On the contrary, they help breathe new life into aban­doned properties, preserving the town's character while giving these homes a second chance.

Who wouldn't love the idea of spending an extended stay in Italy? With a holiday apartment that includes a well-equipped kitchen, it's easy to enjoy life in Porticello for weeks or even months.

During the winter season, however, many long-term visitors prefer to stay in the old town of Santa Flavia.

Slightly farther from the seafront, the old town has a cozier atmosphere, and the railway station is much closer.

This makes it the perfect base for winter. It's an ideal time to explore Palermo, Cefalù, and other towns by train. The summer heat has faded, and there are far fewer tourists, allowing you to experience Sicily at a more relaxed pace.

Our first destination appears after just one kilometre: Solanto (see map). During the Middle Ages, a tonnara (Wikipedia, it) was built here - a traditional tuna fishery where tuna were processed. The castle shown in the photo was constructed to protect this tonnara.

Today, the castle is a popular venue for events, while the former tonnara has become a centre for water sports. During the summer, children learn to sail here, so please navigate with extra care.

Our next stop is one you may already know from a trip by train or bicycle: Casteldaccia (see map). On land, we discovered it as a long, typically Sicilian small town with a charming central piazza.

Seen from the sea, however, it pre­sents a completely different picture (see photo). Casteldaccia appears much larger, with plenty of greenery and a distinctive high-rise building at its centre.

Important: During the summer, the waters off Casteldaccia are used by firefighting aircraft to scoop up water. Please exercise extra caution in this area.

We are already familiar with Altavilla Milicia (see map) from previous trips by train or bicycle. Here, the focus was on the upper part of the town with its wonderful belvedere.

Seen from the sea (see photo), we get a completely different impression of : now we can see how elongated the town is and that it is situated entirely on a plateau. The nature reserve behind the town appears especially impressive when viewed from the water.

Important: During the summer, the waters off are used by firefighting aircraft to scoop up water. Please exercise extra caution in this area.

Our next stop is called Torre Colonna (see map). It takes its name from one of the many towers found along this coastline.

In our photo, the tower stands out as an ochre-colored building. In the past, it served to protect the coast from pirate attacks; today, it is a private residence surrounded by beautiful seaside villas.

Once again, the impressive backdrop is provided by the Pizzo Cane Nature Reserve.

Our next stop also once served as a defense against pirates. It is the Torre delle Mandre (see map), which is commonly known as the Torre delle Mandre.

However, it was not actually built in the Middle Ages under the Normans, but rather in the 16th century. At that time, the Barbary corsairs (Wikipedia) were particularly active in this area and posed a serious threat to the coastline.

The second-to-last stop on our boat tour is the marina of San Nicola l'Arena (see map). Just like in Solanto, the town was once dominated by a tonnara (Wikipedia, it) and its pro­tec­tive castle (see photo).

When tuna disappeared from these waters, the local community had to look for a new source of income. In San Nicola l'Arena, tourism was discovered at an early stage as a promising opportunity. It is therefore no surprise that this small town is now home to one of Sicily's largest marinas.

As the map shows, the final stop on our boat tour is located almost 3 km offshore.

No, there is no mistake in the GPS coordinates. Instead, you will find a large rock formation (scoglio) here, barely rising above the surface of the water. As our photo shows, there is only enough space for a few seagulls to rest on it.

Viewed from above, the rock has the shape of an ant - hence the name Formica.

Lo Scoglio della Formica is a paradise for divers. Snorkeling is also highly re­war­ding here (see photo). However, please re­mem­ber to secure the boat to the small red buoy (not visible in the photo) before jumping into the water.

The Borgo di Santa Nicolicchia (see map) is already one of Italy's most beautiful bays when viewed from land. It is therefore well known from countless photographs.

Seen from the sea, however, the bay takes on a completely new appea­rance. This makes it a perfect spot for anyone hoping to capture photos that will get plenty of likes on Instagram.

The best shots are usually taken in the morning, when the sun illuminates the buildings facing the sea. Our photo here, however, shows the small beach of the Borgo di Santa Nicolicchia as seen from the boat.

Sant'Elia (see map) is also one of the most photographed places in Italy when viewed from land. The village beach and the bathing bay are particularly popular subjects.

From the sea, however, there are far more possibilities. Quite simply, there is no one blocking the view. Our photo here shows the entire village in a pano­ramic view, with the famous "White House" on the left and the village beach in the center.

Capo Zafferano (see map) offers far more photographic opportunities when viewed from the sea than from land. From the shore, the rock formation is always "in the way".

Out on the water, however, you have a clear view of three different sides of Capo Zafferano. Our photo here shows the lighthouse from the western side.

After passing Capo Zafferano, we change our course and head west (see map). After just over 1 km, we are greeted by the full beauty of Monte Catalfano (see photo).

On the left side of the photo, the fence leading down to the rocks stands out with its bright appearance. It marks the only public access to the sea along this stretch of coastline, known as Ippocampo ("seahorse").

Since summer 2026, there has been a bar up by the road, which has quickly be­come a popular meeting place for young people from the surrounding area.

After another kilometre, we reach another rocky headland - the one of Mongerbino (see map). It is much smaller than Capo Zafferano, however.

What it lacks in size, it makes up for with the Arco Azzurro (see photo), one of Sicily's best-known natural wonders. From land, the Arco Azzurro is difficult to reach, but fortunately, we have a boat.

After the Arco Azzurro, we round the rocky headland of Mon­ger­bino and continue south. For just over 1 km, we pass the famous villas of Mongerbino (see map).

Traditionally, wealthy residents of Palermo have spent their summers here. Today, some of these villas are also available as holiday rentals.

At the end of the villa district of Mongerbino, the scenery changes noticeably: the fishing village of Aspra comes into view (see map).

It is almost like Sicily straight out of a picture book. Colorful fishing boats rest on the beach (see photo), and right next door, freshly caught fish is sold.