This marina is definitely worth a visit since it's one of the biggest and best equipped in Italy, as well as having a very nice location along the northern shore of Sicily. And if that doesn't convince you, maybe the fact that the Aeolian islands and many other destinations are just a stone throw away.
Location & Approach The Portorosa marina should be taken into serious consideration should you plan a sailing trip to the beautiful and timeless shore of Sicily. The clear blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea surround this marina which lies on the northeastern shore of the island, not far from the port of Messina, the entry point from the mainland, a popular location.
The shores of Sicily are not the most fragmented in the world (quite the opposite) but there are small bays and the marina Portorosa is located in such a small cove shaped like an estuary with several indentations and two small islands. In fact, looking from above, the marina looks more like it’s positioned on a series of canals rather than in a bay. However, this affords more berths for visitors along the piers.
The exact coordinates for the marina are 38°07’60N and 15°06’72E and there are two circular breakwaters protecting the narrow entry to the bay. One is located to the west and one to the east, leaving a small entry pointing towards the northeast. boats of up to 40m can enter here as the water depth at the mouth varies from 3.5 to 5 meters while in the docks it’s between 2.5 to 3.5 meters deep.
Infrastructure & Ambience When it comes to the infrastructure, there are many voices that say the Porto Rosa marina is one of the largest and best equipped marinas in Italy. With 600 berths on the water, it’s certainly one of the biggest and since it’s mooring are made along the narrow canals, the marina sits in the middle of the tourist complex, making access for guests that much easier, as well as making for a lovely view.
Among the facilities the tourists can expect to find here there is a harbor office, a navy yard, a petrol station, a commercial center, a supermarket, several restaurants, a swimming pool, beach, a tennis club, a yacht club, a taxi services, as well as the usual toilets and showers.
For the people who are new to the whole experience, the marina offers radio support on channel 9 VHF, as well as docking and setting sail assistance. In addition to these, there are also services aimed at servicing your boat such as winter maintenance, checking the batteries, greasing of external metal parts, motor and electrical maintenance and many others.
The area is not only a beautiful location along the Sicilian coast, but it’s a starting point for many other locations along this part of the Tyrrhenian Sea or in the Mediterranean basin too. Among these, Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli (the Aeolian Islands) are the most visited in the circuit, but also the smaller and lesser known Salina, Panarea, Alicudi e Filicudi, Ustica, Capo Tindari and Capo Milazzo around Sicily itself.
Overall, this region has a long sailing tradition which is highlighted by the high quality of the services being offered at Porto Rosa complex. Surrounding the marina are many swanky hotels and restaurants which give an air of exclusivity and class to the whole resort.