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| Maritime Services |
Italy has a total of almost 8,490 Km./ 5,275 miles of coastline, including the peninsula
itself and all the numerous islands in the seas around the country.
There are many services linking the islands by sea to the mainland: the main links are by car ferries and hydro-foils.
In addition, ships from all the countries around the Mediterranean are moored in the well-equipped Italian ports.
The main Italian ports of embarkation for the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia are: Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia,
Fiumicino, Naples and Villa San Giovanni.
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The primary companies operating on these routes are: Ferrovie dello Stato, Tirrenia Navigazioni, Grandi
Traghetti, Trans Tirreno Express, Moby Lines, and Sardinia Ferries. Bookings can be made and tickets purchased at authorised travel agencies. Connections
are more frequent during the summer and on holidays.
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| Navigation of the Lakes |
| The public boat services of the Gestione Navigazione
Laghi Maggiore Garda Como, concern all the principal lakes and give a wonderful
opportunity for appreciating the beauties of the various towns which face onto the lakes. The boats, varying from
"ancient" steamboats to fast modern hydrofoils, are equipped with every comfort to make the trip more
pleasant, such as bars, restaurants, telephones and solariums. It is also possible to take animals onto the boats.
All the main lake-side localities are connected by a network of ferries and cruise boats which make it possible
to avoid the lakeside traffic and to spend hours in complete relaxation. |
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| Lake Maggiore |
| There are summer cruises on Lake Maggiore from March to September leaving from Arona. The cruise on the steamboat 'Piemonte"
is particularly attractive. All the motorships have an on-board restaurant service. Hydrofoils connect Arona and Locarno in under two hours, with stops at the most interesting places on the way. Intra and Laveno are linked by motor-ferries which can carry vehicles, (cars and camper vans). In Italy
and in Switzerland there are special season tickets which permit an unlimited number of journeys. |
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| Lake Como |
| Lake Como has a fleet of 26 motorships which link up the main tourist areas. Ferries
for transporting motor-vehicles travel between Cadenabbia, Bellagio,
Menaggio and Varenna. They can carry over twenty vehicles and there is
a discount on the ticket price for extra journeys. The fast hydrofoils are equally cheap and they connect Como and Lecco with many stops in between. The summer cruise trips leave every day of the week from Colico. Departures are from around 9.30 am to 6.30
pm. In summer a pleasant alternative is offered by the night-time cruises with on-board dancing, leaving from Como, and from
Colico, Domaso, Menaggio, Bellagio, Varenna, Lecco. |
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| Lake Garda |
| The fleet of Lake Garda consists of 20 boats with bars, restaurants and sun decks.
The ferry service consists of two motorships, which can transport up to 35 motor vehicles and 300 passengers, traveling
from Maderno to Torre del Benaco and vice-versa. Between Desenzano and Peschiera there are swift catamarans which link up these two towns and many places in between. Afternoon
and night-time summer cruises leave every day of the week on the following routes: Peschiera-Garda, Salò-Gargnano,
Riva-Malcesine, Desenzano-Manerba. There are bars, restaurants and
orchestras on board. |
| For information: |
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Gestione Navigazione Laghi Maggiore Garda Como
Via Ludovico Ariosto, 21 20145 MILANO
Tel.(039) 02 4676101 - Fax (039) 02 46761059
www.navigazionelaghi.it |
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| Lake Iseo |
| On Lake Iseo there is a fleet of 7 motorships which connect almost all the lake-side
towns. Some of them have bar and restaurant services and in the summertime there are evening cruises with dinners
served. The ferry service connects Pisogne
and Sarnico. Various tours, with
an on-board bar and lunch service, leave from Sarnico (stopping at Iseo,
Lovere and Monte Isola), from Sulzano (stopping at Lovere
e Sarnico) and from Sale Marasino (with stops at Lovere, Sarnico and Monte Isola). |
| For information: |
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Navigazione Lago d'Iseo
Via Nazionale 16 - 24062 Costa Volpino (BG)
Tel. (039) 035 971483 - Fax (039) 035 972970
www.navigazionelagoiseo.it |
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Disabled Travelers
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Ferries & Cruises
Tirrenia's ferries have 1 or 2 accessible cabins on their scheduled daily lines to Sardinia. Grandi Navi Veloci
has 2 ferries with 2 special accessible cabins each. The new Costa Line ships as Costa Classica and Costa Romantica
have special accessible cabins, 6 on each ship. |
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