2017 January February Marina World

MARINA FOCUS
Matteo Italo Ratti:
“Ports in the future
must have quality
– and they must be
part of a network.”
Opening the door to
a destination
Halfway between the Tuscan towns of Castiglioncello and Rosignano Solvay
lies Marina Cala de’ Medici – a doorway to the surrounding area and a starting
point for exploring the Tuscan Archipelago, the Etruscan coast, the hinterland,
historical and natural attractions, and the region’s wide range of food and
wine.
The marina sits within the
beautiful National Park of the Tuscan
Archipelago, the largest marine park
in Europe. The park includes the
islands of Elba, Capraia, Gorgona,
Giglio and Montecristo, which form
part of the Pelagos Sanctuary for
marine mammals – a protected area
established by agreement between
Italy, the Principality of Monaco and
France. Just 44km (27 miles) away from
Pisa airport, the marina has numerous
links to major European capitals. Its
position is central to the internationally
renowned artistic cities in Tuscany, such
as Florence, Siena, Volterra, Pisa and
San Gimignano.
The town of Castiglioncello is
within walking distance, offering
panoramic views of lush pine groves
and spectacular cliffs dropping down
into the Ligurian Sea. Castiglioncello
became a popular tourist destination in
the 1960s, after it was selected as the
location for several successful Italian
films. Despite its continued popularity,
the beach is clean and the water crystal
clear.
Marina Cala de’ Medici has 650 berths for
vessels up to 36m (118ft).
A floating city
Now boasting 650 berths for boats
from eight to 36m (26 to 118ft) on nine
pontoons, the marina was tentatively
started in 1999, with the structural
sections of the seawalls, piers and
jetties completed in 2004. From the
outset, its mission was to be not just a
place to moor up, but a five-star resort
offering world-class facilities. Planners
of the marina recognised early that,
in line with sweeping improvements
to marinas across the world, boaters’
expectations were rising rapidly and
the nautical tourism industry was set to
change. With this in mind, the marina
was built to be a destination in its own
right.
“We are convinced of the substantial
difference between simply managing
a port structure and making it a place
where values, culture and sport merge,”
a spokesperson for the marina says. “To
sum it up in a few words, Marina Cala
de’ Medici is like a floating city that is
part sea, part land.”
Marina staff are proud of its
location and aim to integrate it
with the economic and cultural
aspects of the region by hosting
events, art exhibitions and cultural
conventions. They get involved in local
environmental initiatives and help
train new professionals in the nautical
field. Training and collaboration is an
important part of the philosophy held
by marina director and CEO Matteo
Italo Ratti. He feels that if marinas are
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www.marinaworld.com - January/February 2017