Thinking about exploring Italy by sea? We have done our homework and compiled a list of the most popular shipping lines and routes.

SHIPS TO THE ISLAND OF SICILY
 

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Several much smaller islands surrounding it are considered to be part of Sicily. Throughout much of its history, Sicily has been considered a crucial strategic location due in large part to its importance for Mediterranean trade routes. The area was highly regarded as part of Magna Graecia, with Cicero describing Siracusa as the greatest and most beautiful city of all Ancient Greece. The island was once a city-state in its own right, and as the Kingdom of Sicily ruled from Palermo over southern Italy, Sicily, and Malta. It later became a part of the Two Sicilies under the Bourbons, a kingdom governed from Naples that comprised both the island itself and most of Southern Italy. The Italian unification of 1860 led to the dissolution of this kingdom, and Sicily became an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Italy. Sicily is today an autonomous region of Italy. 
 

Of all the regions of Italy, Sicily is the one that covers the largest land area at 25,708 square kilometers (9,926 sq mi) and currently has just over five million inhabitants. Sicily has its own unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, cuisine, architecture and language. The Sicilian economy is largely based on agriculture (mainly orange and lemon orchards); this same rural countryside has attracted significant tourism in the modern age as its natural beauty is highly regarded. Sicily also holds importance for archeological and ancient sites such as the Necropolis of Pantalica and the Valley of the Temples
 

• From Naples - Palermo (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it - or by SNAV www.snav.it)
• From Genoa - Palermo (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it - or by Grandi Navi Veloci www.gnv.it)
• From Livorno - Palermo (operated by Grandi Navi Veloci www.gnv.it)
• From Villa San Giovanni/Reggio Calabria - Messina: ferry service (24 hours - 7 days a week - every hour) provided by the Italian Railroad as well as by private companies at same price. Reservations not available or necessary.
• From Palermo - Cagliari (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it)
• For connections between Sicily and Minor Islands (Eolie - Egadi) - www.gruppotirrenia.it/siremar or www.snav.it

SHIPS TO THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA  
 

Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily). The area of Sardinia is 24,090 square kilometres (9,301 sq mi). The nearest land masses to the island are (clockwise from north) the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Tunisia, and the Balearic Islands. Sardinia is part of Italy, with a special statute of regional autonomy under the Italian Constitution. The name is of unknown origin, though it may have to do with a tribe called the Sardi.
 

• From Genoa - Olbia/Arbatax/Porto Torres/Cagliari (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it - or by Grandi Navi Veloci www.gnv.it)
• From Civitavecchia (outside Rome) - Olbia/Cagliari/Arbatax/Golfo Aranci (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it - or by Corsica Ferries/Sardinia Ferries www.corsicaferries.com)
• From Naples - Cagliari (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it)
• From La Spezia - Golfo Aranci (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it - or by Corsica Ferries/Sardinia Ferries www.corsicaferries.com)
• From Fiumicino (Lazio) - Golfo Aranci (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it)
• From Livorno (Tuscany) - Golfo Aranci (operated by Corsica Ferries/Sardinia Ferries www.corsicaferries.com)

SHIPS FROM THE BAY OF NAPLES 
 

Naples is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old. Naples is located halfway between two volcanic areas, the volcano Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, sitting on the coast by the Gulf of Naples. Founded by the Ancient Greeks as "Νεάπολις", Neápolis (New City), it held an important role in Magna Graecia and then as part of the Roman Republic in the central province of the Empire. The city has seen a multitude of civilizations come and go, each leaving their mark and now the historic city centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

• From Naples - Capri/Ischia/Procida (operated by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it/caremar - or by SNAV www.snav.it - or by Alilauro www.alilauro.it)
• From Sorrento - Naples/Capri/Ischia (operated by Alilauro www.alilauro.it - or by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it/caremar)
• From Pozzuoli - Ischia/Procida (operated by Alilauro www.alilauro.it - or by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it/caremar)
• From Ischia - Capri - Procida (operated by Alilauro www.alilauro.it - or by Tirrenia Navigazione www.gruppotirrenia.it/caremar - or by SNAV www.snav.it)
• From Salerno - Amalfi - Positano - Capri (operated by Alilauro www.alilauro.it)