Our means of transport is the yacht. This is the way we have chosen to enjoy the sea and discover the natural environment. For us, it is more than a choice. It is a natural consequence of our passion for the place where we live - Venice and its lagoon.
Everyone knows Venice and admires its architectural beauty, harmonious landscapes and evocative corners, characterised by an intricate blend created by the hand of nature and the hand of man. But the unique atmosphere which has made it famous throughout the world is the fruit of such a delicate balance that its very existence is at risk. It is no secret that Venice literally risks being "eaten up" by the very element which gives it its character and on which both Venetians and tourists move about - water. Every movement of the tides removes a piece of the lagoon, helped by the wash from the motorboats used for transport and commercial activities.

And it is our respect for Venice which is behind our decision to live and propose this environment in the least invasive way possible - the sailing yacht. Thanks to its structure and water line, the yacht does not, in fact, cause any impact on the surrounding environment as there is no wave motion, even when using the engine. When you go by sail, there are no leaks of fuel or pollutant emissions. You can explore places naturally with an eye to their conservation, genuine Sustainable Tourism, promoting the growth and development of the places being visited.

Sustainable Tourism, in fact, places the emphasis on the consequences of the tourism. The main objective is to visit natural and cultural attractions, helping to conserve the area and develop its traditions and populations.

To find out more about Sustainable Tourism: World Tourism Organization and Associazione Eco Turismo Italia

ECO-CHARTER: OUR PROPOSAL TO DISCOVER VENICE

On the basis of this philosophy, we have developed a new proposal to discover the most authentic and unspoilt aspects of Venice, the Eco-Charter, an opportunity to visit the city, the lesser known islands and the environment of the Venice lagoon in an aware sustainable way.

The Eco-Charter proposals are based above all on our Code of Ethics which makes it possible to visit the Venice lagoon in environmentally compatible ways:

1. We always move about in respect of the integrity of the places we visit and all forms of animal life in the lagoon
2. We respect speed limits
3. We always make sure that the engine is in optimum condition and carry out regular controls to avoid oil and fuel leaks
4. We keep rubbish on board and dispose of it when we go ashore
5. We differentiate the waste we produce as we are great believers in the importance of differentiated waste collection
6. We use environmentally friendly and biodegradable products
7. We use special containers to recover used oil and take our old batteries to special waste collection centres
8. . We make the greatest possible use of marinas. A shower in a marina is preferable to a shower on the boat (if you take a shower on the boat, use of shampoo or bath foam is prohibited).

The choice of Eco-Charter itineraries is not therefore limited to the showy colour of the most famous places, but concentrates instead on the most characteristic aspects of the region and the unspoilt areas where the discovery of a place is still a unique and unrepeatable experience.

The Venice lagoon is perfect for this experience. It is one of the most extensive and important ecosystems in Europe and the Mediterranean extending for a full 550 km_ with an immense biological heritage of flora and fauna and a number of plants and animals which are rare or even in danger of extinction. Here you can find archaeological sites of great interest and historical and architectural monuments which tell the story of the populations which have been living in the lagoon for centuries. As well as the famous city where you can stay to visit the monuments and walk through the world's most famous alleyways, you can still find lesser known places concealing miniature treasures where you can rediscover Venice at its most authentic.

San Francesco del Deserto: the island of San Francesco del Deserto is opposite Sant'Erasmo and south of Burano. The hermitage which you can still visit today dates back to a legendary voyage made by St Francis of Assisi who is said to have landed on this island in 1220 on his way back from Egypt with an anonymous companion, to be welcomed by the festive song of swallows. However, we do know for certain that in 1233 the island was given to the Franciscan Order by Jacopo Michiel who had commissioned construction of a church dedicated to the Saint here. Subsequently, a monastery and a Renaissance cloister were also built here. The island changed ownership many times, the Friars Minor Observant, the Friars Minor Reformati, entirely for military use, then back again to the Franciscan Friars who returned there after 600 years. From 1858 onwards, the entire complex was restored, bringing the apse of the oratory and foundations of the original church back to light. From outside, the island has an unmistakable silhouette of cypress trees revealing glimpses of the monastery and bell tower. Today, San Francesco del Deserto can be reached by private transport only, but once you go ashore, there is always a monk available to guide the visitors on a visit to the island.

Le Vignole: The island is characterised by luxurious vegetation, making it in the past one of the favourite holiday destinations for the inhabitants of first Altino, then Venice. Particularly in the fine season, Le Vignole is still the perfect place for an outing or lunch in one of the small restaurants with pergola and garden near the landing stage.
As well as a long building once used as a powder magazine and located opposite Sant'Erasmo, the island is linked via a bridge to the Sant'Andrea fort built in the 16th century to defend the Lido inlet from the Turks. The building, a symbol of the strength and power of the Serenissima, has a trapezoidal plan and a series of 40 embrasures arranged in a ray pattern at water level.

Lazzaretto Nuovo: located about 3 km northeast of Venice opposite the coast of Sant'Erasmo, the island takes its name from its former role to prevent contagion, set up by the Serenissima from 1468. It was used to quarantine ships arriving from the various Mediterranean ports and suspected to be carriers of the plague. A number of buildings were constructed, including 100 "rooms" along the boundary wall, the Venetian-style chimneys giving the island the appearance of a "castle". The main building is the 16th century Tezon Grande, 100 m long, retaining many original writings and drawings reminding us of the presence of merchants, porters and the Health Authority guardians. During Napoleonic and then Austrian dominion, the island of Lazzaretto Nuovo was used for military purposes and became part of the lagoon defence system as a powder magazine to support the fortifications at Lido inlet. Retracing the steps of the military patrols along the Istrian stone bastions and salt marshes, you can enjoy points of great environmental interest with a 360° panorama across the lagoon opposite Venice.
Today the island accommodates archaeological sites and historical-naturalistic itineraries. For some years now, Lazzaretto Nuovo has been given in concession to a voluntary association, the Ekos Club, which, in collaboration with various bodies and institutions, has taken over custody and management of the island and organises guided visits and meetings, with particular emphasis on the island's historical and natural characteristics and the lagoon's traditions and seafaring activities.

The island of Certosa: this is the entrance to the North Lagoon Park. From the 13th century, it was occupied first by Augustinian canons, then Carthusian fathers who built a temple and a monastery here. In the 19th century, however, the works of art were removed and it was forcibly converted to military use until 1968. Today, as well as accommodating a new sailing centre, the island of Certosa offers naturalistic visits where you can discover and appreciate the most typical botanical aspects.
Our boats are moored at this island at the recently constructed sailing centre. We are 200 m from the city of Venice and just 15 minutes from the lagoon inlets. Just a stone's throw from the open sea.

Torcello: this is where you can find the roots of Venice. The island of Torcello is packed with discoveries and mysteries to fascinate the visitor. Sailing alongside a canal, you immediately come to the evocative Ponte del Diavolo (Devil's Bridge). Its history tells the story of a beautiful Venetian girl, a young Austrian official and the devil in person who, in the form of a black cat, appeared at midnight on 24 December at the centre of the bridge which had been built in a single night.
The island is at the centre of what was once the economic and social heart of Venetian civilisation. At the peak of its splendour, the ancient Dorceum or Turricellum could accommodate tens of thousands of inhabitants. In the Middle Ages it was an important port with busy metal, wool and glass working workshops. To give an idea of the wealth of the island, in 1795 there were 737 noble families living there, while when the period of decline began there were still 16 monasteries and numerous churches with a total of 12 parishes.
Here you can find Venice's oldest monument, Santa Maria Assunta. The church is a typical basilica divided into a nave and two aisles, with 18 Greek marble columns, and marble door with 9th century jambs and architrave decorated with bas-reliefs of vine shoots dating from the 11th century. Magnificent Veneto Byzantine mosaics (similar to those of Ravenna) decorate the interior: the floor, the bowl-shaped vault of the apse and the triumphal arch portraying the Twelve Apostles, the Annunciation and the Virgin with Child. To the left of the high altar there is the original inscription of the founding of the church, the most ancient document in the history of Venice.

Burano e Murano: these are the most famous islands and, in fact, visiting Murano and Burano is a little like being at Venice. Canals, alleyways and hidden corners leave ample space for the principal element with which the inhabitants of the lagoon share their lives every day. On Murano, at the beautiful church of Santa Maria and San Donato (12th century) you will note that the church is oriented in such a way that its most prestigious side, a marvellous apse, faces those arriving from the sea. The very origins of Burano, on the other hand, are linked to the sea. According to legend, a sailor leaving his loved one on Murano, embarked on a ship and arrived in a place inhabited by mermaids where he resisted their song while the rest of the crew threw themselves into the water to reach them. Amazed at such faithfulness, from the depths of the sea the queen of the mermaids produced a crown of foam which was transformed into a wedding veil for the distant fiancée. Since then, with their needle and thread, the young girls of the island have tried to reproduce it, giving rise to the tradition of embroidery typical of the island. Burano has a distinctive appearance. There are no imposing palaces, but rather a uniform landscape of houses all the same height and each painted in bright colours.

S. Erasmo: is known as the island of market gardens thanks to the traditional intensive horticulture practised there, providing Venice with food. Although its history goes hand in hand with its defensive military role, Sant'Erasmo is today dedicated to agriculture and the cultivation of top-quality artichokes and asparagus. It also produces a small quantity of wine which has led to one of the Venice lagoon's most appreciated initiatives, the Must Festival. Also of particular interest is the fort, the Torre Massimiliana, a massive Habsburg fortification begun by the French and the refuge of Emperor Maximilian of Austria during the uprising led by Daniele Manin in 1848. These characteristics make Sant'Erasmo a place of constant discoveries with an atmosphere suspended in time. Aimed at a natural and highly sensory encounter with the island.