12 Blue Flags, NAUTILIA Used Boat Show, and Barcolana – the world’s largest regatta
When boats in Central Europe have long since been put into winter storage, the mood in the northern Adriatic changes. The harbors empty, and the hustle and bustle of August gives way to a quieter, more focused atmosphere. The sea remains the same, only the number of sailors decreases, and those who sail in autumn are passionate about their element. The light becomes softer, the days cooler, the air fresher – especially when the bora wind has cleared the sky. Anyone traveling between Lignano and Trieste at this time of year will experience a region without the pleasures of swimming, but direct, unspoiled, and close by.
NAUTILIA: the highlight for anyone dreaming of a new used boat
In autumn, the Italian boating scene turns its attention to Aprilia Marittima. This is where NAUTILIA, Italy’s largest used boat show, takes place – for the 38th time in 2025. The fair is a fixed date in the nautical calendar: from October 18 to 20 and October 24 to 26, 2025, more than 300 sailing and motor boats will be presented, along with around 200 exhibitors from Italy and abroad. Every year, 15,000 to 20,000 people visit the event.
NAUTILIA was founded in the 1980s with the aim of structuring the booming used boat market and making it more transparent for buyers. Today, it is the largest used boat show in Italy and one of the most important in Europe.
Its special character lies in the presentation of the boats on land, on solid ground: hulls can be inspected at close range, technical rooms are accessible, and test drives can be arranged on request. This factual, comparable presentation and the possibility of appointing an expert immediately makes the fair attractive for both experienced owners and beginners.
The Aprilia Marittima exhibition grounds are clearly laid out: separate zones for sailing and motor boats, a technical mile for accessories and services, and an area for financial and insurance services. Topics such as refit, sustainability, and digital navigation are becoming increasingly important.
Many visitors come with a clear intention to buy; others use the fair to get their bearings or gather technical expertise. What sets NAUTILIA apart from glamorous boat shows is its down-to-earth approach: the focus here is on function, substance, and advice—not show effects.
Barcolana: a city turns to the sea
And then there’s Trieste in early October. The Barcolana is the world’s largest regatta – an event that extends beyond the sailing scene. 1,865 boats set sail, and 400,000 people watch the race from the shore or attend the numerous events that put Trieste in a party mood. The course runs between Castello di Miramare, Faro della Vittoria, and Club Società Nautica Grignano.
In 2025, Arca SGR under Furio Benussi won again. At the finish line, he handed the helm to his wife Elisa – a symbolic moment in a regatta that has been dominated by the Benussi family for years. Second place went to their 18-year-old daughter Marta Benussi on Marta O7. The next generation is already waiting in the wings. Sporting precision with social significance: during the 10-day Barcolana event, the whole city turns its attention to the sea.
X-River: a short crossing that tells a long story
Between Lignano and Bibione, the small X-River ferry crosses the Tagliamento. It has been connecting the two coastal towns since 2018, and on September 3, 2025, it counted its 100,000th passenger of the year. The short crossing is practical – Giorgio Ardito, the energetic marina manager of Marina Uno and co-initiator of the bicycle ferry, says: “But at the same time, it represents what tourism here should increasingly be: quiet, connecting, unobtrusive.”
Culinary hinterland
Anyone traveling from the coast inland will quickly notice how much the cuisine changes. While fish dishes dominate right on the Adriatic coast, the hinterland offers hearty fare: polenta, local goulash variations, and strong red wines characterize the tables. This culinary dichotomy is not a contradiction, but part of the identity of Friuli-Venezia Giulia—a region between the sea and the Alps.
Sustainability in practice
Twelve ports in the region will once again fly the Blue Flag in 2025, the international symbol for clean water and high environmental standards. Photovoltaic systems, charging stations for electric vehicles, and sophisticated water systems are standard. These are complemented by smaller initiatives: discarded sails are turned into bags or shoes, and children learn how to treat the sea with respect in workshops. Sustainability is not just an advertising slogan here, but everyday practice, as demonstrated by the recently presented and highly acclaimed sustainability report of Società Lignano Pineta – also closely linked to the marina network.
All these facets can be experienced from a boat. FVG Marinas forms a chain of 21 marinas along the coast of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Each marina has its own unique character—from the tourist-oriented Lignano to the lagoons of Grado and Marano to the urban Trieste—and together they form a network that provides orientation and, with the FVG Marinas Card, offers the opportunity to explore the marinas at a reasonable price while in transit.
“We are not a parking lot for boats,” says network manager Gennaro Coretti, “but rather a gateway to nature, culture, and cuisine.”
FVG Marinas sees itself as an ambassador for the region. At international trade fairs such as BOOT Düsseldorf and the Tulln Boat Show, and with the support of the PromoTurismoFVG tourism association, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is presented as a region that combines nautical infrastructure, cultural depth, and scenic diversity.
“The success of our marinas is not measured solely by visitor numbers, but by their ability to evoke emotions,” says Fortunato Moratto, member of the management board of FVG Marinas.
Those who sail here experience a region that does not impose itself. It opens up slowly, a little more with each port: through light, wind, and paths that branch out into the countryside.
FVG Marinas provides the framework for this. What you make of it is up to each individual on board.
