He has been vilified by survivors for leaving the ship before all the 4200 passengers and crew had been evacuated from the vessel. His refusal to go back on board provoked a reprimand from a coast guard officer who was trying to co-ordinate the evacuation, a recorded exchange that is likely to be played in court.
The captain, wearing a navy blue jacket and a white open-necked shirt, sat with his lawyers in front of the three judges conducting the trial.
Domnica Cemortan, a Moldovan dancer on the ship, whom the captain invited on to the bridge on the night of the disaster, was in court.
She has denied having a sexual relationship with the married captain.
Captain Schettino faces charges of manslaughter, abandoning ship, causing a shipwreck and causing personal injury to 150 passengers and crew.
He denies all the charges, claiming that the reef the ship hit was not marked on his nautical charts and that after the collision he saved lives through his skilled manoeuvring of the liner, steering it into shallow water rather than letting it drift out to sea. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in jail.
Up to 700 witnesses and plaintiffs are expected to attend the trial, meaning it could last for years.
