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TUSCANY BY KAYAK

Beaches, castles and cliffs between Livorno and Castiglioncello
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Between the ports of Livorno and Rosignano Solvay, there are 15-20 km sof coastline rich in wild cliffs, small beaches and many other points of interest: an ideal route for a day's canoeing trip. The railway stations along the coast allows you to return to take the car with a comfortable train, so you can even paddle in one way. In short, this trip by kayak is amazing, not too tiring and ... absolutely unmissable!

Kayaking to the south of Antignano, Tuscany
Kayaking to the south of Livorno and Antignano, with the typical rocks and clear sea

The first village south of Livorno is Antignano, where the houses overlook the sea and the cliffs, among which the water is usually crystal clear. This is a specific feature of this stretch of coast, which becomes truly spectacular when on the rocks it appears a real castle.
Castle to the south of Antignano, Tuscany
Kayaking towards a beautiful castle on the sea near Antignano

Arrived in the natural reserve of Calafuria, the landscape becomes more wild, and the small rocks are replaced by sheer cliffs. It is a pleasure to kayak here. Under a modern bridge, in front of an old bridge, it opens up a beautiful beach.
Cliffs and wilderness in Calafuria, Tuscany
Cliffs and wilderness in Calafuria
Beach of Calafuria, Tuscany
A beach in Calafuria natural reserve
After Calafuria the coast is lower again, alternating small pebble beaches and low cliffs with the occasional complex of houses. We head towards the Sonnino castle peninsula.
Kayaking towards the castle of Sonnino, Tuscany
Kayaking towards the castle of Sonnino, Tuscany, between Livorno and Quercianella
Kayak under the castle of Sonnino, Tuscany
Kayak under the castle of Sonnino
This rocky promontory is really fascinating, with a wild nature until you arrive at the crystal clear waters of the Bagni del Rogiolo.
Kayak under the castle of Sonnino, Tuscany
Rogiolo, under the castle of Sonnino

At this point you paddle alongside pebble beaches and low cliffs covered with greenery up to the houses of the small town of Quercianella.
Beach near Quercianella, Tuscany
Beach near Quercianella, Tuscany
Shortly thereafter, there is the tiny village of Chioma with its marina that is only populated in summer. Here and there you meet villas overlooking the sea. The water is often very clear in this stretch without large cities.
Beach near Quercianella, Tuscany
Beach near Quercianella
Beach near Quercianella, Tuscany
Beach and houses near Quercianella
The landscape begins to become wilder again, even if there are splendid villas on the sea as you approach Castiglioncello.
Kayaking between Quercianella and Castiglioncello, Tuscany
Kayaking between Quercianella and Castiglioncello
Kayaking between Quercianella and Castiglioncello
Kayaking between Quercianella and Castiglioncello
The most incredible "houses" that you meet while paddling on the kayak are those carved in the clay that appear all of a sudden just before arriving in Castiglioncello. After a couple of beautiful villas in fact, the cliff becomes of a clayey color.
Kayaking between Quercianella and Castiglioncello
Suddenly, the landscape changes and the cliffs become yellow and red
Here someone dug some rooms, holes and tunnels building some very rustic sea view houses; there is the vague risk that everything will collapse at any moment, so it is not appropriate to approach, but the area is truly spectacular.
Small houses dug in the clay near Castiglioncello, Tuscany
Small houses dug in the clay near Castiglioncello

From here you reach quickly the village of Castiglioncello, where luxurious villas rise around a promontory with little cliffs and inviting water for a dip.
By kayak to Castiglioncello, Tuscany
By kayak to Castiglioncello, Tuscany
After Castiglioncello it begins a flatter and less beautiful area, with industrial sites of Rosignano Solvay and the white beaches of Vada (beautiful but not very natural, since their white color is due to the Solvay bicarbonate scraps).
For this reason, you can conclude the kayaking trip in the beautiful port of Castiglioncello. The train station it is very close (and reachable through a nice park, among other things).
By kayak to Castiglioncello, Tuscany
Landing with the kayak in the nice little harbour of Castiglioncello
And here is the end of this wonderful kayaking trip.
It is a very good idea to spend more days in this part of Tuscany, so you could wild camp (where legal) or click here to find the best offers for accomodation.
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You can find more photos (with higher resolution) of kayaking trips in Tuscany in this gallery:
Foto Elba, Giglio, Argentario in kayak
All photos from Elba, Giglio and Argentario visited by kayak

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