Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/569741
DREAMSCAPES FALL 2015 30 MEDIEVAL MONASTERIES. CHARMING CLIFFTOP VILLAGES. RENAISSANCE PALACES. TERRACED VINEYARDS. HOMESTYLE ITALIAN CUISINE. PERHAPS NOT THE FIRST IMAGES THAT COME TO MIND WHEN YOU CONSIDER A SEA-KAYAKING EXPEDITION. Y et all that and more awaited me on an amazing paddling adventure along the Italian Riviera, the spectacularly pho- togenic region nestled along the Ligurian coast between the French Riviera, Monaco and Tuscany. My first multi-day kayaking adventure also involved two days of hiking in Cinque Terre (Five Lands), which comprises the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mar on the northwest coast of Italy. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, however cars can only reach them once a week from the out- side. And although they still collectively attract 850,000 tourists each year, these timeless enclaves remain largely unspoilt, enjoying a lifestyle that goes back many generations. The entire Cinque Terre coast- line, its five villages and the surrounding hillsides make up part of the Cinque Terre National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring this section of the Italian Riv- iera by kayak and on foot is a unique way to experience the picturesque jumble of colourful fishing villages, vine-terraced cliffs and stunning sea vistas often not accessible by vehicle. And the leisurely, self- directed pace provides ample time to truly appreciate la dolce vita at a relatively quiet time of year when the summer tourist hordes have mostly departed. PREPARATION PAYS OFF Our group of 11 kayakers set off—or put in, in kayaking terminology—on a beach south of the city of Genoa, famous as the birth- place of Christopher Columbus and regarded as a dominant sea power in its Renaissance heyday. Relatively rough seas meant launching into heavy surf, some- KAYAKING THE ITALIAN RIVIERA EDITORIAL AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK SISSONS TOP: Travelling the Ligurian coast by kayak and foot is a fantastic way to explore this picturesque region. OPPOSITE TOP: Paddling days were matched perfectly with winding walks through vineyards perched high above the sea cliffs. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Our nine-day sea kayaking and hiking adventure began in the historic seaport of Genoa, home of Christopher Columbus.