Corsica is for (beach) lovers. And culture buffs. And hikers. And divers. It combines vast stretches of shoreline with the beauty of the mountains, plenty of activities for your body and some rich history to engage your mind.
Jutting out of the Med like an impregnable fortress, Corsica resembles a miniature continent, with astounding geographical diversity. Within half an hour, the landscape morphs from glittering bays, glitzy coastal cities and fabulous beaches to sawtooth peaks, breathtaking valleys, dense forests and enigmatic hilltop villages. The scenery that unfurls along the island’s crooked roads will have you constantly stopping to whip out your camera.
Though Corsica’s been officially part of France for over 200 years, it feels different from the mainland in everything from customs to cuisine, language and character, and that’s part of its appeal.
Basking between the fiery orange bastions of its 15th-century citadel and the glittering waters of a moon-shaped bay, Calvi feels closer to the chichi sophistication of a French Riviera resort than a historic Corsican port. Palatial yachts and private cruisers jostle for space along its harbourside, lined with upmarket brasseries and cafes, while high above the quay the watchtowers and battlements of the town's Genoese stronghold stand guard, proffering sweeping views inland to Monte Cinto (2706m). Unsurprisingly, Calvi is one of Corsica's most popular tourist spots and in summer it's crammed to bursting.
The setting couldn't be more grandiose. The crowning glory of the west coast, the seaside town of Porto sprawls at the base of a thickly forested valley trammelled on either side by crimson peaks. Buzzing in season and practically deserted in winter, it's a fantastic spot for exploring the shimmering seas around the Unesco-protected marine reservation of the Réserve Naturelle de Scandola, the astonshing Les Calanques de Piana and the rugged interior.
The village is split by a promontory, topped by a restored Genoese square tower, erected in the 16th century to protect the gulf from Barbary incursions.
This spiny northeastern peninsula stands out from the rest of Corsica. About 40km long and 10km wide, Cap Corse resembles a giant geographical finger poked towards mainland France. Beguiling coastal fishing villages and small settlements perched precariously up in the hills seduce time and again, as does a coastline dotted with enigmatic Genoese watchtowers, jagged coves and rocky cliffs. Be prepared for some adventurous driving; although the peninsula is only 40km long, the narrow road that rounds its coast (the D80) crams in 120km of switchback curves and breathtaking drops into the sea.
