The wonderful Corsica

New destination of our Régiontrip: Corsica!

I would be lying if I didn’t admit that we had to think a lot while writing this article.

There are so many things to say that we had to make a choice about the places we chose to write about.

Corsica, a paradisiacal archipelago off the Mediterranean coast.

Very popular with tourists, this region is full of natural wonders and authenticity.
Corsica has nothing to envy to the metropolis, quite the contrary! Its breathtaking landscapes, its typical gastronomy and its picturesque villages have finished making its reputation a tourist culture.

All the big known cities of Corsica, namely : Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto-Vecchio or Bonifacio have a lot to offer. I recommend you to go there as soon as you can!

However I made the choice in this article to speak to you rather about the natural aspect of the territory.

First of all, it is no secret, we think directly of its heavenly beaches located all along the coast: The beach of Marinella near Ajaccio, the beach Palombaggia in Porto-Vecchio or the beach of Arinella and the creek of Ficaghjola in Bastia.
There are also natural freshwater pools like the Cavu valley, the waterfall of Piscia di Gallu in the forest of Ospedale. It is the biggest waterfall of Corsica, take the time to discover it. The forest of Aitone in the Gulf of Porto is also a Corsican must-see.

There is no lack of hikes in Corsica!

Among the most famous is the GR20 which crosses Corsica from north to south. And its little brother, the Mare a Mare path which crosses Corsica from East to West.
The customs path : Its beginning is in Macinaggio, a hamlet totally removed from mass tourism. It is a 3-hour hike from the beach of Macinaggio to the village of Barcaggio. Perfect to immerse yourself in the local culture.
The Restonica gorges : Unavoidable hike, departure from the Grotelle sheepfold. We meet the Melo Lake at 1711 m of altitude and the Capitello Lake at 1930 m.
In Bastia, with the assistance of a local guide, it is possible to do the Terra Nova and Terra Vecchia hikes that will take you further inland.

If views are what you love then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve put together a list of my favorite viewpoints.

The Pointe de la Parata, perfect location for a great view on the bloody islands.
The path of the Col st Roch offers a very nice view on the cliffs.
The forest of Ospedale which offers a view on Porto-Vecchio.
The Revellata and Notre Dame de la Serra wild peninsula where you can walk around and enjoy the most beautiful view of the bay of Calvi.

Corsica is particularly known for its small stone villages perched on the heights.

In our selection we find Sartene, Cargèse, Ota or Corte. Nicknamed the sentinel of the island. Nonza, a small village hidden on the tip of the Corsican Cape, is recommended for its restaurant “La Sassa” and its black pebble beach. Finally, for heritage lovers, you can also do the circuit of the villages of Balagne.

Here again it is impossible to list all the possibilities. So I entrust you my preferences.

The Gulf of Porto with its city of the same name and its magnificent underwater landscape.

Rich in paradisiacal places, there are also the Calanques of Piana and their viewpoints.

The natural reserve of Scandola : accessible only by boat and preserved from mass tourism.
The seabed with : The peninsula of Revellata. The wreck of the B-17 bomber near Calvi. The Cathedrals, towards Ajaccio. The circus of Marifaja and Merouville, in the natural reserve of the Lavezzi islands.
The Agriates desert: Wild territory with possible hikes that lead straight to natural beaches.
L’Ile-Rousse : Small island in the heart of the Gulf. It contains a center and an authentic market surmounted by its visitable tower. A very beautiful point of view is at the level of the lighthouse of the island. Particularly at sunset!

The brocciu, a cheese of ewe or goat. The figatellu, the lonzu, pork-based delicatessen. The fiadone, a traditional Corsican dessert: a brocciu flan flavored with lemon zest. Pietra, the famous Corsican beer. The pulenta, the Corsican chestnut flour. And finally the canistrelli, dry cookies with lemon, anise, hazelnuts. Admit it, just reading it makes your mouth water!
We will add to that the wine road. And in particular the city of Saint-Florent with its vineyard of Patrimonio and its Corsican wine the oldest AOC of the island.

I hope that this escapade allowed you to appreciate all the natural wonders of Corsica.
My little advice to finish: consider several stays in Corsica because when you start you always want to see more.

Don’t forget to update   your booklet and to add all the points which could miss. In particular, unusual places known only to the locals!

Authenticity is the most beautiful discovery.