GETAWAY: Corsica in 1,000 km and 10 stopovers

Bastia, at the foot of Cap Corse, with its old harbor and its colorful façades, the citadel and the beautiful Saint-Nicolas square, is the first of these stopovers that guides the journey towards the south. On the road of the lagoon, which leads to Costa Serena, the Nature Reserve of the pond of Biguglia welcomes thousands of migratory birds every year.

On the Urbino Lake’s shore, you will find Ghisonaccia. Today the town is a place of importance for the green tourism, thanks to its endless coastline of white sand, fringed with pine trees and the area of Pinia, a mix of hunting ground and forest. After crossing the river of Solenzara and the Favone bay, unmissable sights of the Côte des Nacres, you will see Porto Vecchio. The city of salt, famous for its salt marshes, is also known for its beaches of Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and the Cerbicale Islands, a jewel of the International Marine Park of the Strait of Bonifacio.

At the southern tip of the island, Bonifacio looks towards Italy and leans on the strait that separates Corsica from Sardinia. The city is fascinating for its historical remains, such as the Escaliers du Roi d’Aragon -King Aragon Steps-, but above all for its cliffs rising steeply from the sea, including the Grotte du Sdragonato and the famous Grain de Sable.

Ajaccio lies higher up, lulled by the Mediterranean. The fortress of Napoleon Bonaparte that has kept a traditional charm to the image of its historical center, offers an exceptional view of the Îles Sanguinaires from the Sentier des Crêtes. The ascent along the coast leads then to Porto, which subjugates the traveler with a Gulf recognized as World Heritage Site and the Calanques de Piana.

As to complete the perfection of this picture, Calvi has much to offer to the visitors, from its Genoese citadel to the Revellatta peninsula. The path continues on the wine trail through the Balagne towards the Ȋle Rousse. Very popular for the tourists, this resort has a stunning view to discover from the Pietra lighthouse.

A few kilometers from Bastia, on the other side of the Cap, you will find the ancient Roman city of Saint-Florent and the homonym Gulf. An excursion on the beaches of Fiume Santu or La Roya will nicely complete this expedition.

Our journey comes to an end at the tip of Cap Coarse in Rogliano, where the archaeological remains and the natural beauties accumulate, starting with the Island of Finocchiarola and La Grotte de la Coscia. For nearly 500 years, the tower of Santa Maria di a Chjapella is on watch to protect the inland, its mountains and its villages… to discover in the next trip.

Translated by Dafne Inzaina – Meretdemeures.com.