VINEYARDS

Though Corsican wines are rarely favoured over their mainland counterparts, recent years have witnessed a dramatic improvement in its quality and popularity.

Each region of the island has at least one area designated AOC and, within each, a selection of vineyards producing not just reds, whites and rosés but also, depending on the area of the island, Muscat and fortified wine such as Cap Corse, along with digestifs including Eau de Vie and fruit flavoured liqueurs.

Food & Wine

’Simple and hearty‘ sums up the style of Corsican cuisine, with the herbs that grow wild in the maquis adding a distinct flavour to many dishes. Much of the traditional cuisine is based on meats, especially veal, pork and, especially in spring, lamb and also wild boar which is invariably cooked as a casserole with vegetables that grow aplenty on the island.

Despite being situated in the Mediterranean, fish and seafood are not particularly prevalent on the menus of many Corsican restaurants, although there's no shortage of those who specialise in locally-caught produce and there will always be restaurants in some inland towns that also serve dishes incorporating fish caught in the local rivers.

The Italian influence on the island has added pastas and pizzas to many restaurant menus, and all the local cuisine is enhanced by the local wines. It is very rare to find restaurants that specialise in 'foreign' cuisine such as Chinese, Indian etc. but the few that do exist are excellent!

Festivals

From lively, popular festivals to lower-key, regional celebrations, this island of culture and beauty hosts a number of events throughout the year, be it religious, food-related or purely social. Whether it be a celebration of food, music, cultural history, or key dates in the religious calendar, Corsican festivals provide a perfect opportunity for travellers to experience the traditions of the island.

With numerous events celebrated throughout the year, many of which are specific to certain towns (especially those relating to locally produced produce), wherever you choose to stay in Corsica you will never be too far from a celebration.

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Beaches

As well as the larger, popular beaches, tucked away along the beautiful Corsican coastline are also a number of hidden gems; peaceful, stunning and unspoilt, these gold and turquoise coves provide the perfect reward for those willing to search off the beaten track.



Wherever you choose to stay in Corsica, you will never be too far from a beautiful coastline and the crystal clear turquoise waters that envelop the island; from the translucent waters of Rondinara and Palombaggia beaches in the south east, the sweeping golden sands of Campomoro and Portigliolo in the south west, the child friendly beaches of Calvi and L'lle Rouse in the north west and the famous remote white sands of Saleccia and Lodo beaches at the base of Cap Corse, this enchanting Mediterranean island has some of the cleanest, clearest waters in the world.

Towns & Villages, Shops & Markets

Serious shoppers will enjoy the labyrinthine streets and vaulted passageways of busy Bastia, the flourishing capital city of Ajaccio or the cobbled alleys of Calvi. Corte, Porto Vecchio and Olmeto are several of many towns where a market adds colour and atmosphere to shopping for local produce every Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings respectively.

There is a daily market in L'Ile Rousse where fresh fruit, vegetables, charcutérie and cheeses and locally caught fish are sold and which is swelled every other Friday by the visit of the travelling Marché Artisanale, which also calls in at towns including St Florent. However, the best places to buy locally produced items are the many towns and villages nestled in the countryside.

Mountains

Almost two thirds of this beautiful island are occupied by mountains, making Corsica a highly prized location amongst hikers and climbers.

Covering approximately 40% of the island and 145 communes, the 3,500km2 Parc Naturel Régional de Corse includes the highest mountains in Corsica. At 2,706m Monte Cinto is the highest peak, (over twice the height of the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis - 1,344m) with more than 50 others over 2,000m high.

Stunning Rock Formations

5km south of Porto on Corsica's west coast, is the UNESCO protected site of the Calanches de Piana (E Calanchè di Piana) meaning ’The creeks of Piana‘, these steeples of red granite tower up to 600m out of the sea and have been gnarled into fascinating, almost grotesque shapes by the wind and rain. The deepness of their colour changes as the sun moves round during the day and, being west facing the spectacle at sunset is nothing short of breathtaking.

Stunning Drives

There are a number of stunning scenic drives on the island of Corsica that enable exploration of a lot of the island by car, although the suitability of some will depend on the occupant's head for heights! The vast majority have excellent surfaces and are wide enough for vehicles to cross although some more remote roads are narrower, but prudent driving will ensure a safe, enjoyable and comfortable opportunity to appreciate why the island is known as 'The Beautiful Island'.

Several examples of memorable routes include the D81 between Monetta (east of L'Ile Rousse) and St Florent over the Desert des Agriates; the D268 between Solenzara and Porto Vecchio via Zonza, passing through the Ospédale forest in the shadow of the needles of Bavella, the D84 between Porto and Castirla (north of Corte) passing through the Gorge of Spelunca, over the Col de Vergio and through the gorge 'Défilé de Lancône' and, of course, the D80 tour of Cap Corse - best done clockwise!

Scenic Train

Certain stretches of the famous narrow-gauge Micheline Railway are genuinely amongst the most scenic stretches of railway in Europe, but none of its 232km will disappoint!

Winding through the mountains, over 51 viaducts, the most impressive of which, the Punta del Vecchio, was built by Gustav Eiffel and through 32 tunnels, passing close to what are often snow-covered mountain peaks, takes you to where cars cannot pass and thus affords even more spectacular views of Corsica's amazing natural beauty.

Affectionately known as U Trinighellu (the shaker) due to the rather irregular condition of the rails and the rather ancient carriages, the vast majority of the network has been renewed over the last decade and, with the introduction of new, air conditioned rolling stock in 2012, it is now a rather more comfortable experience.

Walking & Trekking 

Hiking trails and guided walking tours are especially rewarding in Corsica, revealing a vast array of stunning landscapes that are only accessible on foot.

The famous trail is the GR 20 (Grand Randonée 20), so called due to it being that Corsica is attributed Region 20 in France. The trail follows a 180km route which winds it ways along the spine of mountains from Calenzana in the northwest to Conca in the southeast. It is known colloquially as the 'Legionnaire's Baptism' as, whilst it takes accomplished walkers 14 days to complete, they are required to do it in 7!

In Corsican it is called 'Fra li Monti' meaning 'across the mountains' which is precisely where the route goes and, whilst a genuine challenge, with prior planning, it can be enjoyed in selected sections and, being arguably one of the most rewarding walks in Europe, is well worth the effort.

There are other walks on the island including the Tra Mare e Monte, Mare a Mare Nord and Mare a Mare Sud, all of which are also excellent, well-marked routes, but slightly less challenging. In addition, throughout the island, there are signposted footpaths that offer even more leisurely wanders through the countryside and most Tourist Information Offices have information packs available to supplement the IGN maps (the equivalent of the Ordnance Survey) that cover the island's trails in impressive detail.

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