Corsica, France

Corsica is an island located west of Italy, southeast of France and north of the island of Sardinia. It is the fourth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. After several centuries of Italian domination, the island was sold to France in 1768. But officially in November 1789, Corsica became a French province by a decree of the Constituent Assembly of France. The population of the island is about 270 thousand. The capital is the city of Ajaccio-hometown of the French statesman and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte.

The island of Corsica is a wild and beautiful place, described as a "mountain in the sea". Its coastline is magnificent with its combination of jagged cliffs and wonderful beaches. Here are delightful resorts with large marinas, a variety of water sports and great nightlife. The wild nature of Corsica is mostly visible behind the coastal facade. Here shepherds still graze their flocks, moving them between the plains and the high pastures.

In the northeast of the island there is a large nature park, created in 1972. It covers the Bay of Porto, the UNESCO-listed Scandola Reserve and some of the highest mountain peaks-Monte Cinto, Monte Retondo and Mone Renoso. Many rare animals and birds live here. Lots of greenery and flowers most of the year make walking around the Island of Beauty a pleasant experience. There are many interesting towns, resorts and historical sites in Corsica.

Cap Corse is a peninsula in the northernmost part of Corsica. A walk around Cap Corse with its fragrant wildflower-poppies, vineyards and traditional fishing villages, is unforgettable. The peninsula is about 40 km long and 15 km wide.

On the eastern shore of Cap Corse is the small fishing port of Erbalunga-a favourite spot for artists. Concerts and art events are held here every year and together with the glamorous nightlife, Erbalunga becomes a great place for entertainment. Erbalunga was once an important trading centre, but gradually the wine and olive oil trade shifted to the towns of Bastia and Ajaccio. So the beautiful houses and nature remain for this pleasant holiday village. The gorgeous house hotel Castel Brando is located at the entrance of the main square of the settlement. The garden is interestingly designed with various exotic flowers and ponds. The original furnishings with furniture and Corsican engravings have been preserved in the rooms.

North of Erbalunga is the small but neat and sophisticated village of Machinaggio. Here, in 1790, Pascal Paoli, a prominent fighter for Corsican independence, returned from exile. There is a memorial plaque in the harbour to his memory.

In the nearby village of Rolliano, Machinaggio, one can taste the superb wines of this magical region. The cosy hotels and restaurants, open from April to October, offer great conditions for staying here. On a high hill in the hamlet of Rogliano are the ruins of the castle of San Colombano.

Along the west coast of the Cap Corse peninsula is the picturesque village of Canari with its superb 12th century Pisano-Romanesque church, Santa Maria Assunta. The clock tower on the shore is also remarkable.

The village of Nonza, located on the west coast of Cap Corse and together with its hilly area, enjoys an extremely varied landscape. From the watchtower built by the Genoese at the top of the hill in Nonza, the view of the Gulf of St Florent, is superb. Of interest here are the church of St. The ruins of the monastery of San Franciscus Nonza are also of interest.

Il Rus is one of the wonderful resorts in the Nabbio Valley. It is located on the west coast of Corsica beyond the Cap Corse peninsula. Ile Rousse is so named because of the red rock massifs in its surroundings. The nice beach, clear water, combined with the interesting hills, peace and quiet, make this resort visited by many tourists. A road has been paved to the nearby rocky islet in the sea, so that those who wish can take a walk and enjoy the sunrise or sunset, which are unique here. The promenade has elegant lighting columns, and the narrow-gauge train is welcome for a coastal walk around Il Rus.

Calvi is the next town along the west coast of Corsica. It is situated on a promontory jutting out into the sea, where there is a ramparts. In Calvi, the lovely baroque church is a must-see.

Calenzana is a settlement , located inland but close to Calvi. Calenzana is a starting point for a walk and on a route to climb Monte Grosso (1937m).

Porto is a town on the west coast of Corsica, situated in the lovely bay of the same name. Its beauty is best seen from the deck of a boat that can be hired from the port of Porto. Steep cliffs of bizarre shapes and colours rise along the coast and inland from it. They are especially beautiful at sunset. The beaches are sketchy here, but in contrast the water is crystal clear.

Filitosa is a small settlement on the south coast of Corsica. Stone monuments dating back 3000 years have been found here. Excavations began in 1954. On the discovered monuments-menhirs there are various ornaments and bas-reliefs and also images of human faces, with armour and weapons. Twenty such monuments were discovered, and it was found that the huge stone statues were made at different times. Some of them are on display at the Museum of Prehistory in Sartain.

Bonifazio is a town located in the southernmost part of Corsica. The port is named after its founder , the Tuscan Count Bonifazio. Its interesting location - a harbour and an upper town built on rough limestone cliffs, with caves carved out of the sea, makes it interesting to visit. One of the attractions of Bonifazio are the so-called Aragonese Steps. These are 187 steps carved into the rocks that were used to carry water from a secret spring to the 12th century Citadel built on top of the hill. The view from here is wonderful.

Porto Vecchio is a town with a bay of the same name, located in the southeast of the island of Corsica, which offers wonderful beaches. This is the beginning of the Cedefeni Coast, with luxury hotels, a marina, spectacular scenery, entertainment and good food.

Solenzara is an inland village, but that doesn't stop it being a Corsican paradise with great hotels, pools and fabulous greenery. From Solenzara there are roads to the Col de Bavel Pass, overlooked by a statue of St. Our Lady of Bavel.

Sartain lies inland in southern Corsica above the Ridzanese valley, with a population of about 3 thousand. Due to the geography of the area, the town is divided into upper and lower. The upper town is partly surrounded by rebuilt walls. In the old town, the houses are stone, at least two storeys high, the streets are narrow, cobbled. Interesting is the church in typical Italian style from the 18th century. The former Genoese palace has been converted into a wine centre offering tastings of the wonderful local wines. The church of St. The wooden cross and the iron chain, which are used in the religious procession every year on Good Friday, are kept in the church of St. Mary. Then a citizen wearing a red hooded robe carries the cross, which weighs 32kg and the chain 14kg, through the whole town. This custom recreates Christ's journey to Calvary. It is accompanied by a procession of people wearing red robes and lighting candles. The building of the old prison in Sartain has been turned into the Museum of Corsican Prehistory. Here are exhibited not only some of the monuments of Filitosa, but also archaeological finds from all over the island.

Corte is the main university town in Corsica.From 1755 to 1769, it was the capital of the briefly independent Corsica. It is located in the central part of the island. The citadel is built on a formidable rock, resembling the head of a huge stone animal, looking into the distance. Today, the fortress houses the Museum of Corsica. Corte can be reached by a narrow-gauge railway between Bastia and Ajaccio.

The town of Bastia is located in the north of the island of Corsica. It is one of its most beautiful towns. Above the old port rises a large Genoese citadel from the 16th century. The town's two main shopping streets flow into the famous St Nicholas Square, which is huge and decorated with palm trees. Here is the most beautiful café in the city with terraces that offer great views of the beautiful houses surrounding the square.

The renovated 14th century Palace of the Governors houses the Ethnographic Museum dedicated to the history of the island. Close to the harbour is the Church of St John the Baptist.

It is nice to visit Corsica in spring and summer, when the "maquis"-that is, the vegetation of the mastic tree bush, Spanish broom and juniper, wild olives, plants of the genus "maqui", and plants of the genus "maqui". Lavender, thyme, rosemary and lavender. Then a walk in the interesting fields of Corsica, combined with the fragrant flowering "poppies", is a dream come true.