Corsica - 4,000 Years of History & Holiday Destination Extraordinaire

Perfectly placed between France’s Côte d’Azur, the Tuscan coastline and just 12 kilometres north of Sardegna, is the French Island of Corsica (Corse in French). Known as  the birthplace of one of history’s famous leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte (in Ajaccio, the capital), Corsica has been inhabited for four thousand years and has seen Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Goths and Saracens rule over it. The island was sold to France 243 years ago by the Genovesi and locals speak French and Corsican. 

The volcanic island with its rugged beauty (the highest peak, Monte Cintu is 3.000 metres), sparse population, 1,000 kilometres of pristine coastline, walking trails, national parks and sports ranging from horse riding and sailing to snorkelling and bird-watching is a tourist hub. Visitors flock to Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio in the south of the island, travelling from Italy, and Calvi in the north-west where they arrive by ferry from major French ports such as Marseille. 

In the sixteenth century each farmer was obliged to plant a chestnut, olive, fig and mulberry tree each year.  Now there are many chestnut woods and chestnut bread is still a staple food. Corsica’s natural vegetation provides essential oils from citronella, cypress, cedar, eucalyptus, juniper, pine, laurel, lavender, verbena, thyme, sage, rosemary and myrtle. It also produces cheese, wine, olive oil, sausages, citrus fruits and honey, typical of most Mediterranean lands. 



There is a wide range of accommodation from camping and cabins to 5 star luxury Relais and Chateau resorts such as the Grand Hotel de Cala Rosa in Porto Vecchio.