"Immaculate beaches. Lush countryside. And crystal clear seas shot with turquoise and aquamarine. It's easy to see why the ancient Greeks called Corsica 'kalliste' - the most beautiful."
The sweet smell of myrtle, lavender and honeysuckle heralds your arrival to this balmy isle. One of the last truly unspoiled corners of the Mediterranean, the French island of Corsica is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and spectacular beaches. Immense sandstone cliffs, crowned by Medieval citadels, rise up from the sparkling waters of the sea and give way to a hinterland cloaked in scented pines, gnarled olive trees and dense forests of chestnut and oak. A green mantle of wild 'maquis' veils the hillsides and sleepy, ochre-coloured villages spill down the verdant valleys. Take a walk through any street in Corsica and nestled among the French cafes and boulangeries you'll find an intriguing assortment of Italianate buildings. For centuries, the island belonged to the Italian city-states of Pisa and Genoa. When Genoa fell into decline in the 1700's, Corsica was ceded to France. For a brief spell the British occupied the island but a young Corsican-born French officer, a certain Napoleon Bonaparte, ousted them for his motherland, re-instating French rule. This historical melange has undoubtedly shaped Corsica's cultural identity. Take a look at the road signs – place names appear in both French and the local Corsican tongue, which bears more similarity to Medieval Italian, than French. Incorporating the best of both worlds, Corsica is a vibrant collage of French and Italian influences and, as such, has a unique character all of its own that simply demands investigation.
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Great Corsica holidays
Europe
Corsica
Recommended resorts for Corsica
Recommended Corsica hotels and apartments
Corsica holiday resorts
Resorts in Corsica include Ajaccio, Algajola, Bonicardo, Bonifacio, Borgo, Calalonga, Calvi, Campo Moro, Capicciolo, Cargese, Corte, Erbalunga, Farinole, Feliceto, Ferayola, Figari, Fossi, Galeria, Ile Rousse, Lama, Lavatoggio, Lozari, Lumio, Macinaggio, Mela, Moriani, Muratello, Murato, Olmeto, Patrimonio, Piana, Pianottolli, Piedicroce, Pietra Longa Salvini, Pietranera, Pinarello, Plaine De Montegrosso, Porra, Porto Pollo, Porto Vecchio, Propriano, Quenza, Rogliano, Saint Florent, Santa Giulia, Santa Reparata, Sartene, Sisco, Tizzano and Ville De Paraso.
More France holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in France? Our France holiday destinations include Corsica, North Brittany and South Brittany.
Beaches
Corsica's coastline plays host to countless hideaway coves and enticing beaches. Warm, translucent waters lap long swathes of talcum powder sands and the sea is a kaleidoscope of luminous turquoise, electric aquamarine, tantalising jade and deep sapphire. Of particular note are the beaches that surround Calvi and Porto Vecchio. So dazzling are the waters and so white are the sands that you'd be forgiven for thinking that you're in the Caribbean.
Eating out
Effortlessly blending Italian and French cooking styles, eating out in Corsica is a gastronomic delight from sophisticated French restaurants to authentic bistros offering value for money set menus, which are always popular with holidaymakers. Try the cannelloni a brocciu, oven-baked pasta tubes filled with sheep's cheese served with a rich tomato sauce, or agnellu, barbecued lamb flavoured with herbs and served with fried peppers, tomatoes and onions. Wild boar roam free in Corsica's thick woodlands. Feeding on a diet of acorns and chestnuts, their meat has a distinctive taste. In the Corsican classic cingale, boar meat is marinated in red wine and brandy and infused with herbs and fennel. Desserts are just as tempting and dishes such as tiramisu and creme brule give a nod to Corsica's Italian and French heritage.
Nightlife
With its chic, palm-fringed harbours, Corsica really is an extension of the French Riviera. Porto Vecchio, Propriano and Calvi offer numerous local bars and cosmopolitan street cafes where you can watch the world go by and soak up the international lively atmosphere in high season. Nightlife in and around the hotels and apartments is very low key, however Calvi and Porto Vecchio offer a well known open-air trendy night spot to dance the night away. St Florent is widely considered to be Corsica's answer to St tropez attracting jet setters from around the world. To compliment the village bars and cafes in Algajola, there is a local disco on your doorstep open in July and August.
Shopping
Looking to take a little something of Corsica home with you? Then head down to a street market and pick up some of the local produce. From honey and sweets to cheeses and charcuterie, there's plenty on offer. Fragrant perfumes and oils extracted from the wild juniper, myrtle and lavender bring to mind Corisca's sweet-smelling, maquis-covered hillsides. If you're looking for something a bit special, follow the 'strada di l'artigiani', the 'artisans' road', which stretches from Calvi and up to the L'ile Rousse. The quaint hilltop villages that line the route brim with craftsmen's workshops. Dedicated to preserving the island's rich cultural heritage and handicrafts, Pigna is the main centre for handcrafted goods. From music boxes to ceramic wares, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Recommended
Luxury
