CORSICA - Why is it still so beautiful ?
There is only one place that really fully captures hearts and that is Corsica, the "Ile de Beauté".
Balzac described Corsica as 'a French island basking in the Italian sun', but the island has a singular character that is entirely its own. This beautiful, wild playground is the ultimate combination destination - physical exertion in the elements by day, French wine and cuisine by evening.
Corsica has been French for only 200 of its 4000-year history, and has many indigenous traditions - gastronomic, musical and cultural. It is beautiful, wild, rugged, unspoilt and a touch old-fashioned.
Ideal climate to enjoy cruising
The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Corsica is not short on either bonhomie or national pride.
Beauty is magic! Is it the fabulous clear seas, the soft white sand, the dramatic mountain peaks, the wonderful seafood, the delicious mountain cheeses, the wild aromatic maquis, the friendly locals, the enchanting Corsican music?
To an extent yes, but you can find those sort of things on the mainland. The main thing is that Corsica has all those elements and many more.Well it's a complicated series of related issues which have literally trapped the island in a time warp and excluded developers. A political and natural series of events, unlike anywhere else, have left the island of Corsica as unique as the many indigenous species of plant and wildlife which flourish in its multi-climate zones.
Beauty is magic! Is it the fabulous clear seas, the soft white sand, the dramatic mountain peaks, the wonderful seafood, the delicious mountain cheeses, the wild aromatic maquis, the friendly locals, the enchanting Corsican music?
To an extent yes, but you can find those sort of things on the mainland. The main thing is that Corsica has all those elements and many more.Well it's a complicated series of related issues which have literally trapped the island in a time warp and excluded developers. A political and natural series of events, unlike anywhere else, have left the island of Corsica as unique as the many indigenous species of plant and wildlife which flourish in its multi-climate zones.
Unspoilt coastline
Corsica has resisted the developers and simply refused to be cowed by the pressure of big business. Miles and miles of unspoilt coastline, unblemished hills and mountains and now national parks covering a third of the island. If you want a taste of paradise within a couple of hours flying distance, the Corsicans are prepared to share it with you.
It’s not just the beaches, of which there are many, all white-sanded and unmarred by breezeblock hotel strips. It’s not just the sea, dark-turquoise, clean and safely shallow on the beaches, with every water sport imaginable. It’s not just the mix of Italian and French culture; the joy of Italian food for daytime and family eating, then posh French nosh for grown-up meals in the evening. And it’s not just the historic towns Ajaccio, Calvi,Bastia: the shee drama of Bonifacio, teetering atop scooped-out limestone cliffs, or the cobbled charm of Porto-Vecchio, both embellished by the hilarious,huge-of-bottom, huge-of-scale sculptures of Toutain. It’s all of the above, and more.
It’s not just the beaches, of which there are many, all white-sanded and unmarred by breezeblock hotel strips. It’s not just the sea, dark-turquoise, clean and safely shallow on the beaches, with every water sport imaginable. It’s not just the mix of Italian and French culture; the joy of Italian food for daytime and family eating, then posh French nosh for grown-up meals in the evening. And it’s not just the historic towns Ajaccio, Calvi,Bastia: the shee drama of Bonifacio, teetering atop scooped-out limestone cliffs, or the cobbled charm of Porto-Vecchio, both embellished by the hilarious,huge-of-bottom, huge-of-scale sculptures of Toutain. It’s all of the above, and more.
Corsica magic ingredient
Yet until the middle of the 20th century, the Corsicans were largely a mountain people. How this translates today is that you can have your calamari and chips on the beach and surfing the waves, then half an hour later exchange the dry tang of the maquis for the damp sap of pines in the interior.
Lazy morning aboard your private yacht, can be followed by swinging through the mountainous passes on foot, horseback, by car or flying fox before settling down to a good platter of wild boar in a dramatic hilltop town.
This mixture is Corsica’s magic ingredient.
Lazy morning aboard your private yacht, can be followed by swinging through the mountainous passes on foot, horseback, by car or flying fox before settling down to a good platter of wild boar in a dramatic hilltop town.
This mixture is Corsica’s magic ingredient.
Dramatic Corsica location
The island is 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Tuscany in Italy and 170 kilometres (110 mi) from the Côte
d'Azur in France. It is separated from Sardinia to the south by the Strait of Bonifacio,
a minimum of 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) wide.
Choose cruising the island of Corsica with six hundred miles of coastline, rugged mountains, lonely river valleys and a fragrant summer underbrush that sends its fresh herbal scent far out to sea.
This island, and nowhere better on it than the southeast corner dominated by Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio, is now the Med’s best holiday.
Corsica provides a fascinating and very varied cruising ground for yachts, ranging from the superb sweep of the bay of Calvi at the north end of the island, with its marina and numerous mooring buoys, to the awe-inspiring sea
cleft and harbour of Bonifacio at the southern end. Other harbours with marina facilities include the capital, Ajaccio and Propriano on the west coast; Porto Vecchio, Solenzara, Campoloro and Bastia on the east coast, and St Florent and L'Ile Rousse on the north coast.
d'Azur in France. It is separated from Sardinia to the south by the Strait of Bonifacio,
a minimum of 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) wide.
Choose cruising the island of Corsica with six hundred miles of coastline, rugged mountains, lonely river valleys and a fragrant summer underbrush that sends its fresh herbal scent far out to sea.
This island, and nowhere better on it than the southeast corner dominated by Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio, is now the Med’s best holiday.
Corsica provides a fascinating and very varied cruising ground for yachts, ranging from the superb sweep of the bay of Calvi at the north end of the island, with its marina and numerous mooring buoys, to the awe-inspiring sea
cleft and harbour of Bonifacio at the southern end. Other harbours with marina facilities include the capital, Ajaccio and Propriano on the west coast; Porto Vecchio, Solenzara, Campoloro and Bastia on the east coast, and St Florent and L'Ile Rousse on the north coast.
Circumnavigation of Corsica
From Ajaccio, you can explore the west coast and a sailor's paradise of perfect bays not accessible by land, each of them quiet, solitary and unspoiled.
Cruise north to the rugged Cap Corse peninsula, or explore the South Corsican coast or sail on the Lavezzi Islands. With a two-week itinerary, you may opt to cruise completely around Corsica, a trip of 330 nautical miles. In addition, there are numerous delightful anchorages around the island where a yacht can drop the hook overnight in favourable weather.
A circumnavigation of Corsica could be completed in a week if pushed, but three weeks of even a month would allow for a more relaxed itinerary, including several trips inland. Most yachts on circumnavigation go anti-clockwise, as any strong winds (e.g. the mistral) are most likely to come from the NW, and this route minimises the amount of time a yacht is at risk of a heavy beat to weather.
Cruise north to the rugged Cap Corse peninsula, or explore the South Corsican coast or sail on the Lavezzi Islands. With a two-week itinerary, you may opt to cruise completely around Corsica, a trip of 330 nautical miles. In addition, there are numerous delightful anchorages around the island where a yacht can drop the hook overnight in favourable weather.
A circumnavigation of Corsica could be completed in a week if pushed, but three weeks of even a month would allow for a more relaxed itinerary, including several trips inland. Most yachts on circumnavigation go anti-clockwise, as any strong winds (e.g. the mistral) are most likely to come from the NW, and this route minimises the amount of time a yacht is at risk of a heavy beat to weather.
200 beaches
Corsica has 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) of coastline, more than 200
beaches, and is very mountainous, with Monte Cinto as the highest peak at 2,706 metres (8,880 ft) and 20 other summits of more than 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).
Fine-Sand Beaches, Waterfalls cascade from the peaks of the island called "The Mountain in the Sea," a beacon that lures sailors from all over with its perpetually sunny and dry climate of warm, westerly winds. However, a visit to Corsica would be incomplete without a trip inland to the old capital of Corte on the ancient narrow-gauge railway; a bracing walk on the GR20, the long-distance walking route down the mountainous spine of the island; a tour of some of the inland mountain villages of La Castaniccia, the chestnut-producing area around Bastia, and a visit to some of the fascinating megalithic sites dotted around the island.
beaches, and is very mountainous, with Monte Cinto as the highest peak at 2,706 metres (8,880 ft) and 20 other summits of more than 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).
Fine-Sand Beaches, Waterfalls cascade from the peaks of the island called "The Mountain in the Sea," a beacon that lures sailors from all over with its perpetually sunny and dry climate of warm, westerly winds. However, a visit to Corsica would be incomplete without a trip inland to the old capital of Corte on the ancient narrow-gauge railway; a bracing walk on the GR20, the long-distance walking route down the mountainous spine of the island; a tour of some of the inland mountain villages of La Castaniccia, the chestnut-producing area around Bastia, and a visit to some of the fascinating megalithic sites dotted around the island.
Weather overview
The Mediterranean climate, characterized by summer droughts and sun, gives Corsica an average annual temperature of 12°C (53°F). Between June and September, average temperatures often exceed 25°C (80°F), in July and August temperatures can sizzle above 35°C (90°F). Spring and autumn are both fine, with average temperatures of around 15°C (27°F) and maximum temperatures of around 20°C (70°F).
Like most of the Mediterranean, the Corsican yacht chartering season runs from April to the end of October.
Seabreezes are mostly light along the coast of Corsica.
Like most of the Mediterranean, the Corsican yacht chartering season runs from April to the end of October.
Seabreezes are mostly light along the coast of Corsica.