Southern Corsica Photo: Stephane Bidouze/Shutterstock.com Birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and home to some awe-inspiring natural landscapes, Southern Corsica (or Corse-du-Sud) entices with outdoor pursuits, remnants of prehistoric settlements, and a stunningly diverse scenery. From the dramatic white cliffs of Bonifacio, to whimsical rock formations of Piana, to the uninhabited Lavezzi Islands and white-sand beaches, Southern Corsica has plenty to capture imaginations with. NOTE: This Guide has been limited to 20 points of interest per section. For the full guide, Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstock.com please visit ArrivalGuides.com Top 5 Scandola Nature Reserve No paths or roads lead to the Scandola Nature Reserve, an area of wild natur... Calanques de Piana Cliffs One of the island's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the wondrous cliffs of Pian... Palombaggia Beach Evannovostro/Shutterstock.com Just south of Porto-Vecchio lies Corsica's celebrated Plage de Palombaggia, ... Filitosa The megalithic archaeological site of Filitosa is known for its curious menh... Ajaccio The capital of Corsica and birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte, Ajaccio is an a... Evannovostro/Shutterstock.com Updated 11 September 2019 Destination: Southern Corsica Publishing date: 2019-09-11 THE REGION DO & SEE infograck/Shutterstock.com Sasha64f/Shutterstock.com Southern Corsica's visitor hot spots are From steep clis of Bonifacio, to the majestic Propriano and Porto-Vecchio (known for its landscapes of the island's interior, to white-sand animated nightlife), along with the capital of beaches and uninhabited islands just o the Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte coast, to yellow and orange tones of Ajaccio (the (the Bonaparte family home – Maison Bonaparte capital), Southern Corsica is a region of – has now been converted into a public museum). spectacular natural beauty and a great many There are plenty of sandy beaches along the outdoor pursuits. western coast of Corsica, all the way down to its southern tip. Key highlights of the south, apart Scandola Nature Reserve from beaches, are the stunning Citadel of No paths or roads lead to Bonifacio perched atop steep white clis, and the the Scandola Nature pristine, uninhabited Lavezzi Islands just o the Reserve, an area of wild coast. natural beauty accessible solely by sea. This Sartène, although removed from the UNESCO World Heritage visitor-frequented coast, is a quintessential Site is all clis and sensational rock formations, Corsican town with a rather grim past (it had pristine waters, and dramatic sea- and notoriously struggled with gang crime) that has landscapes. One company oering boat tours is preserved a good amount of its medieval charm. Porto-based Via Mare, at the Hôtel Le Golfe (+33 It is primarily known for its annual Good Friday 6 07 28 72 72; www.viamare-promenades.com). procession, an event that aims to recreate Jesus' journey to the Calvary. The 35-kilo cross and Photo: Sasha64f/Shutterstock.com 17-kilo chain used in the procession are on Calanques de Piana Cliffs display year-round at the Sartène church of One of the island's St.Mary. UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the wondrous clis of Piana are best seen in the evening, when the natural reds of the earth Destination: Southern Corsica Publishing date: 2019-09-11 light up in in the rays of the setting sun. Another Ajaccio way to see the clis is from the water, on a boat The capital of Corsica and cruise in the Gulf of Porto. birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte, Ajaccio is an Photo: gevision/Shutterstock.com attractive seaside Address: Piana settlement with an animated yet slow-paced Palombaggia Beach street life. Some of its primary attractions Just south of include the Maison Bonaparte (the Bonaparte Porto-Vecchio lies family's ancestral home) and the ne arts Corsica's celebrated museums Musée Fesch, containing works of Plage de Palombaggia, an great masters such as Titian and Botticelli. idyllic beach with crispy white sand and azure Photo: Evannovostro/Shutterstock.com waters. There are several locations that provide sunbed and umbrella rentals, along with a couple Lavezzi Islands of beach restaurants along the stretch. The uninhabited Lavezzi islands o the coast of Photo: Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock.com Corsica are one of its Address: Palombaggia, Porto-Vecchio must-visit natural gems, located a short boat ride Filitosa from Bonifacio or The megalithic Porto-Vecchio. Nature is pristine and water archaeological site of crystal-clear, which makes for some fantastic Filitosa is known for its snorkelling. Bring your own sun umbrella and curious menhirs, with plenty of water (facilities are minimal). detail of facial features and body outlines carved Photo: Matteo Gabrieli/Shutterstock.com into them. Earliest artefacts dug up here date back to 3300 BC (the menhirs are estimated to Bonifacio have been erected around 1500 BC). There are a The island's oldest citadel small museum and a thousand-year-old olive tree sits dramatically atop a on site. high-rise rock platform in Bonifacio, the Corsican Photo: Luisa Puccini/Shutterstock.com town a mere 12 Address: Filitosa, Sollacaro Phone: +33 4 95 74 00 91 kilometres away from Internet: www.litosa.fr Italian Sardinia. It is a denitive must-visit that reads more like a place somewhere in southern Italy than a French one, and radiates a leisurely, uncomplicated air. Photo: John_Walker/Shutterstock.com Destination: Southern Corsica Publishing date: 2019-09-11 Aiguilles de Bavella Canyon Corse: To see some of the Photo: pedrosala/Shutterstock.com island's most striking Address: 6 Bd Fred Scamaroni, Ajaccio natural landscapes, follow Phone: +33 6 15 05 28 42 the Col de Bavella, a Internet: www.corsica-canyoning.com mountain pass that Email: [email protected] aords spectacular views of the Aiguilles de Bavella (the Bavella "needles", DINING called that for its spiry peaks). A part of the G20 trail runs from the Notre Dame des Neiges statue all the way up to the massif. Photo: sanddebeautheil/Shutterstock.com Catenacciu Procession Sartène, a scenic town historically notorious for Lenka Jor/Shutterstock.com its banditry and rivalling gangs, has long-left the Corsican charcuterie is considered to be some of grim of its past behind, the worlds nest, an achievement it largely owes while preserving the to Corsican pigs being cross-bred with wild boar, historic tradition of re-enacting Jesus' way to the and fed natural chestnuts - a historic island Calvary on Good Friday every year. The 35-kilo staple, carrying on into the cuisine of today in cross and 17-kilo chain used in the reenactment the form of "pulenta" (chestnust porridge) and are displayed at the Sartène church of St.Mary. "fritelli a gaju frescu" (fritters), as well as an ingredient of many other dishes. Other local Photo: Tiresa/Wikimedia Commons (image cropped) specialities include sh, seafood, and game (the Address: Sartène "civet de sanglier" - casserole of wild boar - is, Canyoning perhaps, the island's most prominent dish). Corsica's varied Le Bilboq Chez Jean-Jean (Ajaccio) landscape features a Le Bilboq holds somewhat multitude of natural of a legendary status: the canyons, many of which restaurant specialises on perfectly family-friendly, one thing only - lobster - and t to be explored which comes in extremely even by those new to the pastime. Organised generous servings, as tours take groups to canyons like the Richiusa at part of its signature "spaghettis à la langouste" Bocognano, as well as lesser-known canyons dish. Payment is in cash only, and reservations across the island. strongly recommended. One company oering guided excursions is Destination: Southern Corsica Publishing date: 2019-09-11 Photo: Visionsi/Shutterstock.com A Nepita (Ajaccio) Address: 1 Rue des Glacis, Ajaccio In a town often overrun Phone: +33 4 95 51 35 40 by visitors, A Nepita is one establishment that L'Altru Versu (Ajaccio) keeps delivering Run by the talented authentic, high-quality Mezzacqui brothers, Corsican meals. Fixed L'Altru Versu is a menus vary by day and come with a choice of longstanding ne dining two dishes for each course. Reservations in establishment on the advance are highly recommended. Ajaccio waterfront. Using the highest quality local ingredients and fresh Photo: Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com seafood, the team of two maintains a highly Address: 4 Rue San Lazaro, Ajaccio professional approach both in the kitchen and Phone: +33 4 95 26 75 68 front of house. Le Santana (Sagone) Photo: Denizo71/Shutterstock.com La Santana on Corsica's Address: 17 Boulevard Stephanopoli de Comnene, Ajaccio west coast embodies the Opening hours: Thurs-Mon 12pm-2pm & 8-10pm, Tue-Wed perfect combination of 8am-10pm quality cuisine and Phone: +33 4 95 50 05 22 unbeatable views. Set Le 20123 (Ajaccio) directly on the beach, it A dinner at Le 20123 can oers front-row seats to the spectacle of an feel as one inside an island sunset, along with an abundance of ethnography museum excellent sh and seafood dishes to select from. exhibition hall - the space Photo: Kitti Tantibankul/Shutterstock.com is stylised to recreate a Address: Plage du Santana, Sagone square of the village the Phone: +33 4 95 74 02 03 restaurant's owner comes from, complete with a Internet: www.lesantana.fr water pump and life-size dolls in traditional costumes. The menu consists of xed 4 courses, Le Piano Chez Toinou (Porticcio) with a focus on traditional avours. Hailed as the best of its kind in the area, Le Piano Photo: Tatiana Vorona/Shutterstock.com Chez Toinou is Address: 2 Rue Roi de Rome, Ajaccio distinguished for its Opening hours: Daily 7am-11.30pm impeccable service, menu Phone: +33 4 95 21 50 05 variety (diners are welcome to browse through and select from nearly the entire menu rather than just two or three options per course), and exceptional quality of the dishes served.