©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd CorsicaPOP 314,486 Includes ¨ Why Go? Bastia .............880 Jutting out of the Med like an impregnable fortress, Cor- Cap Corse ......... 883 sica resembles a miniature continent, with astounding geographical diversity. Within half an hour, the landscape Île Rousse ......... 886 morphs from glittering bays, glitzy coastal cities and fabu- Calvi .............. 888 lous beaches to sawtooth peaks, breathtaking valleys, dense Porto ..............890 forests and enigmatic hilltop villages. Holidays in Corsica Ajaccio ............ 892 will therefore be incredibly varied: from hiking and canyon- Sartène ............897 ing to working your tan, enjoying a leisurely cruise, delving into the island’s rich history and sampling local specialities. Bonifacio & around ...........897 Though Corsica has officially been part of France for more than 200 years, it feels different from the mainland Porto-Vecchio in everything from customs and cuisine to language and & around .......... 902 character, and that’s part of its appeal. Locals love talking L’Alta Rocca ........904 about their Corsican identity so plenty of engaging eve- Corte. 906 nings await, especially if the holy trilogy of food, wine and melodious Corsican music are involved. Best Places to Eat ¨ La Sassa (p886) ¨ Le Matahari (p888) When to Go ¨ A Pignata (p906) Ajaccio °C/°F Te mp Rainfall Inches/mm ¨ Raugi (p882) 40/104 6/150 ¨ Pasquale Paoli (p887) 30/86 5/125 4/100 20/68 3/75 10/50 Best Hikes 2/50 0/32 1/25 ¨ Vallée du Tavignano (p908) -10/14 0 ¨ Sentiers des Douaniers J FDM A M J J A S O N (p884) Easter Easter is May & Jun The Jul–Sep Enjoy ¨ Les Calanques de Piana marked by solemn maquis is in the summer party (p892) processions and blossom and it’s vibe at beach ¨ Aiguilles de Bavella (p904) colourful passion warm enough to restaurants and plays. swim but not too nightclubs. ¨ Gorges de la Spelunca hot to hike. (p891) 878 Barcaggio #\ Îles Finocchiarola e# 020km Centuri #\ #\ Rogliano 010miles #\ Corsica Morsiglia #\ Macinaggio Luri Highlights Ligurian Pino #\ #\ #\ Santa 1 Cruising sapphire Sea Severa waters in the Réserve Marine de Cap Corse #2 Pietracorbara Naturelle de Canari/·#\ #\ Scandola (p891) D80 #\ Sisco CORSI Nonza #\ 2 Exploring wild Golfe de #\ Erbalunga and remote Cap St-Florent /·D80 (p883) by way #\ C Corse Miomo Patrimonio A A of winding coastal #\ \# Désert des Tyrrhenian HIG Bastia roads Agriates #\ Sea /·D81 3 St- hl Seeing red, Île Rousse Florent blazing red, between ]# 0¸N193 IG Algajola LA BALAGNE fantastic rock #] 0¸N197 hts #\Pigna NEBBIO #\ Aéroport formations in Les #\ Calvi St-Antonino Belgodère Bastia-Poretta –# Calanques de Piana #] #\ Olmi- (p892) –# Feliceto #\ Aéroport Cappella #\ Calenzana 4 Putting on your /·D81 Calvi Ste- Catherine #\ Ponte hiking boots to 0¸D1#\47 CASTAGNICCIA Leccia explore the gorgeous /·D51 Moriani- Plage Vallée du Tavignano Galéria NIOLO #\ \# Haut 0¸N193 (p908) Réserve Naturelle #\ Asco R 5 Slipping into de Scandola Vallée de Monte Cinto BOZIU 0¸N198 #÷1 #\ Girolata (2706m) Tavignano serene turquoise /· #\ D84 #4 Corte waters at Col de Vergio u Plage de c d o a e n l Capo (1477m) é a e a Palombaggia (p902), Porto ll n d ic Rosso #\ Ota Evisa a g e n #\ Forêt i lé near Porto-Vecchio #\ #÷ V vR l to #\ #3 a a s Venaco 0¸ d'Aïtone T V e N200 6 ‚ Les Calanques Bergeries R R Admiring the de Grotelle #\ Ù# de Piana Gorges de Monte Vivario T (1375m) a work of prehistoric Plage /·D81 Spelunca Rotondo v Étang ig people – see where d'Arone /·D7#\0 (262‚ 2m) n de Diane Monte d'Oro R a #\ (2389m) Vizzavona n they lived and what Cargèse #\ o Aléria #\ Cascade des #÷ #\ #Y 0¸D344 0¸N198 they built – at #\ Ghisoni Anglais Forêt de Étang Sagone Bocognano Filitosa (p898) #\ Vizzavona d'Urbino Ghisonaccia 7 Boning up on Golfe de FIUMORBU #\ Sagone o v Bonaparte around /·D81 0¸ a N193 #\ Bastelica r 0¸N198 a Napoléon’s home PRUNELLI T town, (p892) Ajaccio Aéroport d'Ajaccio Tr elli avo 8 Discovering Napoléon-Bonaparte run P #\ Zicavo ^#7 –# island paradise with Pointe de # 0¸ /·D83 la Parata N196 Aiguilles de Ajaccio #\ a boat trip to the Îles #\ HAUT TARAVO Bavella 0¸ Solenzara Îles Porticcio /· D268 Lavezzi (p899) Sanguinaires D69 #10 Petreto- c 9 Marvelling at Golfe d'Ajaccio Bicchisano L'ALTA #\ Col de #\ Aullène Bonifacio’s dramatic Pont-de- #\ ROCCA Bavella Calzola# #\ location on the edge #\ Quenza Zonza #\ 0¸D155 #ä#6 Conca of a cliff (p897) Capo di Pianu diä# Muro Filitosa #\ Olmeto Livia #\ Golfe de a Walking and #\ Levie Pinarello Propriano 0¸Ste-Lucie #\ D268 canyoning in the #\L'Ospédale Golfe du Valinco de Ta llano breathtaking Golfe de \# Porto-Vecchio Aiguilles de Bavella Sartène Porto-Vecchio #\ (p904) massif #5 Bocca Del #\ Plage de /·D48 0¸D859 L'oro Palombaggia Tizzano #\ ä# Cauria Ù# Plage de Santa Giulia 0¸N196 –# Aéroport 0¸N198 de Figari- MEDITERRANEAN Sud-Corse Golfe de Sant' SEA Amanza Tyrrhenian Sea Bonifacio #9#\ Cap Pertusato Bouches de #8 Îles Lavezzi Bonifacio.