Corsica: Isle of Beauty

Day 1  Calvi        
Fly into Bastia and pick up your car to begin to discover the stunning island of Corsica. En route to Calvi pay a visit one of the beautiful sandy beaches of L'Île-Rousse. Stop for a delicious ice cream and perhaps call in to one of the bustling boutiques around the town square. After a spot of lunch continue to follow the coastline to Calvi.      

Days 2-3  Calvi  
With a tumultuous history taking in Christopher Colombus and Admiral Nelson amongst others, every cobbled passage and brightly painted building in historic Calvi has a story to tell. The red roofs and winding streets of the old town lie below the spectacular 13^th Century citadel, which has fantastic views across the coastline. Beyond Calvi lie beautiful beaches with white sand and crystal clear waters, while the traditional perched villages of La Balagne are a living time capsule high up on the mountains above the town.

Day 4  Calvi to Ajaccio      
Leave Calvi this morning and travel though the islands rugged interior. Set amongst the granite mountains, Corte is the perfect stop to explore the area. The dramatic citadel rises up from a rocky outcrop, with narrow, cobbled streets extending out into the gorge beyond. After a morning exploring, perhaps take some lunch at one of the numerous pavement cafés before continuing to Ajaccio on the rugged west coast.      

Day 5  Ajaccio        
Spend today exploring Corsica’s capital. The town was the birthplace of French Emperor Napolean Bonaparte in 1769. The ancestral family home now houses a museum dedicated to his life, while the Palais Fesch, built by his uncle, houses a superb art collection, including masterpieces by Titian, Fra Bartolomeo, Veronese, Bellini and Botticelli, as well as collections dedicated to the Bonaparte family.  

Day 6  Ajaccio to Porto Vecchio        
Today discover some of Corsica’s fascinating prehistoric sights as you travel towards the island’s south coast. Peaceful Filitosa is home to a series of mysterious granite menhirs thought to have been placed by the first Corsican’s over 8000 years ago. Subsequently, Bronze Age carvings were applied, with remarkable detailed faces and weapons that have been painstakingly preserved.        

Days 7-9  Porto Vecchio and the South Coast  
The southern coastline between Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio is home to Corsica’s most famous beaches and sights: Palombaggia’s orange rocks and umbrella pines contrast perfectly with the picture-perfect bay, while the turquoise waters of Rodinara’s shell shaped bay are also perfect for swimming and walking. The spectacular medieval cliff-top town of Bonifacio is the island’s southernmost point, boasting perfect views along the coastline and across to Sardinia. Explore the old centre before descending the dramatic Escalier du Roi d’Aragon, 189 steps to the sea carved into the cliffs.      

Day 10  Porto Vecchio to Bastia        
After a leisurely breakfast wend your way up the island’s west coast, allowing yourself time to take in the beautiful beaches, wonderful walking trails and fantastic forests along the way. Continue on to Bastia and spend the afternoon wondering the old port and the honey-hued citadel. In the evening head to the bars and restaurants of the picturesque Vieux Port.  

Day 11  Bastia      
The dramatic peninsula of Cap Corse north of Bastia is often referred to as an island within an island. Spend a leisurely day exploring the winding circular route around it, stopping off at charming fishing villages, sandy bays, hilltop villages, vineyards and lemon groves before returning to Bastia in the evening.

Day 12  Bastia        
Spend a leisurely final morning exploring the maze like streets of the old town. Wander the market at Place du Marché before stop in to one of the boutiques and pick up some local delicacies. Indulge in an alfresco lunch in historic St Nicholas square before dropping off your car for your onward journey.