Corsica is a small island just Southeast of the French mainland in the Mediterranean sea. To tell you the truth, I didn’t know it existed until recently. Therefore, it was not on my radar as a place to visit.
Planning our trip:
We came to learn about Corsica through the in-laws of our best friends daughter; a french couple, Serge and Karen R., who had recently moved to Los Angeles from Paris.
We were currently in the process of planning a trip to Europe with our friends, Dave and Karen L., to celebrate our 30th Anniversaries. We figured that since we were married the same year and we’ve been friends almost the entire time, it would be fun to see Europe together.
When Serge and Karen R., said they were going to be in France for a wedding at the same time and offered to show us around and be our “tour guides”, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. At this point, we agreed to let them take over and plan our entire 16-day itinerary. After all, It’s not every day you get to vacation with cool people who speak the language and know their way around. The trip took us from the end of April through the middle of May.
Getting to Corsica:
After arriving in France with Dave and Karen and spending our first couple days in Paris, we took the train to Marseille. At this point, Serge and Karen R. picked us up in a rental van and we drove to Nice to board the ferry to Corsica. From here, we would all spend an entire week driving around the tiny island, literally.
Bastia to Porto Vecchio:
We arrived in Bastia the first night, had dinner, and stayed the night at Hotel La Corniche. The small hotel is situated high up with beautiful views of the surrounding hillside and a glimpse of the Mediterranean sea. The next day we took a walk in the rain to take in a bit more of the immediate scenery. After lunch we headed down the eastern coast to our Air B&B near Porto Vecchio. As was expected for spring weather it was cool and rainy during most of our three days there. Even so, we did some hiking and managed a day trip to Bonifacio on the southern coast to see the citadel, Old Town, and surrounding area.
Porto Vecchio to Serriera:
On the second half of our week-long visit we drove up the western coast to our Air B&B in Serriera. We made several stops along the narrow, winding, cliff side road for photos of wildflowers and the incredible Les Calanques de Piana. Les Calanques are the red rock cliffs along the coast high above the sea.
While in Serriera we took a day to visit the small village of Evisa which is situated in the mountains and surrounded by the Aitone forest. During our drive we were surprised and delighted to come across herds of goats and pigs roaming around and grazing along the mountainous roadside without a care. Definitely one of my favorite moments during our stay!
The following day we drove to Marine de Porto for a tour of Genoise Tower and later on went for an amazing hike around Les Calanques de Piana where we got some breathtaking views of the rocky Mediterranean coastline.
Serriera to Bastia:
As we left Serriera to embark on the last two days of our stay in Corsica we stopped in L’ile Rousse for gelato and shopping on our way to Barbaggio. Here, we stayed at a cute bed and breakfast among the vineyards. The little house that my husband, Jerry, and I stayed in was adorable with it’s grass covered roof!
The following day we drove to Patrimonio to check out the old church we had driven by earlier and then went for a long walk through the countryside. We just had to immerse ourselves in the vineyards before leaving. The next day we drove back to Bastia where we once again boarded the ferry. From here, we headed to Italy and the second half of our vacation in Florence and Venice!
Tips on travel to Corsica:
Overall, Corsica is a beautiful island with a lot of beautiful scenery to take in. Don’t miss seeing the birthplace, and now museum, of Napoleon Bonaparte located in Ajaccio, or the Citadel in Bonafacio that I mentioned before.
There is a multitude of activities to explore such as hiking, swimming, snorkeling, rock climbing, and of course shopping.
Unlike Paris, I think we would have been a bit “lost” without having someone who spoke French with us. It would be helpful to know some basics before going.
Check out my blog: Europe – Helpful tips for first-time travelers for more information regarding currency exchange, phone coverage, and power.