Corsica Holiday
The sweet smell of myrtle, lavender and honeysuckle heralds your arrival to this balmy isle. One of the last truly unspoiled corners of the Mediterranean, the French island of Corsica is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and spectacular beaches. Immense sandstone cliffs, crowned by Medieval citadels, rise up from the sparkling waters of the sea and give way to a hinterland cloaked in scented pines, gnarled olive trees and dense forests of chestnut and oak. A green mantle of wild 'maquis' veils the hillsides and sleepy, ochre-coloured villages spill down the verdant valleys.
Corsica Holiday - Beaches
Corsica's coastline plays host to countless hideaway coves and enticing beaches. Warm, translucent waters lap long swathes of talcum powder sands and the sea is a kaleidoscope of luminous turquoise, electric aquamarine, tantalising jade and deep sapphire. Of particular note are the beaches that surround Calvi and Santa Giulia. So dazzling are the waters and so white are the sands that you'd be forgiven for thinking that you're in the Caribbean.
Shopping
Looking to take a little something of Corsica home with you? Then head down to a street market and pick up some of the local produce. From honey and sweets to cheeses and charcuterie, there's plenty on offer. Fragrant perfumes and oils extracted from the wild juniper, myrtle and lavender bring to mind Corisca's sweet-smelling, maquis-covered hillsides. If you're looking for something a bit special, follow the 'strada di l'artigiani', the 'artisans' road', which stretches from Calvi and up to the L'ile Rousse. The quaint hilltop villages that line the route brim with craftsmen's workshops. Dedicated to preserving the island's rich cultural heritage and handicrafts, Pigna is the main centre for handcrafted goods. From music boxes to ceramic wares, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Nightlife
With its chic, palm-fringed harbours, Corsica really is an extension of the French Riviera. If you can't resist the call of the glitter ball, Porto Vecchio, Propriano, Bastia and Ajaccio offer a good number of discos where you can dance the night away to the latest sounds. Calvi's another popular hotspot - its waterfront promenade is illuminated by the neon signs of various bars and clubs that pepper the quayside. With its wide range of piano bars and classy restaurants, Bastia's vieux port makes for a particularly good night out while Saint Florent is widely considered to be Corsica's answer to St-Tropez, attracting international jet setters from around the world.
Local Specialities
Effortlessly blending Italian and French cooking styles, eating out in Corsica is a gastronomic delight. Try the cannelloni a brocciu, oven-baked pasta tubes filled with sheep's cheese served with a rich tomato sauce, or agnellu, barbecued lamb flavoured with herbs and served with fried peppers, tomatoes and onions. Wild boar roam free in Corsica's thick woodlands. Feeding on a diet of acorns and chestnuts, their meat has a distinctive taste. In the Corsican classic cingale, boar meat is marinated in red wine and brandy and infused with herbs and fennel. Desserts as just as tempting and dishes such as tiramisu and crème brule give a nod to Corsica's Italian and French heritage.