My Corsica

From dreamy beaches to romantic villages, I spent months in Corsica, travelled mostly in the north of the island. Discovering so many diverse and contrasted landscapes really blow my mind ! From Cap Corse to the creeks of Scandola, zoom on my 20 most beautiful memories.

Scandola et Piana

Bastia

À table

Les plages

Les belles rencontres de montagne

Les villages du Cap Corse

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4 amazing hidden beaches in Corsica

Endless beaches, turquoise waters, wild creeks nestled between maquis valleys… The Corsican shores are among the most beautiful in France. But where to find your dream spot away from the crowds ?

1. Arone beach in Piana

Tourists come to Piana to visit the calanques, and it’s for the best ! Many don’t know that one the most beautiful beaches in Corsica hides twenty minute outside the city. Lost in the maquis, the Arone beach is an impressive lagoon with crystal-clear water and immaculate fine sand. The famed Café de la Plage offers delicious Mediterranean food and fresh fruit cocktails, which you can savor lying on your own canopy bed. A stylish address with Bali-esque flair.

Café de la plage, plage d'arone, 20115 Piana - Phone : 04 95 20 17 27

2. Figajola creek, Piana

A few feet away from Arone is another jewel: the Fifajola creek, a wild nature hideaway. Completely empty, it waits for sea lovers who arrive by boat, or backpackers who enjoy hiking. This stunning creek also welcomes visitors for a completely free show: the sunset. A must.

3. The black beach of Nonza, Cap Corse

To appreciate its beauty, one must first contemplate it from the Nonza village. Nonza beach seems to go on forever in a black pebble stretch of coast at the bottom of a hill. It’s a reason in itself to visit the Cap Corse. After a quick swim, head to Sassa for a gourmet break. The spot offers an unforgettable vista on the beach and the sea.

Have a drink at the Sassa, next to the Paoline tower of Nonza, Cap Corse.

4. Lozari beach, Belgodère

Ten minutes away from Ile Rousse, the lengthy Lozari beach in Belgodère is ideal to stay away from the crowd of tourists. The sea is quite deep, and so is less popular among families with children. But don’t panic, the waters are calm and jellyfish-free. There is a small café with an outdoor shower, how great !

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The 4 most beautiful villages to visit in Cap Corse

Erbalunga, Centuri, Nonza and Patrimonia are those villages where you can relax and leave the world behind. On your to-do list: hike in the wilderness, stroll with your special someone, meet new people… Simply take the time to live in a majestic setting !

1. Nonza

The historical village of Nonza, on the western side of the Cap Corse, hangs on the rocky U Monte, houses only 73 souls, and is appreciated for its charming houses and vast black pebble beach. Points of interest include the 16th century Sainte-Julie church, with its pink-orange hues, and the Paoline tower, from which you can gaze at the endless wild beaches hidden behind the Agriates desert. From the terrasse of the Sassa café, you can read the following messages written on the waterfront: “Nice we love you”, “Will you marry me?” and “Paris rules”. Both unusual and touching.

To see and to do : Sainte-Julie church, Nonza beach, Paoline tower, the small Santa-Croce chapel next to the church.
Where to eat : lunch at the auberge du chat qui pêche, have a drink at the Sassa café next to the Paoline tower.

2. Patrimonio

I stumble upon Patrimonio 3 miles outside of Saint Florent, on my way to the August festival “Les Nuits de la Guitare”. The road is sinuous and on a strong slope, the little village sitting at 344 feet in altitude. I am met with endless vineyards, majestic mountaintops, a view of the sea…. What a feast for my eyes! This sacred valley is the birthplace of the famous sweet wines the Nielluccio, the vermentinu, and the biancu gentile.

To see, to do : visit the Leccia, Arena, Gentile vineyards - go to the Nuits de la Guitare festival (second and third weeks of July) - visit the St Martin church.

3. Centuri

Centuri, at the northern tip of Cap Corse, is home to 235 people, but outsiders come back for its charming fishing harbour and famous crayfish pasta, the village speciality. In the little restaurants facing the sea, bikers, vacationers from the mainland and faraway travelers meet up to savor fresh lobster, crayfish, tuna and swordfish. Centuri’s harbour is only accessible by foot, which confers it a romantic and peaceful atmosphere.

To see, to do : the Mattei windmill, the Merlacce castle, Mute beach

4. Erbalunga

Erbalunga is a trendy village in the Brando district, 6 miles away from Bastia. It seduces travelers with its beautiful stone houses, fishing harbour, chic boutique hotels and numerous cultural events. The main square welcomes every generation of Corsicans under palm trees around a coffee break or a game of bocce ball. On the other side of the square, pretty cobblestone streets, lined with colorful houses, lead to the harbour. The only thing left to do is swim in the village creek or enjoy an apéritif on a terrasse next to the Genoese tower.

To see, to do : during the summer, the festival of the Verdure theater (mid-august), the “Nuits du Piano” festival (beginning of august) - the castle ruins in Castello - the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges chapel (Santa Maria di e Nevi) - scuba diving - horseback riding.

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The 8 Tastiest Food Souvenirs to bring Back from Corsica

Exceptional AOC wines, local cured meats, sweet fiadone, chestnut jams… Those were the tastes of my summer in Corsica. To keep the pleasure going, here’s where to buy Corsican delicacies at the right price.

1. Olive oil with AOP corse label

2. AOC label wine from Patrimonio (or Calvi)

3. Chesnut jam from Orsini

4. Fresh Brocciu cheese (november to june)

5. A Corsican cooking book "Une table corse", Pauline Juillard

6. Corsican ham from the villages

7. Fiadone cake from Carlotti, Bastia. 

8. Corsican olives

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4 restaurants with an exceptional view in North Corsica

Swordfish tartare, lonzu carpaccio, Calvi rosé… from oceanic dishes to butchers’ cuts, a few Corsican addresses play their best thanks to their local specialties. To top it off, the views are exquisite. Grab your forks !

1. Chez Vincent, the old port of Bastia

At Chez Vincent, a leading staple of Bastia’s citadel neighborhood, you will find deliciously inventive mediterranean cuisine. Saint Marcellin fillo with pear and honey, swordfish salad with espelette pepper, crusted beef and pizzas lead our palates. The restaurant faces the sea and offers an incredible view of the old harbour. A second restaurant, the “Petit Vincent”, has opened a few blocks away at the foot of the bastions. There also, the dishes are tasty and you can enjoy them on a cosy terrasse facing the sea. All in all, two beautiful addresses.

Chez Vincent, 12 rue Saint-Michel, 20200 Bastia - Phone : 04 95 31 62 50

2. Chez l’Auberge du Chat qui Pêche, Cap Corse

Hidden in Cap Corse’s Canari, between Saint Florent and Centuri, the Auberge du chat qui pêche is a restaurant with a majestic and shaded view of the gulf of Saint-Vincent. Facing the sea, you can admire the Agriates, Saleccia, the Rousse island and even Cintu when the weather permits. On the plate, only the classics of Corsican cuisine: pan-seared squid, Corsican veal with olives and swordfish steak. We will be back!

L’Auberge du Chat qui Pêche, Route départementale 80 "ham abro", 20217 Canari - Phone : 04 95 37 81 52

3. Les Roches Bleues, Piana calanques

At the heart of the Piana calanques, a world heritage site, the Roches Bleues are hard to miss, the only chalet lost in fascinating nature. This exceptional spot is perfect to enjoy the sunset, between the sea and the mountains, with a glass of rosé and a plate of smoked meats (15€). Don’t bother with the rest of the menu, the only feast this place offers is for your eyes.

Les Roches Bleues, bar/snack/bistrot, Lieu-dit Les Calanches de Piana - 20115 Piana - Phone. : 04 95 27 81 19

4. Le Sassa, Nonza black beach

“Wow” is the first thing everyone can’t help saying when they arrive at the Sassa, soothed by the shade of the Paoline tower. Suspended to a rocky peak facing the Saint-Florent bay, this carefully decorated haven offers an impressive panoramic view from its terrasse of the vast black pebble beach of Nonza, the Paoline tower and the Agriates as a backdrop. Striking. In a loungy atmosphere, DJ-spun music mingles with tapas, artisanal ice cream and fresh cocktails. Come enjoy this rare setting with your favorite people. The start of a great evening.

Le Sassa, at the bottom of the Paoline tower, Nonza - Bar/restaurant - open from April to Sept- Phone. : 04 95 38 55 26

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4 cool organic beauty products to buy in Corsica

Myrtle, Immortelle or juniper… These local plants from Balagna, in northern Corsica, have real health benefits. Bring them back with you to keep a bit of the island in your home. Come discover my tried and tested selection !

1. The Immortelle moisturizing balm, Casanera

Whatever the season, this balm is a life saver! Made from Immortelle essential oil, shea butter and other organic vegetable oils, it protects my sensitive skin from external threats (dry air in airplanes, sunburns, cold weather, pollution). An essential component of my travel beauty case.

Online :  http://www.casanera.corsica/ -  3 Boulevard Wilson, 20260 Calvi - 20 Rue César Campinchi, 20200 Bastia - Bon Marché mall, 11 Rue du Général de Gaulle, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

2. The Stress-Relieving spray, Solivia

Corsica is full of fragrances… Citrus, verbena, green tea or local cedarwood perfume my bed thanks to this mist of essential oils that I spray on my sheets before I drift off to dreamland. The bottle is small and perfect for travelling, even in my carry on. Corsica, never too far away, helps me relax wherever I go….

Online : http://www.solyvia.com/ - 20 rue César Campinchi, 20200 Bastia - Domaine Pinia, 20240 Ghisonaccia

3. The wild myrtle candle, les lumières du temps

This pretty scented candle, made from vegetable wax and Grasse perfume, has transformed my house into a flowered Maquis valley. It promises 55 burning hours, my room in Paris will smell like Corsica for a long time. Yay !

Online : http://www.leslumieresdutemps.com/ - Chez Diet et Plaisir, 10 rue César Campinchi, 20200 Bastia

4. The Girolata Revitalising Eye Cream, Solivia

On my first try, this roll-on eye cream calms my puffy, tired eyes in a few minutes. I keep it in the fridge for an extra icy boost. A staple of my morning routine.

Online : http://www.solyvia.com/ - 20 rue César Campinchi, 20200 Bastia - Domaine Pinia, 20240 Ghisonaccia

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