Explore unforgettable destinations less than an hour from Corsica and Zen
Discover the best of Corsica, just 60 minutes away
CASTAGNICCIA
Situated in the north-east of Corsica, Castagniccia is a region of hills, valleys and mountains, endowed with fertile soil and criss-crossed by numerous watercourses.
Its thick, dense vegetation and forests contrast with the more arid regions of Corsica, and its name derives from the presence of chestnut trees since Neolithic times on several thousand hectares of its territory.
Characterized by villages with gray slate roofs and stone walls, it has preserved its authenticity with convents and Baroque churches, and is also known for its springs, washhouses and fountains.
Features and places not to be missed:
the Golo, Corsica's longest river (15 km - 17 min.)
monte San Petrone (1767m), its highest point (27km away - 42min.) and its view of Corsica's highest mountain chain
the ruins of San Petro d'Accia church, north of the summit of Monte San Petrone, which was the cathedral of the bishopric of Accia in the 12th century (28 km - 45 min.)
the Fium'Alto valley, source of the Eaux d'Orezza, a sparkling water with multiple virtues thanks to its purity, minerals including iron carbonates, and total absence of nitrates and nitrites (21 km - 28 min.)
the Casaluna valley and its endemic "Corsican Blue" rosemary, a creeping variety characterized by its hanging branches and numerous blue flowers (40 km - 40 min.)
the birthplace of famous figures such as Pascal Paoli
one of the main centers of revolt during the War of Independence
an economy based on chestnut cultivation
LA CASINCA
Forgotten by tourist guides, this small, hilly region, wooded with chestnut and olive trees, will seduce you with its wild aspect, its free-roaming animals and its charming villages, endowed with a remarkable architectural heritage including beautiful Baroque churches and Romanesque chapels.
Don't miss
monte Sant'Angelo (1218m), its highest point (27 km - 39 min.)
Vescovato, with its narrow streets and stairways lined with tall houses set against the mountain, and the Baroque church of San-Martino (13 km - 15 min.)
Loreto di Casinca, with its irregular slate roofs, plane-tree-lined square and views of Elba and Italy on a clear day (17 km - 25 min.)
Penta di Casinca, a listed village on a hilltop of olive groves, with its green schist houses offering incomparable panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea (11 km - 15 min.)
The COSTA VERDE
The Costa Verde boasts Corsica's closest proximity to the sea and mountains: here, you can go hiking in the morning and spend the afternoon at the beach! Its deserted beaches, verdant plains and hilltop villages will seduce you with their beauty and breathtaking views.
What to see
San Nicolao, a terraced village with a Baroque church surrounded by lime trees (12 km - 17 min.)
marana beach (22 km - 25 min.)
Santa Lucia di Moriani, a village set on an amphitheater-shaped ridge, with its shale-roofed houses seemingly precariously balanced (9 km - 11 min.)
San Giovianni di Moriani, a village with sublime views over wooded hills and the eastern plain (17 km - 28 min.)
Cervione, an amphitheatrical village with steep cobbled streets, vaulted passageways and panoramic views over the plain. Its 18th-century Saint-Erasme cathedral and majestic campanile bear witness to a rich past (20 km - 24 min.)
- santa Cristina chapel: this pre-Romanesque chapel, listed as a Historic Monument, is set in an isolated mountain landscape and is the setting for 15th-century frescoes (among the finest in Corsica), described in detail by Prosper Mérimée in 1839 (16 km - 20 min.)
- the Corniche de la Castagniccia, a road running along the foothills of the mountains, offering spectacular views of the coast and sea, and providing access to the Ucelluline waterfall, its clear river and its basins for a refreshing swim (15 km - 23 min.)
BASTIA (30km 40min)
Built in 1378, Bastia has all the charm of a Genoese town: the old town with its Baroque architecture, steep streets, secret squares, monuments and numerous churches with imposing facades... but also its old port, colorful facades, gastronomy and crafts..
It's pleasant to lose yourself in the picturesque streets, where one colorful facade follows another, laundry flutters in the breeze on balconies, shutters keep houses cool and conversations flow freely on stone benches.
Often shunned by tourists, it is nonetheless well worth a day out in its own right.
la Citadelle:
With the feel of a village inside the city, its steep streets and colorful facades enhanced by the sun's rays invite you to take your time and enjoy its tranquility, because here there are no cars... In fact, the Citadelle has been classified as a Historic Monument since 1935.
You can visit the Palace of the Governors, the Palace of the Noble Twelve, the gates of the Citadel (Porte Louis XVI), the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the oratory of Santa Croce and its black Christ, the A Casetta house, the Casa Zerbi, the episcopal palace, the ramparts..
governors' Palace:
Formerly the residence of the governors, then a court of justice, prison, military barracks and now a museum, it was originally built in 1380, transformed into a fortress with a keep and campanile, and then continually altered over the course of history until it took on its current appearance with turrets and bastions. The building, with its distinctive architecture and orange facade, has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1977, and today invites visitors to discover more than ten centuries of the city's history.
the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta:
Baroque in style, it boasts numerous masterpieces of marble and stucco, trompe-l'oeil paintings, canvases and statues, including the monumental Assumption of the Virgin, made of solid silver and weighing almost half a ton, which is traditionally carried in procession on August 15 during the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
le Jardin Romieu:
A shady, bucolic park on a slope linking the Citadel to the Old Port, its cobbled pathways wind their way through beautiful and sometimes rare trees (Judas, belombra, pittosporum charcoal...), standing vases, statues and fountains. At the end of the monumental staircase, a splendid view of the town and port of Bastia awaits you, especially for watching the sunrise.
place Saint-Nicolas:
Bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea and the heart of Bastia, this 22,400 m² esplanade is where Bastians of all ages meet for lunch, a drink on the terrace, a stroll or a chat in the shade of the century-old plane trees, listen to music from the bandstand or take the kids to the merry-go-round surrounded by palm trees. It's also the site of a flea market and numerous festivities throughout the year: entertainment, concerts, an ice rink at the end of the year, fairs, second-hand goods... Lined with bourgeois buildings, it also boasts a war memorial and a statue of Napoleon as a Roman emperor.
place du Marché:
Halfway between Place Saint-Nicolas and the Old Port, its traditional market brings together local producers every weekend and, in December, the "U Mercà di Natale" Christmas market. On the menu: brocciu, coppa, lonzo, figatellu, denti, panzarotti, fiadone, canistrellu..
the Vieux Port:
Nestled in a cove, the Vieux Port is a lively place, where you can appreciate its charm from the terrace of a café in the early morning, watching the return of the fishing boats, strolling along the quays to admire the pleasure boats, or enjoying an ice cream while contemplating the colorful ochre facades.
rue Napoléon:
This pedestrian street, with its friendly atmosphere, is the flagship of Bastia's designer boutiques, decorators and craftsmen.
Don't miss the sweets of A Biscutteria and the cheeses of A Tinella.
saint-Jean-Baptiste church:
The imposing façade of Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, framed by two 70 m high bell towers, is the only sight to be seen from the Old Port. Step inside to admire the church's oratory with its many golds, stuccos, trompe-l'œil paintings and rare marbles, and admire the decoration of the nave, which invites you to meditate and daydream.
the Scala Santa chapel:
Take the time to walk 20 minutes to discover a sacred treasure like only 10 others in the world! This chapel, renovated in 2019, is home to a "holy staircase", a rare feature found only in the most important sites of Christianity.
SAINT FLORENT (44 km - 50 min.)
A seaside resort set in a pretty gulf, its sand-colored citadel gives it an air of southern Morocco, and a lively port from which you can take a boat out to the Agriates Desert. The magnificent Roya beach, 2 km south-west of the town center, offers a lovely view of the town and the heights of the Nebbio region, and is ideal for water sports activities, thanks to the local centers.
CAPE CORSICA (35 km - 45 min.)
Corsica's northern peninsula, and the first land you see when you arrive by boat at Bastia, you move delicately from a tiny fishing village to a quiet cove between long stretches of scrubland plunging into the sea, all overlooked by hilltop villages, Genoese towers and other incredible vistas.
A must
tamarone beach (the most beautiful on the peninsula, with a Caribbean beach feel)
go to Barcaggio (Corsica's most northerly point)
eat lobster in the small port of Centuri
L'ETANG DE DIANE (39 km - 35 min.)
Of tectonic origin, Etang de Diane is the 3rd largest pond in Corsica (570 hectares), but the 1st deepest (average: 4 meters - maximum: 11 meters).
It is separated from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north by a sandy lido, the beach of Tallone, and to the south by a strip of land known as Mare Stagno (maximum width: 1.2 km - length: 3 km), which has the distinctive feature of having an overhang of land on the pond side known as Cap Gros, and is fed by 3 streams.
The pond is of great ecological interest for its remarkable flora and fauna (great cormorant, gull, mallard, coot, etc.), thanks to the sheet piling that protects it from silting up and favors spawning grounds, nurseries and juvenile and adult exchanges of various fish (eel, bass, gilthead bream, etc.) with the sea.
There are also natural shellfish beds (flat oysters, clams, mussels, etc.), Cymodoceas meadows, a saltmarsh zone with saltwort and a vast reedbed with rushes and other marsh plants.
To the south of the pond is the ruin of the Genoese tower of Diana, and to the west are the remains of the Santa Maria chapel, built on a 24-metre-high islet.
CORTE (58km - 55 min)
Set on a rocky promontory, this welcoming town surrounded by mountains is a delight not only for hikers, but also for lovers of culture and history, thanks to its Corsican museum; Corté and its citadel (1420) are a symbol of Corsican history