About Corsica
One of Europe’s last untouched corners, the French dependency of Corsica is a living museum of the culture, history and people of the Mediterranean. Balzac described Corsica as 'a French island basking in the Italian sun' but the island has a singular character that is entirely its own. Coveted by many since earliest Bronze Age man; the Phoenicians, Moors, Spanish, Pisans and Genoese have each, in turn, left their signature on this land. The fiercely proud Corsican people have defended their independence for hundreds of years and laudably resist the bucket and spade brigade today, the most recent of marauding invaders. The result is a step back in time; a sparse, rugged, desperately beautiful landscape, completely unspoilt by the scar of development that blights much of the European coast.
From the moment you arrive, your senses are assailed by the intensely aromatic maquis, Corsica’s signature perfume. Deep into the interior, fragrant forests of pine, oak and sweet chestnut yield to a jumble of dramatic mountain peaks; snow-capped in winter and torn apart by dramatic gorges with cascading waterfalls and smooth enticing rock pools that have been eroded through time. Sleepy hilltop citadels rest on the gentler lower slopes, an age-old refuge from sea-borne invaders and present day strong-hold of cultural traditions.
Genoese watch towers stand sentry behind the sweeping Corsican beaches, exquisite stretches of sand in every hue from honey gold to Caribbean white. There are long, sweeping bays and deep rocky inlets; wild, wind-swept strands and tiny hidden coves accessed only by rough track or boat. The sea sparkles in a thousand shades of blue, from the dazzling turquoise in the Palombaggia shallows to the deepest indigo of the Valinco Gulf.
Our luxury villas are located in the far south of Corsica, an area which boasts some of the most iconic beaches and captivating towns on the island. Porto Vecchio fuses a historic, fortified town with a chic, cosmopolitan marina and effortlessly blends French style with Italian exuberance through its irresistible array of designer shops, bars and restaurants. Cote d’Azur yachts harbour here for a comforting touch of St Tropez glamour and the thud of boules on gravel echos around the tree-mottled shade of the old town square.
The garrison town of Bonifacio perches precariously on an extraordinary limestone outcrop at the island’s most southerly point. The dramatic citadel squeezes an intriguing maze of boutiques and pavement cafés within its towering ramparts. A giddying distance below are the swanky array of quay-side restaurants that edge the deep water bay. The town is completely bewitching by night when the ancient walls seem to whisper their centuries-old tales of shipwrecks and siege.
In the south west, the harbour of Propriano dominates the spectacular Gulf of Valinco, less glitzy than the east-coast towns, but with the eclectic mix of commerce that you might expect of a working port and busy marina. Perched on the hill behind Propriano is the historic citadel of Sartène, ancient capital of the South and witness to great wars, passions and cruelty. Old men in black hats sit quietly on the church steps in the ‘Place de la Libération’, now an enthralling kaleidoscope of pavement cafés and bustling visitors, but once dominated by a guillotine that entertained the eager Sunday crowds. Mysterious and intriguing stepped alleyways divide houses that jostle tightly against each other, separated by a confusion of stone ladders, arches and secret passages.
For the more adventurous, Southern Corsica offers an adrenalin rush of water and mountain based activities; from sailing, windsurfing and kayaking, to climbing, cycling and canyoning. Whether you come in search of history and culture, romantic seclusion, breathtaking scenery, exhilarating sports or a relaxed family holiday, this captivating island will draw you back again and again. Enjoy all this with a luxury villa in Corsica.
Katie Bowman of Times Online stayed with Coastline at Villa Belvedere and discovered "Hidden Corsica". Click here to see the full article.