Sant’Antonino is an ancient circular village on the northern coast of Corsica, perched on a rocky hilltop that overlooks the ocean and the Balagne region. At one time the Balagne was considered the “Garden of Corsica” for its olive trees, fruit orchards and fertile soil.

Cars and buses can drive up to the village and there are plenty of parking spots, under the shade of trees, next to the main church.

Entrance to the village.

The houses in this village seem to be fused to the rock.

On every corner there’s a panoramic view of the ocean…

 …or the surrounding valleys below.

This is one village that is completely off limits to cars. Sant’Antonino has a chapel and a church and there are a few artisanal shops selling souvenirs, crafts and gastronomic specialties.

After Bonifacio, this is one of my favorite places in Corsica where I can wander through a maze of circular passages and archways and admire the awesome views and the local architecture.

There are two restaurants: La Taverne Corse located at the entrance and La Belle Vue on the opposite site of the village. Both offer traditional Corsican dishes at a reasonable price (charcuterie, brocciu omelets, cheeses and other local specialties).

Depending on the time of year or the time of day you may find some businesses are closed so it is best to always come prepared with a picnic.

Inside view of La Maison du Citron

It is worth stopping at La Maison du Citron (located near the entrance) for a glass of freshly squeezed citron juice or a muscat.

Sant’Antonino is perfect for a day trip, just 10km away from Algajola and 15km from Île Rousse. On a future post we will visit Algajola, a picturesque sea side village located about 15 minutes from Calvi by car.

Subscribe to our RSS feed for more day trips to Corsica.

Filed under: Day Trips