8 Good Reasons to Visit Corsica

Can’t decide whether the charms of la belle France outweigh those of bella Italia? Then visit Corsica, … You get the best of both worlds: excellent food and wine, great summer weather, hiking trails with mesmerizing scenery, and towns steeped in vendetta history. Plus, a sea that shimmers peacock blue. If I had to pick a favorite place in the Mediterranean, Corsica would be it. Ajaccio, Bonifacio, and Calvi make three interesting bases to discover the island.

Steenie Harvey, travel writer and Euro Editor at International Living.

I think Steenie summed it up real well. There are beautiful beaches, monuments, historic landmarks and magnificent mountains in many parts of the world. But I don’t know of too many destinations that combine all those attractions into one tiny island, coupled with safety.

Below is a quick preview of what you’ll find in Corsica.

Charming fishing ports and marinas, inviting outdoor cafés, outdoor markets, ancient mountain villages, warm, friendly people.
Hiking trails to match all fitness levels and diverse scenery from gentle coastal paths to the most grueling trail in all of Europe, the GR20, a 14 day hike that traverses Corsica from North to South through the highest summits on the island.

Unspoiled beauty combined with the safety and infrastructure of a developed nation. Corsica is virtually crime-free, safe for single woman traveling solo and families with children.
The taste of Pietra beer, brewed from chestnut flour, Orezza natural mineral water, Italian gelati stands, tongue curling sweet and pungent cheeses, Muscat, a sweet wine usually served as an aperitif, perfumed bittersweet honey with hints of lavender and rosemary, fantastic liquors made from a variety of herbs and fruits endemic to the island including: citron, chestnut, clementine and myrtle.
Innumerable attractions within a short driving distance. You can start the day on a secluded beach, drive to the mountains and enjoy alpine scenery and authentic Corsican food in a mountain village, then head back to the coast through narrow, twisted highways overlooking the ocean and end the day in a harbour, on an open-air café.

Water everywhere. Rivers, natural mountain springs, waterfalls, long stretches of beach.
The sky is bluer and cleaner in Corsica. More than one third of the island is a natural park.
Rich history. Due to its strategic location on the Med, Corsica has been invaded and occupied over the centuries by Etruscans, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Moors, Catalonians, Germanic tribes, Saracens, Pisans, Genoese and finally the French.

The music of Corsica reflects this mix of ethnic influences, the long lamenting sounds remind us of Spanish flamenco quejios (laments) and Middle Eastern sounds.

For more information see: Visit Corsica Guide

Corsican Music

Corsican music is mostly performed by men. Their songs praise the beauty of the island, lament the loss of freedom and national identity and reflect an intense love for the homeland. This music appeals to many audiences, even if they can’t comprehend the lyrics, I believe because it’s filled with intense emotion.

I’ve included a small sample of the rich and unique sounds of Corsica below.

I don’t know the Corsican language, but I know enough Italian to make out a few of the words and phrases.

The song opens up with this verse: When will they remember or realize that this land is mine? When will I have my country returned to me?

You get the idea…This is a proud, nationalistic song filled with raw energy. The name of this group is Voce di Gravona (Voice of Gravona).

Note: Only a minority of the population wishes to gain independence from France. Corsicans are warm and friendly towards tourists and they are friendly towards Americans. Even though they liberated themselves from fascism during WWII, they appreciate and remember the assistance they received from Allied forces (in the form of weapons and ammunition) which enabled them to do the job.

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