September is one of my favorite times to visit Corsica. Temperatures are pleasant, the water is still warm, hotel room prices go down from their peak Summer rates and there are a lot less tourists.

Sleeping in a campsite or a two-star hotel (without air conditioner) is a lot more pleasant this time of the year as well. In September it is possible to find hotel rooms without reservations (unlike the crowded months of July and August).

Angelina Jolie visits Ajaccio

A few days ago, Angelina and her daughter Shiloh were spotted in Place Foch, a pleasant square lined with palm trees and cafés in the heart of Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica.

Source: www.nachophoto.com

I sure hope she and her family will return to visit and maybe explore more of the island.

Traveling Cheap

The good news is you don’t need to be a movie star to travel to Corsica. Prices in Corsica are reasonable, (about 90 Euros a night, or less, for a nice hotel room) and you can save money with picnics.

Wherever you go you can feast on local specialties by shopping at small groceries. As in all of France, fresh bread, croissants and delicious pastries are baked every day. The local fruits and vegetables from small producers are delicious and the dairy products exquisite.

Corsica Camping

If you really want to save money, campsites in Corsica are conveniently located pretty much all over the island. Many campsites have restaurants that serve quality food and drinks at reasonable prices.

To be safe, I think it’s a good idea to bring a small tent, the kind you can assemble in a few steps just in case you’re not able to find adequate lodging or bungalows, or if you decide at the spur of the moment to spend the night in a place where there are no vacant accommodations. Compared to other travel destinations, Corsica is virtually crime-free and tourists can feel safe everywhere they go.

The True Corsica

If you have the opportunity, try to visit the interior of the island where the true character of the locals can be best appreciated and where you can still find people whose lives are tied to the seasons and bound by ancient tradition.

There are still shepherds on this island who take their flocks every summer to plateaus, high up in the mountains, like the one shown in this photo, to shelter them from the heat.

Photo courtesy Celine Ragonnet

In this vast expanse, natural wells of water called pozzines, aptly called “pearls of water” provide sustenance to horses, cows, shepherds and their flocks in a magical setting.

Imagine eating cheeses made for the raw milk of these carefully attended animals, fed with moist, tender grass and clean water, in a serene and natural environment.

From Calvi, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, St. Florent, Porto-Vecchio or any other coastal resort you’re usually only 90 minutes away by car from the mountains.

Related Links

Ajaccio – Birthplace of Napoleon

Corte – First Capital of Corsica

Camping in Corsica

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Filed under: Day Trips