Page 252 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

250 BACK ROADS FRANCE

Ancient Ports and Deserted Beaches

Northern Corsica is a world apart from the ritzy
highlife of the French Riviera. Frequent ferries ply the
route between Nice and Bastia or Calvi: visitors can
drive their vehicles on board and whizz out on the
open road at the other end. The roads between
Erbalunga, on Cap Corse, and Calvi, on the island’s 0 kilometres 5
Plage
northwest tip, are generally uncluttered. Visitors will de Saleccia
0 miles 5 DÉSERT DES
find Corsica more tranquil and family-friendly than
AGRIATES
Étang
many of France’s other tourist destinations. From Alga de Lodo
mountains that offer panoramic views, to rolling A g r i a t e s
vineyards and some of the Mediterranean’s most
unspoilt beaches, this driving tour ambles its way Cima d’lfana d e s Mont Genova
421 m
479 m
across the island’s loveliest country lanes. Casta
D é s e r t Piobetta
Baccialu
493 m
KEY Monetta M te Filetto
Lozari 842 m
Drive route Ostriconi
L'Île-Rousse
Guardiola 1,063 m
Curzo Regino P nta di Parasu 1,300 m
Monticello 396 m
ALGAJOLA Corbara Capo Niellu Urtaca
436 m
Sta-Reparata di-Balagna
Port de
M te Astu
Sant-Ambroggio Pigna Palasca Novella 1,535 m
STRADA DI L’ARTIGIANI 652m Lama
Toccone
Belgodere
Aregno St’ Antonino Occhiatana
Pta. Spano Lavatoggio Cateri San Colombano Cima di Pinzali Ostriconi
Lumio Speloncato 776 m Pietralba
CALVI Avapessa Pedano
Nessa 1,285 m
Muro Pioggiola HAUTE-CORSE
M te Tollu Cima di u Cugnolu
Lunghignano
Fiume Seccu
1,332 m 1,113 m
Montemaggiore Zilla Olmi-
S.Partéo Cappella Vallica
Calvi-Ste- 1,680 m Mausoléo Castifao Tartagine
Catherine Bartasca
Capu di Tartagine
a Conca
725m Moncale Calenzana M te Grosso Cima di Modico
1,937 m
1,231 m
Asco
Below Skyline of Pigna on the Strada di l’Artigiani, see p254
ACTIVITIES
Feast on seafood at Erbalunga, one of the
prettiest fishing villages on rugged Cap Corse
Stock up on the exceptional wines from the
Patrimonio Valley’s vineyards
Spend a day dipping in and out of the
Désert des Agriates’ tropical waters
Take a walk in the hills, where Pigna’s
cobblestoned streets hide a warren of
traditional artisan workshops
Visit Christopher Columbus’ birthplace
within Calvi’s 15th-century citadel