Page 549 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

protected since 1982 and There are splendid beaches
without a kiosk or cabin in in the vicinity, notably at Pero
sight: take all essentials with and Chiuni to the north, and
you. To get here, join one of at Ménasina and Stagnoli
the daily boat trips from to the south.
Bonifacio, use the shuttle
service or a private charter.
17
16 Porto-Vecchio
Cargèse ! A7 ⌂ Corse-du-Sud
n Avenue du Maréchal
! A7 ⌂ Corse-du-Sud @ Leclerc; www.ot-
n Rue du Docteur Dragacci; portovecchio.com
www.cargese.net or www.
ouestcorsica.com One of Corsica’s medieval
coastal cities, and brimming
Cargèse overlooks the sea with history, sophisticated Corsica’s stunningly
from a promontory between and splashy Porto-Vecchio is beautiful Plage de
Sagone and Pero bays. the closest thing the island Palombaggia beach
The town has an interesting has to the glamour of the
history, and many of its French Riviera.
people are the descendants of Start at the marina on quai but remember it’s incredibly
17th-century Greek refugees. Pascal Paoli, before window- popular for a reason and in
A few still speak Greek, and shopping along avenue du the high season a parade of
their icon-filled church faces Maréchal Leclerc for a retail yachts can be seen skimming
its Catholic counter part in an fix with plenty of sparkle. in and out of the bay. Every
attitude that must once have Above this, you’ll find the visit to Corsica should include
seemed confrontational. picturesque walled Old Town, at least one beach, and if you
Nowadays old rivalries have where backstreets cuddle up are short on time, be sure to
vanished, and the Ortho dox with creaky restaurants, then make it this one.
priest and Catholic curé often go beyond the city to stretch
stand in for one another. out on dazzling beaches.
Three to choose from are Cala TOP BEACHES IN
5
Rossa, to the north, A-list CORSICA
hangout Palombaggia or
U-shaped Santa Giulia bay, Palombaggia
with shallow tidal waters that The pin-up of Corsica’s
are tailor-made for families. beach scene: sugary
sands and clear water.
Arinella
18 Family heaven, with a
Plage de Palombaggia water playground and
views of Bastia Citadel.
! A7 ⌂ Corse-du-Sud
Bodri
Corsica doesn’t get more
idyllic than this: crystal clear Soft, sloping sand, with
excellent snorkelling
lagoon waters wrapped by a
wide strip of squeaky-soft and better swimming.
sand. Add to that a low-rise Roccapina
shoulder of pink hills and On the west coast, with
shadow-casting umbrella calm waters that are
pines, shallows for kids and perfect for kids and
oven-hot rocks for sun lizards. gorgeous sands.
Beach time on this strand is
a cinch if you get there early, Ostriconi
Quiet and isolated, this
wild stretch without
the crowds is a short
The historic town and rocky drive from L’Île Rousse.
coastline of Calvi, both with
beautiful sea views
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