Sea or mountains: the choice is yours!Places to see in southern Corsica

Top 10 must-sees in Southern Corsica and Alta Rocca

Have you just arrived in southern Corsica for a few days’ vacation? What luck! There are so many enchanting places to discover… Follow us as we take you to the most beautiful corners of our magnificent region, where sea and mountains combine to give you unforgettable moments.

Bonifacio and its cliffs

Even if this is your tenth visit, you can’t afford to miss a visit to Bonifacio and the alabaster cliffs on which the medieval town is built. From Campu Rumanilu, you can see both the citadel and the Pertusatu lighthouse, which stands alone in the countryside. Come aboard a SPMB boat in the harbor: the discovery by sea will leave you speechless, especially in front of the Roy d’Aragon staircase…

Plantes Printemps Campu Rumanilu Falaises Bonifa

Plage Palombaggia Folacca Porto Vecchio Sud Corse

Palombaggia, the postcard

If you love the beach, Palombaggia is bound to be part of your visit. Huge or tiny coves, fine white sand, turquoise water, pines and reeds, rocks to climb with the family, roots or select paillotes: you’ve got ten kilometers to find what you’re looking for. Palombaggia is the picture postcard par excellence, the one that takes your breath away when you arrive overlooking the road. Come early in the morning, it’s even more beautiful.

Inland treasures

Ospedale, Figari and Cavu

The Ospedale massif

Just half an hour from the beach, you’ll be in the heart of the mountains, in the village of l’Ospedale, with its 180-degree view over the Avretu plain. The nearby pine forest is omnipresent, with its fragrant scents and stony paths that can be explored in the salutary shade in summer.

Figari vineyards

If you like good wine – in moderation, of course – head for Figari. With its dozen hamlets and vast plains, the village is a Mecca of Corsican viticulture. Cellars and estates can be visited, and tastings are recommended!

The Cavu Valley

Natural freshwater pools in the rock, scrubland and tall trees in profusion, the freshness of the river… You’re in the Cavu Valley. Not so long ago, people used to travel through this valley on their way from Sainte-Lucie-de-Porto-Vecchio to the Alta Rocca.

Vue Aerienne Marais Salant Porto Vecchio Sud Corse

Porto-Vecchio and its gulf

Porto-Vecchio owes much of its charm to its gentle way of life. A small historic center on a hill, a 360° viewpoint from one of France’s few bastions open to the public, narrow cobbled streets, ancient salt marshes, a marina, a village atmosphere and sublime sandy beaches are all on offer in the town known as the City of Salt, which is the center of the entire micro-region. 74 WORDS

Unforgettable places

Viseo

The name probably means nothing to you, but once you’ve been to Viseo, you’ll never forget it. Viseo is Europe’s highest racecourse, located in the mountains between Zonza and Bavella. Every other Sunday in summer, the site is open for racing, and the best riders come to compete on this circuit with its breathtaking views of the Aiguilles de Bavella. For this reason alone, Viseo is a must-see.

Pinarellu

The small seaside village of Pinarellu is a particularly popular spot in summer, but that’s easy to understand: the immense sandy beach is bordered by a pine forest and dominated by a Genoese tower; the fishermen have been here for generations, carrying on a family tradition; the beach restaurants offer fish just caught a few kilometers away… In short, it’s a great place to live and enjoy the turquoise color of the water. 78 WORDS

Piscia di ghjaddu

Southern Corsica is both sea and mountains. In the Ospedale massif, nestled in a dense forest, lies Piscia di ghjaddu, a waterfall whose water gushes 70 meters from a rock face. The walk is intense, both for the legs and for the eye, which admires so much natural beauty. The site is protected, incredibly calm and imbued with a gentle, languorous atmosphere, despite the steepness of its stony path.

The Lavezzi Islands

Board a small boat in Bonifacio harbor, and head for the Lavezzi islands, with their gradations of color and ultra-protected environment within the Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve. You can disembark on Lavezzu Island, the only island in the archipelago open to visitors, and enjoy its fine sand and footpaths, as well as visit its ancestral marine cemeteries… But be warned: no trace of your passage is left there, to preserve the area as much as possible.

Archipel Iles Lavezzi Vue Aerienne Bonifacio

Discover also

Site Conservatoire Littoral Ventilegne Bonifacio

Conservatoire du littoral sites

Falaises Reserve Naturelle Bouches Bonifacio

Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve

Plage Santa Giulia Vue Aerienne Porto Vecchio Sud Corse

South Corsica’s most beautiful beaches