Hello everyone!
While in Brazil the thermometers are dropping with the arrival of winter, in Europe it is the complete opposite. Summer around here is pretty exciting. People take advantage of every minute of sunny and long days (it only gets dark after 9pm) to enjoy the outdoor life, especially in places by the sea. That was why I chose Corsica to spend a week enjoying the best blue of the mediterranean and I absolutely loved it!
The island is wonderful, a true paradise! It has a sea of stunning colors and high mountains where charming villages are hidden. The most central region has a rural way of living while on the coast, the sea gives it a special twist. It is an island with plenty of variety. The places that I liked the most were: the outrageously beautiful Boniface, hanging on a cliff of limestone; the cute Porto Vecchio, the old capital, in the center of the island; the Olmeto village which looks more like a painting hung on the hill and the delicious Propriano facing the sea. My favorite beaches were Palombaggia, Conca and Ilê de Cavallo.
The island is relatively small, it has 183 kilometers from north to south and 83 from east to west. Even having excellent roads, to cross the island is time-consuming because their roads are narrow, winding and cross high mountains. You can take more than three hours to drive 90 kilometers. This happened when I decided to explore the city of Corte, right in the center of Corsica. Therefore, schedule at least a week to explore the island. If you have more time, even better. And if you want to stretch your stay, here is the tip, from Boniface you arrive in Sardinia in half an hour by boat.
Did you know that it was in Corsica where Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor of France) was born? He was born in the city of Ajaccio, on the west coast, where I stopped for a flight coming from Marseille. Although Napoleon never returned to his homeland after the coronation, his presence is striking in the history of the island. My return flight to Marseille was from Figari. The island has 4 airports. Choose to arrive by one of them and from another so you choose more than one point to serve as a basis. I really liked the hotels: Miramar and Casa del Mar. The first is located in Propriano, facing the Gulf of Valinco, it has few rooms, it is super exclusive and has the Small Luxury Hotels seal. The second is located in Porto Vecchio, also facing the sea, it is the most elegant of the island and has the The Leading Hotels of the World Seal. I recommend them both! AMAZING!
Corsica won me over with its beautiful wild and well preserved landscapes, with its beaches, spectacular colors, with their villages so in tune with the environment and with the mixture of roots. It had a history of both French and Italian domination. This is reflected in it’s personality. It’s as if it were a piece of Italy within France. You can tell this mix easily in the language (the official language is French, but the corsa is spoken by all) and in the cuisine (delicate and tasty dishes, lots of bread, sausages, pasta, salads and fish).
I can go back to Corsica? I just left and I am already wanting to go back. A place that left me sighing of passion. Next week I will share with you a little bit about Provence, where I am now, to see the lavender fields in bloom.
XoXo and see you all next week!
