Located in the Mediterranean, the stunning island of Corsica is a French territory but, due to its position, has shifted hands between Italy and France on several occasions throughout the centuries. As a result, its towns and culture reflect this mixed heritage beautifully, and its breath-taking landscape seals the deal: it is a truly gorgeous place. For those interested in the great outdoors – be that exploring it, photographing it, or just looking at it – Corsica is an ideal destination and a must-see in France. From craggy peaks lined with hiking routes to water almost too blue to be real, stacked villages backing right up to rugged cliffs to impressive rock formations emerging from the sea, and ancient fortifications and pretty lighthouses lining the coast to painterly sunsets that astound, Corsica is a jewel-box of an island, full of delights and surprises, just waiting to be explored.
As travel is not possible quite at the moment and we are all long due and in need of a holiday, we thought we'd compile some wonderful photos of beautiful Corsica to help sate your wanderlust (or perhaps stoke it?) and for you to enjoy at home for now so you can compile a list of all of the incredible sights you want to go and see when we are free to move about once more. So, for now, may enjoying these photographs of Corsica in the comfort and safety of your home suffice until you are able to see the majestic beauty of the island for yourself, in person.
As travel is not possible quite at the moment and we are all long due and in need of a holiday, we thought we'd compile some wonderful photos of beautiful Corsica to help sate your wanderlust (or perhaps stoke it?) and for you to enjoy at home for now so you can compile a list of all of the incredible sights you want to go and see when we are free to move about once more. So, for now, may enjoying these photographs of Corsica in the comfort and safety of your home suffice until you are able to see the majestic beauty of the island for yourself, in person.
This dramatic picture of a town backing up to a rock cliff-face already depicts the impressively rugged and charming landscape that has made Corsica so well-known but, if you look closer, you'll spot a diagonal line through the cliff. This line is actually a staircase; a very, very steep, impressive, and ancient staircase called the Staircase Of The King Of Aragon. The Staircase of the King of Aragon, (or the Escalier du Roi d’Aragon) is an incredible stone stairwell that was carved out of the side of a cliff in Bonifacio in the 15th century. Famously picturesque, it is steeped in local legend and is a must-see.
In this image, one really gets an idea of the scale of the famous peaks of Corsica. As a result of this mountainous landscape – home to Monte Cinto which is second only to Mount Etna among the islands of the Mediterranean in terms of elevation – and the fact that nearly half of the island falls within a park with hiking trails that include the challenging GR 20, Corsica is an excellent destination for hikers. Not only are the hikes themselves challenging and rewarding but the views from these peaks, as you can see, are worth sweating for!
The craggy landscape of Corsica extends into the sea that surrounds where incredible rock formations dot the coast. These wonderful and impressive gifts from nature make the beautiful waters that surround the island all the more interesting to traverse whether you are renting a private boat or going on a boat tour or cruise. Sipping a drink, enjoying the views, and relaxing on the waves sounds like the perfect way to see the island, if you ask us!
Corsica, as an island, obviously boasts plenty of beaches. In fact, the beaches in Corsica are often said to be the best in all of France. From pretty pebble beaches with lots of facilities like sun loungers, umbrellas, bathrooms, showers, bars, restaurants and more to perfectly sandy, secluded, and remote slices of heaven that can only be accessed by boat, there is a range of styles of beaches but all of them are attractive and charming in their own ways. This image perfectly represents the unique appeal of a beach in Corsica, framed by the wonderful craggy rocks and dramatic peaks of the island, with rich blue seas, and with a long stretch of strand to explore.
Corsica's rich and diverse landscape supports a wide variety of incredible flora and fauna that visitors can enjoy and take in as they explore the island. This guy is one of the pigs that are known to roam the island freely in herds. Sometimes a little frightening or menacing for visitors, if you're careful and don't get too close, they won't bother you but will, rather, add to your trip and pop up like adorable surprises. Visitors just need to remember that they're in the pigs' hometown and to respect that! Keep an eye out for the cows and goats that are also known to wander about in herds in similar ways as well.
This aerial shot depicts an old Genoese fortress, a reminder of before Corsica was French, when it was part of the Republic of Genoa, back in the 18th century. Since then, the island has remained under French control bar a year during WWII, when it was occupied by Italy. Cultural and physical holdovers like these fortifications, aspects of the culinary and cultural heritage, and more stay behind and remind of the complex history of the island and the ways in which French and Italian culture come together on the island of Corsica.
Meanwhile, this shot is quite different, right? It could almost be a picture from the middle of the Alps, if you didn't know better. But we do know better. This is, in fact, an image of Lac de Nino in the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse, in the west of the island of Corsica. Accessed via a hiking route beginning at Poppaghia forest and leading past a rocky and arid valley to the idyllic and lush fairytale-like Lac de Nino, which is surrounded by grazing cows, goats, and horses, it is one of those places that seems too beautiful to be real. Pair this with the rocky Mediterranean coastline that can seem almost tropical at times with its rich hues and blazing sun, and you have quite a wide range of landscapes to uncover in Corsica. This truly incredible diversity of landscapes of Corsica is just one of its most charming selling points.
Bonifacio is just one of the towns on the island of Corsica but is particularly beloved of those in the know. Like most towns on the island, it has style and charm to spare and features lots of historic buildings and winding cobbled streets (like the one pictured above) that are known to make visitors fall in complete and irrevocable love. Located to the south of the island, this medieval fortress town is perched impressively and dizzyingly on creamy-white limestone cliffs, looking out over sparkling seas. As an extra bonus on top of everything else that this gem of a town offers, it is a little less well-known and, therefore, doesn't see the same massive influx of tourists as some other towns on the island during summer months. This is exactly the type of place to get a little lost, wander, and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings.
Corsica is, undoubtedly, a serious looker but each of these images reveals that there is much more in addition to those impressive looks that remains to be discovered. For now, enjoy the shots, and when the world opens back up again, consider heading to this beautiful part of France to discover the abundant charms of Corsica that a picture just cannot quite explain...
Corsica is, undoubtedly, a serious looker but each of these images reveals that there is much more in addition to those impressive looks that remains to be discovered. For now, enjoy the shots, and when the world opens back up again, consider heading to this beautiful part of France to discover the abundant charms of Corsica that a picture just cannot quite explain...