10 Beaches and Picturesque Villages in Corsica

Santa Giulia Beach (La plage de Santa Giulia) is sheltered on 3 sides and just a few kilometres to the south of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio. It is a little gem of perfection where relaxation runs from the source. Nestled at the foot of a mountain and lined with stone pines, this turquoise shallow-water lagoon is almost the definition you would give of paradise.

The bay is ideal for children to paddle safely, and it will also win over water sport lovers - including diving, tubing and standup paddle boarding - and fans of summer relaxation, with its little bars and restaurants concealed behind the greenery where you can order a refreshment to enjoy under a parasol or on your rented deckchair.

Paraguano Beach (La Cala di Paraguano), known as Bonifacio's greenest beach, is one of southern Corsica's best kept secrets. This entirely wild cove lined with tree-filled rocks is appreciated for its gentle gradient, crystal-clear water and its seclusion.

The track leading down to it is somewhat bumpy in the car, but it's worth your while. You can even walk from La Marine or Mont de la Trinité and leave along one of the hiking trails. As a token of the desire to preserve the ecosystem, you will find posidonia left in its natural state to ensure the quality of the sand.

The beaches of Lumio included 8 sandy beaches, 1 pebbled beach and 4 coves. The area is 8 kilometres from Calvi and is covered in bougainvillaea, hundreds of dashes of colour against the blue background of the sea.

The first is poetically named Sugar Bread (Le Pain de Sucre) and has, apart from crystal-clear water, a restaurant by the water's edge – a must if you want to spend a day lazing around without having to worry about catering. Punta Spano, a pretty cove peppered with beautifully rounded rocks, is accessible via a small path from the marina and boasts a magnificent view over Calvi. Arinella Beach (Plage de l’Arinella) is just as idyllic.

To reach Verghia Beach (Plage de Verghia) in Coti-Chiavari on the southern bank of the Gulf of Ajaccio, follow along the much busier Mare e Sole beach (Plage de Mare e Sole). A pine forest separates the 2 beaches, providing a welcome shady break from the Corsican sun.

This 200-metre bay is more secluded than its neighbour and, with its golden sand, turquoise water, stone pines and rocks, it resolutely brings together all the aspects of your dream beach. It isn't suitable for families, however, as swimming in the deep water can sometimes be risky. From there, you can visit the ruins of the prison and the dam. Why not take a picnic?

The Calanques de Piana, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, are splendid steep rocks that will invite you to dream and whose red-orange colour deeply contrasts with the turquoise of the water. The best way to see them is to hire a boat at Porto or walk along the path that spans them.

If you want to bathe at their foot, head to beach at Ficaghjola Beach (Plage de Ficaghjola), the only accessible inlet. Old fishermen's houses give the scenery its authentic and old-fashioned charm, and happiness is everywhere, even in the smallest grain of sand. Be warned that the 800-metre slope from the car park is rather steep.

The medieval village of Pigna in Balagne (Haute-Corse), built in 816, is one of those places that, in just a few hours, instantly transports you to another time, forgetting the modern era saturating our daily lives. The village offers a large dollop of authenticity with its hundred or so year-round inhabitants, olive groves, steep narrow streets around the church and houses with sky-blue shutters that have been restored using ancestral techniques.

This haven of artists, musicians and craftspeople also symbolises the revival of Corsican traditions. Spend a happy, idle afternoon wandering around the cobbled streets and admiring the granite façades, lightly browned in the sun.

The hamlets of Zonza boast natural and wild charm and are nestled in the heart of Alta Rocca, part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica. Steep slopes, fragrant pine forests and fast-flowing rivers are all part of the scene awaiting you if you brave the heights of the village at 900 metres of altitude.

The famous Bavella's Needles (Aiguilles de Bavella) will become your new point of reference in this mountainous haven where you can try your hand at climbing, hiking, canyoning or even horse riding at the highest race course in Europe. Delightful hotels and authentic restaurants complete the ensemble for a stay in search of the Corsican spirit.

The olive trees of Lama are a must-see when in Corsica. The unusual style of the village of Lama, classed as a Village in Bloom (Village Fleuri), is nestled into the Corsican mountains, overhanging the astonishing Vallée de l’Ostriconi valley.

Green scrubland, natural rocky landscapes, narrow cobbled and sometimes sunken streets (the famous carrughi stretti) and olive groves constitute the backdrop of this secluded village hosting 2 types of dwellings: medieval constructions laid out in an eagle's nest around the watch tower one on hand, and the Tuscan-inspired bourgeoise houses, like Maison Bertola, built in the 18th century to welcome wealthy olive growers on the other. Ancient presses bear witness to the olive oil production that made the village famous until the fire of 1971. This visit is as charming as it is enriching.

Cargèse is a peaceful port city that enjoys a rich past to which its nickname, The Greek (La Grecque), bears witness. A community of Greeks from the Peloponnese who were fleeing from the Ottoman tyranny came to set up life in the region in 1676 and, today, Catholics and Orthodox believers live together with respect for the traditions of the other.

From the headland that encloses the Gulf of Sagone (Golfe de Sagone), Cargèse unveils red cliffs and the long ribbon of sand that is the beach at Péru Beach (Plage de Péru) against a background of emerald water. You can admire the scene from above, positioned at the summit of the Genoese towers (ancient defence towers typical of the Corsican coast) or from the viewpoint at Molendino Point (Pointe de Molendino). Heritage and contentment are the keywords of this completely beautiful setting.

The village of Centuri, between the bay and the mountains, and its 200 or so inhabitants is easy living personified. Its narrow streets peppered with wooden lockers and stone-rendered maisonettes whose colours echo those of the boats in the harbour will quickly show you that day-to-day life follows the rhythm of the fishermen. Another clue is the transparent and fish-filled water that also pleases divers.

The landscape, as astonishing as it is peaceful, is bathed in warm light, and the surroundings have plenty of interesting things to discover once you've soaked up the unusually authentic scenes, such as the Genoese towers (les tours génoises), the Merlacce Castle (Château Merlacce) and Mattei Windmill (Moulin Mattei).