Corsica - Road Trip Part 1 - Avenue Des Images

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Corsica has been on my must visit list for a very long time and at long last I’m doing it. And I’m going to do a road trip. I chose to fly to the island and hesitated a while before deciding on which airport. Eventually, I chose Bastia, and driving anti-clockwise around the island to try and see it all. I am giving myself 12 days.

This post and the next few should give you an idea of what I saw, and how beautiful the island is. I traveled in June. This is more or less the target route.

Bastia to Macinaggio

On this first part I was able to visit the wild and protected east coast in the North of the island after spending a lovely time visiting the old city and port of Bastia.

I headed to the citadel and the cathedral to start the visit of old Bastia. Plenty to see including a lovely view down the coast back towards the airport.
Then I went down the hill to the old port. You, like me, could spend several hours here. Apart from the obvious port and boats, there were lovely streets perpendicular to the rue des zephyrs. I had dinner, sheep cheese starter followed by a local sardines main, looking out over a balcony towards the port. A balcony that was very much in demand in the Restaurant L’Epica Bastia Vieux Port

Erbalunga

I continued northwards to explore the fairly undeveloped east side of the cap. It’s not a long drive but you will stop often. The first major stop is Erbalunga which has a 16 century tower that was damaged by a storm. It’s a small place but nice enough. I continue northwards to Pietracorbara where I decide it’s hot enough to swim. A nice break.

Tamarone

I parked just north of Macinaggio, where I am staying tonight. This was as rough a road as I was prepared to take a hire car. I was walking the sentier des douaniers, along the coast. You can save yourself 60-90 minutes by continuing up the track to the first way-point at Tamarone beach. This walk is correctly classed as classed intermediate level. Be prepared to scramble up loose rock. Over the top, up and down, eventually I see the Finocchiarola islands which give their name to my destination beach. All this area is a nature reserve. Foot is the only way to get there and we were few and far between. 15 minutes rest, it’s on 28 C before turning around and do it all over again back to the car. My Corsica road trip is off to a good start.