Corsica is also laced with wonderful hiking trails linking mountains and the Mediterranean – most famously the 180km GR20, but there are also shorter, equally spectacular routes.
Walk to stunning Lake Nino, ascend 2,706m Monte Cinto – the island’s highest point – or cross the Col de Bavella above red granite pinnacles. You could also explore Scandola Nature Reserve’s mesmerising rocks and jagged peaks with sweeping bay views, visit epic glacier-moulded Restonica and Tavignano gorges or the Lavezzi Archipelago’s secluded beaches and coves.
Corsica’s natural wonders are just the start. Its prolific historical sights include the capital Ajaccio, Napoleon’s birthplace, with pastel-hued streets and gracious squares; medieval Bonifacio, rising seamlessly from vertiginous limestone cliffs; and Calvi’s magnificent citadel. Genoese towers and forts abound, alongside prehistoric ruins that include Filitosa’s tombs and standing stones.
However, these are not the only man-made wonders. Corsica’s food is a thing of beauty. Not just fish fresh off the boat but also local dishes featuring wild boar, slow-cooked lamb and chestnut-flour cheesecake. There are superb cafés and restaurants, with 43 Michelin Guide entrants, including two-star Casadelmar’s Corsican-Italian menu.