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Grand Tour of Corsica
Grand Tour of Corsica
For the third year in a row, we are offering you a Grand Tour of Corsica departing from Nice. Embark on a cruise that takes the traveller by the heart to discover unsuspected treasures, through enchanted stopovers.
Departing from Nice, the capital of the Côte d'Azur, marked by the Italian influence, you will have the opportunity to stroll through the narrow streets of Old Nice, a picturesque and colourful historic district that is alive day and night. From the Promenade des Anglais, the famous avenue along the Bay of Angels, head for the French Riviera port and board the MV La Belle des Océans bound for Ajaccio.
The first stopover in Corsica is Ajaccio, the island's capital and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, which has been designated a "city of art and history". A local landmark, you can visit the emperor’s birthplace, which is now classified as a historical monument and has been transformed into a museum that traces his history.
After winding your way along the coastal road, which winds its way through wild creeks, you will arrive at the point of Parata, from where you can see the archipelago of the Sanguinaires Islands, an integral part of the natural and cultural heritage of the whole of Corsica. White sandbanks and turquoise waters, a few kilometres from Ajaccio, bask on the paradisiacal beaches that border the island or board a local boat to venture into the calanques of Piana.
A real open-air museum, you will then disembark in Bonifacio, a city of cliffs where the citadel built in the 12th century and the houses perched 60m above the Mediterranean are enthroned on the heights. From Bonifacio by boat, discover the Lavezzi islands, an archipelago of islets and granite reefs where numerous sea caves are hidden, offering a breath-taking spectacle.
Porto Vecchio, an ancient salt town, has retained its picturesque charm. You can still see the old location of its salt marshes at the mouth of the Stabiacciu, a small river in the region. The town is home to one of the most paradisiacal beaches in Corsica, Palombaggia. This beach is characterized by its water of a rare limpidity and its immaculate white sand. Dotted with rocks and umbrella pines, it offers without doubt one of the most beautiful settings on the island.
Head for Bastia, where the narrow streets of the old quarter become a picturesque labyrinth before heading for Cap Corse, where a wildly preserved natural heritage unfolds forests, myrtle scrub, mountains, villages perched on the mountainside and impressive creeks.
Finally, the last town of the trip is Île-Rousse, an old fishing village in the north of the Isle of Beauty. In the surrounding area, don't miss the visit of the perched villages of Balagne. Nicknamed "the garden of Corsica" thanks to its fertile hills, this region is made up of thirty or so villages set like lookouts on rocky peaks or hidden in the heart of narrow valleys.
Discover the cruise in pictures!
