Corsica, France Attractions

A noted French prehistoric archaeological site, the Casteddu d'Araghju or
Castellu of Araghju as it is also referred to, is located in Corse-du-Sud about 5 km from Porto-Vecchio. Standing atop the ancient fortress provides spectacular views of the coast. There is no admission to tour the Castellu of Araghju, which can be reached by a walking path from the village of Araggio. To learn more about this Corsica attraction, visit www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10271.

Porto-Vecchio, France is a well-known harbor and port city on the southeast side of the island of Corsica. Referred to in Corsican as "Portivechju," the city of Porto-Vecchio is the seat of the canton of Porto-Vecchio and home to a Corsican population of some 12,000 people. To learn more about one of Corsica's leading cities, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Vecchio.

Bonifacio Old Town is often referred to as the "Citadel of Bonifacio" due
to the fact that the city is entirely surrounded by fortified walls. Once inside the medieval town, the narrow, winding streets are lined with historic buildings and townhouses. Reaching the Citadel of Bonifacio from the marina means climbing the extremely steep steps of Montee St-Roch and Montee Rastello, but the views from the climb are extraordinary. To learn more about things to see and do in Bonifacio Old Town, visit www.bonifaciocorsica.net/old-town.html.

The Giraglia Lighthouse on Capo Pertusato can be seen from as many 30 miles away. Part of Napoleon's system of marking the French Coast and constructing lighthouses, the building plan began in 1838, and the result was five lighthouses on the island of Corsica. In addition to the Giraglia, the lighthouses include: La Revellata, LaChiappa, the Pertusato and Les Sanguinaires, which were all completed by 1848. To learn more the Giraglia Lighthouse, visit www.cyberlights.com/cgi-bin/showlight.cgi?id=fr02.

The Col de Bavella, or Pass of Bavella in English, makes for a splendid wilderness trek and place for taking in the sweeping views of the Alta Rocca mountains and Corsican landscape. There are a number of walking trails, which are suited to many levels of activity. The Trou de la Bombe trail is one of the most popular, which takes about 3-4 hours. To learn more about the Col de Bavella in Corsica, visit www.portovecchiocorsica.com/col-de-bavella.html.

Occupying a splendid perch in Corsica's Alta Rocca mountains high above the Rizzanese Valley, the charming village of Sainte-Lucie de Tallano offers an authentic Corsican experience of daily living and delicious dining spots. Dotted with red-tile roofed stone houses, the village has a central square where many of the restaurants are located as well as a helpful Tourist Office. To learn more about attractions in Sainte-Lucie de Tallano, go to www.bonifaciocorsica.net/sainte-lucie-de-tallano.html.

Bonifacio is one of Corsica's most popular attractions. Home to an ancient Old Town dating to the 9th century and fashionable resort activities, Bonifacio's busy marina is often filled with large luxury yachts. Nearby, the city boasts bars and shopping that cater to its sophisticated visitors. To learn more about top Bonifacio attractions on the island of Corsica, visit   www.bonifaciocorsica.net/.

Filitosa is located on the southern end of Corsica and is one of the island's most famous prehistoric sites. Discovered by Charles-Antoine Cesari in 1946, excavations of Filitosa began in 1954. Since then, numerous artifacts have been unearthed dating from Neolithic era and into the Bronze Age and even into the Roman Era. To learn more about this top Corsica attraction, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filitosa.

The Parc Naturel Regional de Corse was founded in 1972 and is the designation given to the protected land on Corsica. Covering nearly 40 percent of Corsica, the protected natural features include volcanoes, lakes and mountain peaks, which support a wide array of human and bird life. To learn more about the mission of Parc Naturel Regional de Corse to ensure the protection of the natural beauty of Corsica, visit www.parc-corse.org.