France regions: Corsica Island
Corsica (Corse, Corsica) – the fourth largest (area of 8680 kV. km, approximately 180 at 80 km) Island in the Mediterranean and one of the most picturesque regions of France. This is one of the most mountainous islands of the region – the average height of the island reaches 560 meters above sea level, 24 local mountains have a height of more than two kilometers, and the highest point – Mount Monte Chinto – takes 2710 meters. At the same time, Corsica has more rivers than any other Mediterranean island, more than a thousand kilometers of coastline and about 300 km of first-class beaches, and more than 25% of the coastal feature is protected by the state. More than 80% of the island’s territory is not affected by the human activity, 15% are given under agricultural land, and only 2% are engaged in roads and settlements. In addition, about 70% of excellent Corsican forests are in private hands, which practically guarantees their safety, and the shores, according to local laws, are publicly available. Therefore, it is not surprising that from a tourist point of view, this beautiful island is one of the most popular resort and environmental directions of France, which per year is visited by more than 2.5 million people, which is almost 8 times higher than the population of the island itself.
Saddling main trade routes of Western Mediterranean, Corsica has always had important strategic importance. Phoenicians and sardies, Greeks and Carthaginians, Arabs and Christian Waves of conquests rolled through the island, leaving their mark in his culture. However, the characteristic feature of the indigenous islanders has always been increased traction for independence, so almost thirty centuries of the foreseeable history of the Corsicans struggled against foreign conquerors, governments and laws. In 1768, France simply bought Corsica from Genoa, but two of the extensive century of the French rule changed little in the life of the island, whose baroque churches, numerous fortresses, fervent Catholic rituals, a characteristic kitchen and obviously related to the Tuscan dialect language still give out the close relationship of Corsicans with residents of the Apennine Peninsula.
The political status of the island officially divided into two departments (South and Corsica Top Corsica) is legally defined as "Territorial community" (Collectivite ‘Territoriale). The difficult relationship of Corsica with the metropolis was noticeably worsened in recent decades. The economic disregard and reluctance of the French government to support Corsican language and culture led in the early 1970s to the revival of the nationalist movement, the Armed wing of which – FLNC (Fronte di Liberazione Nazionale Di A Corsica) has once provoked a bloody conflict with the central government. Violence rarely affects tourists, but its signs are visible everywhere, from inscriptions on the walls to easily notable traces of bullets on some public buildings. However, nationalists have weak support among the islanders themselves, and huge subsidies from France and the EU have noticeably smoothed many contradictions. In addition, Corsicans are released from many taxes, and the island itself generally has a preferential tax status. Interestingly, almost a third of the population here consists in public service, but Corsica is considered to be a region with a weak administrative link in France.
Attractions Corsica
The capital of the province, the largest city and the port on the island of Corsica – Ajaccio is located on his West Bank, in the picturesque eponymous bay.
Around Ayachcho
From Ajacco to the south the long series of villas, green allests and sports and entertainment complexes, framing sandy shores of Ajaccio and Valinco (Valenko) stretch. The center of the resort area is a small port Propriano (Propria, Propriano), or PRUPRIA (PRUPRIA), located in the eastern end of the Bay of Valinco. From here, the tourist trail begins to the famous megaliths and caves of PhilTause – one of the most important prehistoric sections of the Western Mediterranean (there is an interesting archaeological museum), to the beaches of Lido, Olmeto and Barachi, as well as an isolated fishing village of Campomoro on the opposite shore of the bay, the shore around which They are considered one of the wildest and beautiful on the west coast of Corsica.
In the mountains behind the Bay, Valinco lies the picturesque city of Sarten – a colorful place built up with characteristic old houses and famous for their first-class wines.
Next to Sarten are the southern sections of the prehistoric complex PhilTosa, As well as the Megaliths of Cauria and Aliniment de Pedgjee, which turns this place in the biggest area of the ancient stone structures on the island. At the same time, the dolmed complex Fontanaccha (also known as static Del-Diaball – "Devil’s shop") In the Cauria Valley (10 km south-west of Sarten), it is considered the most well-preserved monument of this species on Corsica, and the nearby sites of Stantari, Renajo and Palazho (all within a radius of 11 km from the city) have more than three hundred mysterious stone pillars of the ever bronze.
Around the court
In the very center of the east coast, the city is located Alery (Aleria). Like many other settlements of the region, he crosses the coastal rock, but the granite peaks of the Mountain Arrays of the Mountain Arrays of the same name.
In the heart of these mountains, 40 km south of Bastia and 30 km north-west Alery, literally hiding among the grand landscape of the town of Corte, who are often called "Shower Corsica".
Also around the city It is worth visiting the Tabignano Gorge and Restonika (almost 45 km of the picturesque rocks, thresholds, brown forests and many small lakes), a tiny mountain village Vozavona (Vizzavona) with its excellent beech forest, crossed by the forest of Monte-d’Oro slopes (2389 m), as well as numerous mountain rivers that serve as popular objects of outdoor activities.
Around Bastia
The Cap Corsa Penship itself until the XIX century was almost cut off from the rest of Corsica with rocks and swamps. Yes, and now, it looks like a separate country, despite the still built Napoleon, a good road from Bastia to Roliao. However, this did not prevent numerous consensses from these places to make a noticeable contribution to the development of the new light, which in our days is traced in a large number of luxurious mansions (the locals are called them to the Italian manner – "Palazzi", Since for the most part are the descendants of the immigrants from Tuscany). Forty kilometers long and only fifteen across, the peninsula is divided by the Mountain Range of Serra (the highest point – Mount Folice, 1324 m) on the narrow east coast with its characteristic tiny fishing villages and sandy bays and rocky western shore, replete with rocks and tiny bays.
Decorations Cap Corsa are a small port founded by the Phoenicians Ergalunga (10 km north of Bastia) with its winding streets and many festivals and religious holidays, well-protected ancient port Macushaja (Macajajio, Macinaggio, Macinaghju, 20 km north of Erbalund) – Motherland of the famous local wine Clos Nicrosi, stunningly beautiful arc of Santa Maria Beach with the church of the same name (VI-XII centuries.), Bohemian village Sainturi-Port, Wedding Black Rock over the Sea Village Nonets – The Motherland of the patroness of the island is the Holy Yulia and the former Residence of the influential Geny family (the impressive fortress of the XVI-XVIII centuries has been preserved.).
Also deserve attention to its farewell, honey and chestnut fertile valley of Nebbio (Nebbio, or U Nebbiu) at the very basis of the peninsula, a chic coastal resort Saint-Floran, or San Foureg, with his wild shores of Corsica surrounding him, the first wine-making district of the peninsula, who received the official sign of AOS – the town of Patrimonio with his Church of San Martin (XVI in.) and megalite y-native (IX-X centuries. to N. NS.) and rocky "Lunny landscape" Area Acriate (now an interesting desert land reserve).
Several west, already outside the directory of the Corps Peninsula, lies the area Balan (Balanya), known in the times of ancient Rome as "Land of oil and bread". Framed by the wall of gray mountains with characteristic outcrops of red granite, local shores are considered the most picturesque not the north of the islands, many marine and tiny private resorts are concentrated here. Main centers – L’Il-Ros (Isola Ross) and Calvi – Little are reminded by Corsican cities – numerous beaches, gorgeous shops, palm promenade, tidy gardens and fashionable hotels create an atmosphere that is more like the French Rivier. Yes, and life here is as expensive and carefree here, so this area is always crowded with resting and hardly be able to offer anything except idle owl. But Cape Mukillina, separating the coast of Balan from the Bay of Porto, can offer a visit to the Scandol-and-Dzhirolatt natural reserve, famous for its amazing geological formations, caves and a rich coastal ecosystem (algae algae here 450 species were found here).
On the way to south it is worth visiting one of the most idyllic places on the island – a tiny fishing port Djirolat, Lost among the cypresses and eucalyptuses of Porto with nearby pink cliffs and cozy bays, the most beautiful forest on Corsica – Fore-d’Eton with his ancient pine bodies (some trees have age more than 500), entered into UNESCO unusual world heritage list Formation Calash (Calanches) 5 km south-west Porto, cut right in the rock Little chapel with the Madonna statue 500 meters south of Roche-Rouge, the most picturesque gorge Spelunk (the height of the rocks up to 1 km!) between the villages of Ota and Evis, inhabited by the descendants of the Greek migrants the picturesque resort town Kargez (Cargese, or Carghjese), as well as beachfront Pen, Monk and Shuinyi (Quini) in the south.
Ski rest
No matter how surprisingly, the hot Mediterranean island of Corsica has a whole network of own mountain centers. The relief of the island and the abundance of zones with its own microclimate make it possible to ski from December (more often from mid-January) to March-April, and a large number of picturesque slopes lying on the heights between 1400 and 1800 meters, creates excellent conditions for the formation of mountain centers of recreation. Currently, their four are COL de Vergio, Ghisoni, Haut-ASCO and VAL D’ESE, although local authorities are actively designing nine more, and the Winter Ski Route Corsica Hause Route is considered one of the Southernmost in Europe.
