Guide to Corsica

Beaches

Corsica has 1,000km of coastline and more than 200 beaches - three of which have featured in the Sunday Times European Top 20. So whether you like a big, open stretch of powdery Caribbean-style sand or a small, secluded pebbly cove sheltered by rocks, you won't be disappointed. What's more, with many beaches which are extremely safe for swimming and have the bonus of resident lifeguards, Corsica is a great choice for families. You'll also find plenty of watersports available in the bigger resorts. It's generally agreed that the best beaches are in the south east of the island around Porto Vecchio, and on the west coast around Calvi. One of the most gorgeous examples is Rondinara, between Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio, which is almost certain to be familiar to you, simply because it's been photographed so many times. Or there's Campomoro on the south west coast if you like your beaches with a good selection of bars and restaurants nearby. There's also an impressive Genoese watchtower to add a touch of scenic grandeur. Alternatively, if you really want to get away from it all and visit a famous movie location at the same time, take a boat trip to Saleccia beach on the island's north west coast. This unspoilt, UNESCO-protected site was used as a substitute for one of the Normandy D-Day landing beaches in the Second World War movie 'The Longest Day'.

Eating out

• If you're into food, you'll be in heaven in Corsica. Blending classic French cookery with a big dollop of Italian know-how, Corsican dishes combine quality meat, poultry and game, fresh, seasonal produce and fragrant herbs and spices to create hearty country-style fare with a hint of haute cuisine. What's more, with the kind of Franco-Italian heritage the Corsicans have, you won't be surprised to hear that they take their food very seriously. Wherever you eat, from a family run bistro to a Michelin-starred restaurant, you can expect high standards and attention to detail. And you won't be short of places to dine out. All the major resorts have a good range of establishments catering for all tastes, including pizzerias and snack bars if you fancy a quick bite. Not that you're likely to be able to resist the mouth-watering local specialities on offer. Typically present on a traditional menu will be delights like 'tianu' - a rich game stew cooked slowly for maximum flavour and tenderness - 'agnellu' - barbecued lamb served with fried peppers – and 'cingale' - wild boar marinated in red wine and brandy and infused with herbs and fennel. Not to mention the usual array of fresh fish and seafood from the Mediterranean's well stocked waters, including tuna, eel, lobster, monkfish, scallops and mussels. For a real treat, try 'aziminu', Corsica's own version of bouillabaisse. The island is also famous for its ricotta-like 'brocciu' cheese, made from goat or ewe's milk and often used in pasta dishes, as well as a tasty liver sausage called 'figatellu'. Oh, and don't forget to leave room for dessert. Decadent, calorie-stuffed temptations include ubiquitous favourites like tiramisu and creme brulee, as well local specialities such as 'fiadone', a lemon cheesecake flambeed in brandy. As for liquid accompaniments to your meal, Corsica produces a range of good quality wines, most of which now have AOC status. The reds and roses are generally better than the whites, although there are some particularly good sweet Muscat dessert wines from the north of the island.
  
  
• L'Abri Cotier, Calvi Located right on the seafront in Calvi, this popular, family-run restaurant serves high quality cuisine in a delightful setting.
  
  
• Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa, Porto Vecchio Part of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux chain, this excellent hotel and restaurant serves top class Corsican fare.
  
  
• La Caravelle, Bonifacio A delightful quayside restaurant that serves fish and seafood in a wonderful setting. There's also a piano bar housed in a refurbished 13th-century chapel.
  
  
• Les Halles, Ajaccio Originally opened in 1933, this is something of a Corsican institution and a favourite lunch venue for local market and office workers. The reasonably priced menu offers good quality Corsican dishes.
  
  
• Cafe L'Orient, Calvi If you want a cheap and cheerful croc monsieur and a cafe au lait, this is the place. Located next to the marina, it's also a cyber-cafe.

Nightlife

• Access to nightlife really depends on where you are staying in Corsica. The capital, Ajaccio, and the bigger resorts like Calvi and Porto Vecchio, all have a reasonable range of bars, discos and clubs, although the emphasis is on French Riviera-style chic rather than Ibiza-style buzz. As for the smaller resorts, the after-dark scene is generally relatively low key. Most people opt for dinner, then a glass of wine or two in an open-air cafe and a leisurely promenade along the seafront to watch the twinkling lights out to sea. If you enjoy celeb-spotting, it's worth dropping into Che Tao piano bar in Calvi's citadel. The seafood is top notch and the typical Corsican atmosphere is enough to attract regular visits by holidaying stars. Also popular with the jet set is St-Florent, which has been compared with St-Tropez on the Cote d'Azur. On the other hand, if you prefer somewhere a bit less glitzy and bit more traditional, there's Place St-Nicholas in Bastia. This majestic 19th-century square is lined with street cafes where you can sit and enjoy a leisurely evening of chat and people watching. If you're lucky there may even be an outdoor concert on to serenade you. If you fancy a flutter, there's a casino in Ajaccio with all the usual temptations to part with your hard earned cash, including four roulette tables, two blackjack tables, a poker table and an array of slot machines. If you come out a winner or at least break even, you can celebrate in the casino's restaurant or piano bar.
  
  
• La Camargue, Calvi This is one of the largest clubs on Corsica. It's got indoor and outdoor dance floors, a piano bar and a restaurant. Resident DJs spin the latest sounds and there are impressive light and laser shows to heighten the atmosphere.
  
  
• Acapulco, Calvi Comfortably accommodating a couple of thousand clubbers, this split-level venue attracts famous French DJs and also has a private room dedicated to 80s music.
  
  
• Le Via Notte, Porto Vecchio Comprising a restaurant, swimming pool and a disco with all the latest hi-tech gear, this is one of the most popular spots on the island. The club can take up to 4000 people and often attracts celebrities.
  
  
• Le Mirage, Algajola Open every day from June to September, this small, cosy establishment caters mainly for tourists. There's a disco, a couple of swimming pools, a bar and a terrace.
  
  
• Le Menestrel, Ajaccio. Known as the 'rendez-vous des artistes', this is a hang-out for local musicians, some of whom perform regularly. Styles include cafe jazz, traditional mandolin and guitar music, with occasional sing-alongs. A really different evening out.

Shopping

The centre of attraction for shoppers is naturally the capital, Ajaccio, which has a range of big stores, as well as small, family-run establishments. Most of the other major resorts also have reasonable shopping facilities, where you can pick up souvenirs or gifts. Best buys include handmade baskets, pottery, jewellery, perfumes and local produce, such as honey, olive oil, biscuits and cheeses. A great place to spend a leisurely afternoon browsing is Calvi, where the cobbled alleyways are lined with little shops selling local handicrafts and unusual artefacts. And if you've got some wheels, you can follow the Road of the Artisans, created in 1995 to preserve traditional crafts and revive the culture of Corsica's Balagne region. Most of the villages along the route have cottage industries, where you can buy direct from the artisans working in their studios. Another shopping experience not to be missed is a visit to one of Corsica's colourful street markets. Most of the main towns have them and you'll be amazed at - and no doubt tempted by - the rich variety of produce available, including charcuterie, cheeses and honey, flavoured with the unique taste of the maquis, Corsica's trademark heathland. The biggest and best produce market is the one at Ajaccio, held every day on Place Cesar-Caminchi. Brightly coloured awnings adorn stalls selling everything from cut flowers to fig jam.