Ideally located at the middle-road between the sea and the mountain, you can take advantage of both major facets of the island; we often say, moreover, that Corsica is a mountain which dives into the sea.
To brighten up pleasantly your days, according to your tastes and to your wish, we suggest you some excursions, visits and activities around idyllic beaches, cultural and historical sites, mountain passes and famous plateaus.
IN THE VILLAGE
In the village, you will find a small grocery shop, a bar-restaurant and a post office. You can venture on the everyday life of the villagers and complete your shopping with the itinerant salesmen: baker, fishmonger's, greengrocer, fruiterer, frozen food, butcher and cheese merchant. Long walks in the village to be steeped with the Corsican soul can prove very pleasant.
NEW: Ayurvedic Massage and Yoga course for the adults and the children (in English, French and Italian) at the edge of the swimming pool practised by Agathe, trained at the school of Tapovan-Paris, and graduated internationally in Hatha-Yoga by the ashram Sivananda. Rates: 50 euros 1,5 hour of yoga (3 participants max) or 1 hour of massage. Possibility of Aquaerobics or Pilates on request. Call 06.03.43.29.17 on reservation 24h-48h before.
You can also visit:
- the Genovese Bridge of the Trinity dating the XVIIth century. Named like this because sometimes in the water, we can distinguish a shape looking like the Virgin Mary ...
- the Chapel Saint Georges and its secret.
For the most sporty, we propose you:
- hiking trails to meet goats and small corsican pigs, the Immortal, endemic flower of the island.
- climbing with ways referenced as Pietra Piombu, Monte Rossu, or Cantu di a Speranza.
- a hike up to the waterfall Piscia in Alba, one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls of the island.
- a hike in mountain bike about 20km round trip, up to the Vaccia mountain pass, where delicious pancakes with sweet chestnut flour will reward your efforts.
For the Canoe enthusiasts, Taravo is considered by its length and the variety of its routes, as a leading river in Europe. The least intrepid can rather opt for refreshing bathings in its crystal clear waters.
With your permit, you will hunt in season, thrush, blackbird, pigeon, woodcock or fish for the famous Fario trout. Sometimes, you will even be eligible to participate to beats to the wild boar which hold a big place in the corsican tradition.
LESS THAN 30MN BY ROAD: between 10km and 30km
We propose you some visits:
- Hiking or pony trekking accompanied by a guide with Ballades et Decouvertes (planning on request tel: 06.20.81.90.30)
- a distillery of essential oils in Les Bains de Guitera, at 14km
- historic monuments, Ponti Vecchio dating the XVth century, situated at 15km, between Grosseto and Petreto-Bicchisano, Palazzo Sampiero, the Tower Vanina in Santa Maria Sicché, at 18km.
- Colomba's house, heroine who inspired Prosper Mérimée, in Olmeto, at 30km.
- the famous prehistoric site of Filitosa (04.95.74.00.91) at 30km, its statues menhirs and its museum, 8000 years of history and mysteries.
Unforgettable are, hikes on the famous Cuscione's plateau at 20km: the hike of Bozzi, the start of both paths "Mare e Mare" South and the "Mare e Monti" South; or for the bravest, the ascent of the Incudine 2134 meters high, or either, cross-country skiing in winter.
In Grosseto, at 24km, you will be invited to a country lunch of corsican specialities, served in a Genoese tower near a Romanesque church.
The balneotherapy enthusiasts will have the choice between Les Bains de Caldane at Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano (46 kms), Les Bains d'Urbalacone at Zigliara 25km (actually closed), the warm waters of Baracci at 30km, visited since Antiquity, Les Bains de Caldane at Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano (46kms), or Les Bains de Guitera at only 14km (reopening soon).
AT APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR BY ROAD: between 40km and 55km
If the town vibrations miss you, you will have the choice between:
- Porto-Pollo, its charming fishing port and its magnificent beaches
- Propriano, its Water Sports celebration in May, its Fishermen celebration in June, and its Water Festival beginning of September
- Porticcio, very livened up in summer, with idyllic beaches of Coti-Chiavari or Isollela
- Ajaccio, its museums, its old town, its fishing port and the famous Sanguinaires Islands
- Sartène, its Museum of the Prehistory, the most known procession of Good Friday "U Catenacciu", the St Damien convent (Franciscans' big convent of the XIXth century), the Carnaval last week-end of April.
- a distillery of bio essential oils in Ocana, la Maison des Senteurs (04.95.23.81.88), honey production Le Jardin des Abeilles (04.95.23.83.88)
- Adventure parc, Baracci Natura (06.20.95.45.34)
Other curiosities:
- The artificial lake of Tolla with emerald green waters
- Campomoro's Tower dating the XVIth century
- The Romanic church of Annunziata in Santa Maria Figaniella, Romanic pisan style of the XIIth century
- The olive oil mill in Sainte Lucie de Tallano (U Franghjonu), or the sulphurous spring and the Roman pond of Les Bains de Caldane
- The sweet chestnut flour mill and the church Saint-Jacques in Tasso
At approximately 50km, you can contemplate one of the most beautiful panoramas of the island: les Aiguilles de Bavella, also called Horns of Asinao.
From Zonza, you can go for a Quad Trekking until Ospedale's forest or to try Canyoning in luxurious natural ponds.
CORSICAN PRODUCTS AND RESTAURANTS
For all the gourmets, conscious that the gastronomy and the corsican products can alone justify a stay on the island, we suggest you discovering the agricultural craftsmen of The Road of the Authentic Senses: the pork delicatessen of Olivèse, Cozzano or Zevaco, the honey of Serra di Ferro, the bruccio of Petreto-Bicchisano, and many others.
We reveal you our best restaurant addresses in the close surroundings (all need reservations):
In Olivese, Gite du Chalet Pietri, corsican meals 04.95.26.78.65
In Olivese, U Cantu, corsican meals with corsican guitares and songs, 04.95.26.78.66
In Argiusta-Moriccio, pizzeria and grill 06.07.01.96.07/06.18.37.29.52 (15 mn drive)
In Guitera, At Paul-Antoine's House 04.95.24.44.40 (20 mn driving)
In Zicavo, le Pacific pizzeria and grill 04.95.24.41.37 (20 mn driving)
In Vaccia mountain pass, L'Auberge du Col 06 8475 70 27 (20 mn driving)
In Petreto-Bicchisano, At Marie's House 04 95 24 31 53 (30 mn driving)