📷 Places to visit
Characterful villages, mountain scenery and exceptional natural sites: here are a few ideas for discovering the region beyond its beaches and hiking trails.
🏚️ Muna
Clinging to the mountainside above the Liamone valley, Muna is an old village whose stone houses blend into the landscape.
The narrow road leading to it is already part of the experience.
Take your time to walk through the village and see the old houses, the church and the surrounding scenery.
For walkers
You can also reach Muna on foot along the old mule track from Pont de Belfiore. This hike is described in the Walks & hikes section.
Cargèse
Cargèse is well worth visiting for its unusual history and its location overlooking the sea.
The village is particularly known for its two churches facing one another, one Latin-rite and the other Greek-rite.
Stroll through the lanes, walk down to the harbour, or simply sit at a café terrace and enjoy the atmosphere.
🚶 The Puntiglione walk
From Cargèse, the Puntiglione walk offers an enjoyable stroll with beautiful views of the sea and coastline.
It is easy to combine with a visit to the village.
An easy outing
Visit the two churches, wander through the village, then finish with Puntiglione before stopping for a drink or lunch in Cargèse.
🏞️ Piana & the Calanques
The village of Piana and its famous Calanques are among the unmissable landscapes of Corsica's west coast.
The road winds through impressive red-granite formations sculpted by erosion, with the sea and the Gulf of Porto in the background.
Take your time: here, the road itself is part of the visit.
For walkers
If you would like to discover these landscapes on foot, the Capo Rosso and Tour de Turghiu hike is described in the Walks & hikes section.
⚓ Old port of Castagna
Between Piana and Porto, take time to discover the small port of Castagna.
Away from the busiest sites, it is a pleasant place for a short stop on the road to Porto.
💧 The Castagna fountain is also a handy place to stop for a drink of water.
🌊 Porto
At the head of its gulf, between sea and mountains, Porto is an excellent destination for a day out.
You can explore the small harbour, stroll along the seafront and walk up to the Genoese tower overlooking the entrance to the gulf.
Porto is also one of the main departure points for boat trips to Scandola and Girolata.
⛵ Boat trips from Sagone
Several companies offer boat excursions departing directly from Sagone, close to the gîte.
Different options are available depending on how long you wish to spend and which sites you want to see:
- Calanques de Piana & Capo Rosso;
- Scandola Nature Reserve & Girolata;
- Grand tour, generally combining the Calanques de Piana, Capo Rosso, Scandola and Girolata.
Some trips also include a swimming stop or time ashore in Girolata.
Our suggestion
Departing from Sagone is particularly convenient: there is no need to drive to Porto to discover the gulf from the sea.
Several companies offer these excursions; compare the options according to the duration, type of boat and stops included.
🌲 Évisa & Aïtone forest
The village of Évisa, perched above the Spelunca gorges, marks the entrance to a completely different landscape.
Continue along the road and you will pass through the magnificent Aïtone forest, known for its Corsican pines and mountain scenery.
Several walks allow you to explore the forest and reach the river and its natural pools.
⛰️ Col de Vergio
Continue through the Aïtone forest to reach the Col de Vergio, at an altitude of 1,477 m.
It is the highest road pass in Corsica. The road crosses beautiful mountain scenery and offers a striking contrast with the coast.
The GR20 also passes through the col.
A great day in the mountains
Évisa → Aïtone forest → Col de Vergio makes a beautiful half-day or full-day excursion.
You can also combine it with the Spelunca gorges, described in the Walks & hikes section.