Most Beautiful Islands: French Islands

The beautiful island of Corsica is located the western Mediterranean, just to the north of Sardinia, it's 160 km southeast of Nice, France, and 82 km west of Tuscany, Italy. Corsica, a region of France, was ruled over the centuries by the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Goths and Saracens. It was eventually sold to France by the Genoese. Famous for its independent spirit, rugged beauty, olive oil, wine and citrus fruit, Corsica is a fascinating island, which has scenery and culture unlike any other place in Europe and we must not forget that the island was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The island of Corsica never ceases to amaze. With both French and Italian flavours, fantastic cuisine and a friendly atmosphere, this island will capture your heart.Corsica’s uniqueness – quite apart from the fact that it is an island that is unique to the Mediterranean – also stems from its heritage. Everywhere you go, you will see a Chapel, a bridge, a tower, or something of interest to explore.Corsica has excellent beaches and if you, like most of Corsica's visitors, are there in the summer many of your activities will center around the beach. Corsica is unarguably a paradise for enthusiasts of sea and water sports, in all their forms.With its more than 1 000 km of coastline that are home to crystal clear waters, vast fine sandy beaches, small deserted creeks and granite cliffs inhabited by sea birds, Corsica offers a variety of marine landscapes that is unique in the Mediterranean. Beside sunbathing and swimming almost every beach offers opportunities to snorkel. Some more popular beaches will rent windsurf boards and kite-surfing boards. Scuba diving is available, particularly at popular beaches near islands and in major towns. Expect to pay around €45-60 euros for a one hour dive.

Corsica has many walking trails, including the GR 20, perhaps the best known and most difficult of all the Grande Randonnée trails. The trail takes approximately 17 days if using the traditional waypoints, though may take more or less time depending on your experience and needs. The trail is particularly crowded in August, many people suggest the best time is in late spring or early fall. The greatest danger on the GR 20 are the intense summer storms, with lightning claiming the most fatalities.

Once the sun goes down, many people stay on or near the beach, enjoying gelato or one of the many beachside bars and restaurants. Corsican brew a wide selection of local beers, have their own coke and make their own wine, reflecting their independent ways. Don't be surprised if you are asked "Américain ou Corse" when ordering a coke. It's highly recommended to try the beers "Colomba", "Pietra" or "Bière Torre" when visiting - a very distinct taste that you won't find anywhere else in France.

Corsica food has French and Italian influences, but has many unique dishes. The chestnut was one of the ancient (and even current) Corsican's mainstay foods, and many meals and even desserts are prepared with this

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Silver)

If u want to go on a trip,from Corsica island you can go to Sardinia, an Italian Island just to the south. Ferries leave from Bonifacio every few hours for San Teresa during the summer, and cost approximately €15 per foot passenger and can easily accommodate cars, light trucks and motorcycles. The ferry ride is approximately one hour.

So..after all why not spoil yourself for a weekend, indulging in the pleasures of a break at a thalassotherapy, balneotherapy or spa centre, staying in a cosy hotel and enjoying an invigorating walk along the beach - perfect ways to unwind and to get rid of the stresses of daily life.

French Islands - Corsica