Corsica fact file

Hot summers and generally mild winters; Ajaccio holds the record as France’s sunniest spot, with 2,900 hours of sunshine per year. The island’s average rainfall is 50 days per year (approx. 800 mm). Beware – Summer temperatures reach as high as 35 degrees on the coast but can be very cool in the mountains. Winter snowfall starts at 1000/1200m and stays well into the springtime. Winds (libeccio, tramontane, sirocco) can be strong but are warm and dry.

General topography

Corsica is an island of extreme variations, sometimes referred to as ‘The Mountain in the Sea’: it has 200 beaches, but also 120 peaks over 2,000 metres in altitude, mountain lakes, maquis (indigenous scrubland), mountain pastures and 25 watercourses. Two thirds of the island are designated ‘Parc Naturel Regiona de Corse’ and covers an area of 3,500 kilometres squared of land and sea. Five Réserves Naturelles [Nature Reserves] and one Parc Marin International [International Marine Park] have been created for the protection of unique and fragile flora and fauna. Twenty per cent of the island is covered by forest.

Getting there

This volcanic island exploded into the Mediterranean sea 170 kilometres off the French coast and 80 kilometres from Italy. There are four international airlines on the island.

Airports

Calvi Sainte Catherine
T: +33(0)4 95 65 88 88
F: +33(0)4 95 65 88 89
www.bastia-hautecorse.cci.fr

Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte
T: +33(0)4 95 23 56 56
E: aeroport.ajaccio@sudcorse.cci.fr
www.2a.cci.fr

Figari Sud Corse
T: +33(0)4 95 71 10 10
F: +33(0)4 95 71 10 10
www.2a.cci.fr

Bastia Poretta
T: +33(0)4 95 54 54 54
F: +33(0)4 95 54 54 56
www.bastia-hautecorse.cci.fr

Immigration

(As per France). Some visitors will need to apply for a visa from their local French consulate (see www.mfe.org) before their departure depending on their nationality, the length and reason for their stay. EU citizens may carry simply a valid identity card. All other nationalities and British citizens must carry a valid passport.

Customs

Yachts carrying a total of more than 10,000 euros must make a written declaration upon entry into port within 24 hours of arrival. Category 4 firearms (defensive firearms and their ammunition) are subject to strict AIMG (Application for Authorisation to Import War Material, Weapons and Ammunition) regulations.

Restrictions

Anchoring, coming alongside, scuba diving, hunting and underwater fishing and disembarkation are restricted, regulated or banned in some areas of the Marine Natural Reserve. See; www.parcmarin.com. The lighting of fires on the main land is banned from 1 July to 30 September.

Superports

Port Xavier Colonna
Capitainerie
20260 Calvi
T: +33 (0)4 95 65 10 60
W: www.resaportcorse.com

Port de Solenzara
Port de Sari-Solenzara
20145 Solenzara
T: +33 (0)4 95 57 46 42
W: www.resaportcorse.com

Port de Plaisance de Bonifacio
Port de Bonifacio
Capitainerie
Quai Noël Beretti
20169 Bonifacio
T: +33 (0)4 95 73 10 07
W: www.resaportcorse.com

Port de Plaisance – Tino Rossi
Port Ajaccio Tino Rossi
Quai de la Citadelle
20000 Ajaccio
T: + 33 (0)4 95 51 55 43

Medical

From landlines emergency numbers are:
Samu (ambulance): 15
Police: 17
Fire brigade: 18

From mobile phones for all services call: 112

Hospitals and clinics can be found in all major towns.

Hazards

Mosquitos abound in the summer months.
Beware/ be vigilant of forest fires.
Avoid scuba-diving and mountain hiking in the same day – allow a period of 12 hours between the two.
Hair pin and cliff edge roads can be treacherous and slow.
Be sure to correctly gauge driving distances between destinations.

Crime and drugs

The usual safety precautions apply as in any other European region, but crime is generally low on the island. The last reported activity by the separatist faction FLNC Union of Combantants was a series of small bomb attacks in the Spring of 2007. Drugs are forbidden and it is illegal to travel when drunk (including by foot).

Events

Music, singing, theatre, dance, film, arts and sporting events, as well as religious festivals scattergun across the Corsican events calendar: Easter processions, vintage car rallies, a wind festival, guitar nights, chess championships, jet ski speed and endurance championships, rip curl championships, or sea festivals – cheese fairs – what do you feel like doing? See www.visit-corsica.com

Activities

Sensational, secluded spots litter the island’s coastline – perfect for peace, picnics, scuba diving and swimming. But for those looking to raise their heart rates, Corsica boasts the G20 trail – the toughest long distance hike in Europe as well as well as 1,500 kilometres of footpaths and rambles. Climbing, paragliding, gliding, horse riding, mountain biking, canyoning, hydro-microlighting, viaferrata, hunting (September-March), ‘Accrobranche’ trailing and tyrotrekking are all within grasp.

Local gastronomy

‘Prisuttu’ – smoked and dried ham, ‘salsiccia’ – peppered saucisson, ‘salamu’ – smoked sausage, ‘coppa’ – smoked pork back, ‘figatellu’ – grilled, semi-dried liver sausage. ‘Polenta’ made with chestnut flour, wild-boar stuffed pasta, ‘aziminu’ – bouillabaisse style fish soup, and a variety of hearty winter and spring time soups. Local cheeses (goat and sheep) include venachese, calenzana, orezzincu and brocciu. Corsica produces eight AOC (Apellation d’Origine Controlee) wines.

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