CORSICA
Back to level 3 tours, we have chosen Corsica to be our next adventure. Corsica is a mountainous Mediterranean island between Italy and France which is a car-free playground of varying terrain that’s paradise to cyclists.
Before each trip we find a new place to visit and get used to the time change. This time we stayed in Nice for a few days before heading over to Corsica for our ride. A day trip to Monaco is a must and along the way make sure to stop and hike up to the enchanting hilltop Village of Eze. This beautiful village dates back to the middle ages and clings impressively to the mountainside above the Mediterranean Sea, between St Jean Cap Ferrat and Monaco. Panoramic views, ancient façades, and an unbelievable attention to detail are some of the most memorable features of this lovely village.
The hike up from the train station is a mini grouse grind with stunning views of the sea below.
Our guides met us at the airport in Bastia, then transferred us to lunch by the sea in Erbalunga. This ancient village is known as a “painter’s nest” for the way artists seem to gravitate to its charms.
Our scenic warm up on Cap Corse, a finger of the island that points toward France was the perfect way to start the tour. The ride is filled with crumbling Genoese watchtowers and the air carries the scent of wild thyme and mint.
At the end of the ride we settled into our five-star hotel, Hotel Misincu, where we took a dip in the pool and sea before heading to dinner.
Every tour has the best of food, hotel or cycling. They are all amazing, but one always stands out to be most memorable. On this tour the quality of the cycling and scenery cannot be beat. It was our most challenging tour until Mallorca.
Two thirds of the whole territory are mountains. Plus, nearly half of the island is a National Park. This, and the very low population density, characterize the inland, making for glorious mountain rides.
It was a challenge as you were always either going straight up or straight down. In 2013 the Tour de France started in Corsica before heading to the Pyrenees.
Aside from cycling there was French wine. Need I say more? My favourite and most memorable lunch spot was at this seaside restaurant where our private table was perched just above this perfect swimming spot. Nothing like a quick dip post ride before being handed a cold glass or rose and refuelling on a tapas-style lunch.
