Touch
Corsica is a tactile island perfect for outdoor activity: there are 250km of walking trails surrounding Calvi alone, and you can hire an electric bike if you need help tackling the hilly terrain. Water-lovers can windsurf, waterski and jet-ski to their hearts’ content from any of the coastal resorts.
On lazier days, browse locally-made jewellery in the boutiques lining the shopping streets in any of Corsica’s main towns (look out for the Calvi ‘eye’ motif, said to keep evil spirits at bay). Also discover pottery, glass and musical instruments in the Balagne villages of Pigna and Sant’Antonino, perched in the hills inland from Calvi; follow the Route des Artisans to meet the creative locals in their workshops.
Corsica is also known for its beauty products, made from the plants of the maquis (scrubland) that blankets the island. One of these, immortelle, is thought to have excellent anti-ageing properties and is used in numerous creams, serums and essential oils.