France > Beaches around Porto-Vecchio

Today we leave Maora and travel a little further north. For the last time, we are greeted very kindly at breakfast. However, everything is in French. After breakfast, we pack our luggage again and load the car. At reception, we pay for the meals from the past few days. We also receive some tips for the Alta Rocca region. We can take it easy today. We cannot check in at our next accommodation until six o’clock in the evening. First, we drive to Rondarara Beach, a beach a few kilometers to the north. To reach the beach, we have to drive along a narrow winding road. Compared to the road we took yesterday, this one is paved. At the very end of the road lies the beach. We can park for six euros on a large empty parking lot. The beach is still quiet. The bay curves around, and the water is clear blue. Carefully, I step into the seawater. The water is cold. I hesitate what to do. I decide to take a dip in the cold seawater. It feels a bit like now or never during this holiday. Even after getting out, it remains chilly. Quickly, I let myself dry in the sun on the beach.

France - The beautiful Rondarara Beach

The next stop is the town of Porto-Vecchio. Porto-Vecchio was founded in 1539 by the Genoese. The name Porto-Vecchio means "old port" in Italian. The town was built as a fortress, with strong walls and bastions to protect the harbor and population against pirate raids. We park the car just outside the center and walk to the fortress. At the Tourist Info, we get a short walking tour around the fortress with descriptions in English. We follow the marked route. The fortress still consists of well-preserved city walls and bastions. At the French Bastion, the largest of the defense towers, we climb the tower. From the tower, we have a view over the harbor and town. The route ends at the Place de la République and the relatively new Église Saint Jean-Baptiste. At a terrace under the trees on the square, we have something to eat and drink. In the afternoon, we drive to Santa Giulia Beach. For this, we drive a bit south.

France - One of the bastions corner towers at PortoVecchio

We follow the signs to the beach and the parking lot, but it is not clear where the parking lot is. All roads seem to belong to hotels or private properties. We give up and continue to Palombaggia Beach. This is the most famous beach on Corsica because of its white sand and turquoise seawater. Here too, it is not easy to find a parking spot. We pass an open barrier. In the street behind it, which leads to the beach, cars are parked. We park here too. No idea if this is allowed or if payment is required. The beach is beautiful with clear blue water, but a strong wind is blowing. When we sit on the beach, gusts of wind blow sand past us regularly. This does not feel pleasant. We leave again. We better look for a terrace somewhere out of the wind. The most logical place is Lecci. This is where our hotel is located. However, Lecci turns out not to be very big. Our accommodation is at the roundabout. The restaurant is still closed. We are also too early for check-in. At a terrace across the street, we order a drink. At six o’clock, the door is still closed. Strange. How can we check in now? Via a staircase, we get upstairs above the restaurant. People live here who know nothing about a hotel or reservations. At the back, we see signs with the name Terra Bella, but the door is closed. We call the owner. He comes to the door. He shows us the simple and somewhat small room. We can park the car on the property. In the evening, we eat at the restaurant. I choose a Terra Bella pizza. A good choice.