An Island Apart

To understand Corsica's coast, one must first understand its unique position—geographically closer to Italy than France, culturally distinct from both, shaped by centuries of invasion, resistance, and proud autonomy. The island's strategic location in the western Mediterranean attracted Greeks, Romans, Pisans, Genoese, and finally French, each leaving marks on coastal fortifications and port cities, none ever fully conquering the Corsican spirit.

This history of resistance shaped the coast's development. Unlike the French Riviera, transformed by tourism and development, much of Corsica's coastline remains wild and inaccessible. Mountain ranges plunge directly into the sea, creating a terrain where coastal roads become engineering marvels and many beaches remain reachable only by boat or challenging hikes. This inaccessibility, once a defensive advantage, now serves conservation, preserving landscapes elsewhere lost to development.

The Corsican relationship with the sea differs from mainland France. Where Bretons became sailors and merchants, Corsicans traditionally looked inland, to their mountains and maquis for sustenance and protection. Coastal settlements remained vulnerable to pirates and invaders, leading to a pattern of hilltop villages overlooking but not occupying the shore. This historical wariness of the coast created the paradox of an island people not primarily oriented toward the sea.