Cap Corse: The Island's Finger

Cap Corse, the peninsula pointing north toward the continent, maintains a character distinct from the rest of Corsica. This "island within an island" developed its own maritime traditions, its sailors venturing far while maintaining strong connections home. The corniche road circling the cape offers one of Europe's most spectacular drives, threading between mountain and sea, passing through villages that seem frozen in time.

The western coast of Cap Corse faces the Mistral winds and setting sun, its villages—Nonza, Pino, Canari—clinging to cliffsides above small ports. Nonza's black beach, formed from asbestos mine tailings (now harmless), creates an otherworldly landscape below the village's dramatic tower. The eastern coast, more sheltered, allowed the development of marine villages like Erbalunga and Macinaggio, their ports still active with fishing boats and small ferries.

The tip of Cap Corse, where the lighthouse of Giraglia stands on its rocky island, marks France's closest point to Italy. Here, powerful currents meet, creating rich fishing grounds but dangerous navigation. The scattered islands—Finocchiarola, Capense, and Giraglia itself—support seabird colonies and rare plants, their isolation preserving ecosystems lost elsewhere.