Anna, from our reservations team, recently flew to Corsica to reacquaint herself with the north east of the island and the properties we have in our collection.
Feeling refreshed and full of knowledge from my recent trip to Corsica, I can honestly say how lovely it was to start travelling again and visiting the beautiful picturesque French island of Corsica.
From the moment we arrived at Bastia Airport the sun was beaming, and the temperatures were on the up! After collecting our electric hire car and navigating our way through Bastia town we enjoyed a costal drive to the fishing village of Erbalunga, which took us approximately 30 minutes.
Erbalunga is a quaint village set by the crystal-clear sea, with little narrow cobbled pathways leading to a square of local restaurants, cafés and the odd local boutique shop.
Erbalunga
Erbalunga
After stopping off for refreshments and taking in the beautiful views and ambience of the main square we visited one of our very popular apartments, set in such a prime position close to the square and right on the water, the character Apartment des Peintres.
Apartment des Peintres
I was lucky enough to visit this apartment years ago, and as I walked in I noticed straight away how the owner has really put a lot of time and money into the changes, with a full refurbishment of the kitchen area and a makeover of the bedrooms' décor. Our local photographer has also recently visited the apartment - you can view all his up-to-date imagery on our website!
This apartment is spacious with an open-plan kitchen/lounge area plus beautiful views from the double doors leading out to a large panoramic terrace. I also love that both bedrooms have their own en-suite, ideal for a group of friends/couples to stay. The best thing about this property is the terrace, looking out to the crystal-clear sea. Sitting on the terrace and listening to the opal waves while sipping a favourite glass of Corsican rosé is just idyllic. What more could you want?
Apartment des Peintres
Not only do we feature this superb apartment in Erbalunga, we also have Hôtel Castel Brando, a peaceful 4* hotel just a few minutes’ walk from the square. We were pleased to tour around this charming hotel and since my last visit, I noticed it has expanded to include three separate buildings offering a variety of different room types, two swimming pools, wellness & Spa centre, fitness room and sauna, and a cute boutique shop. This hotel has everything you need for a relaxing break. It even has a serene courtyard where you can sit out and enjoy an al-fresco breakfast while taking in the friendly atmosphere. Castel Brando is ideal if you are looking to tour around the north east coast of Corsica and spend a couple of nights in Erbalunga.
Hôtel Castel Brando
Erbalunga is a great village to start your tour of the Cap Corse region. You can drive the complete circuit of Cap Corse within a day or two, taking in the dramatic coast views and stopping off at viewpoints to take those ever-lasting photos of the stunning scenery.
Cap Corse is the perfect region for walking/hiking too. Head to the village of Maccinaggio where you can walk the Sentiers des douaniers route to Barcaggio, and see the famous Genoese Towers along the way, an outstanding picturesque sight. Another great seaside town and a must see when exploring the east coast is St Florent. With boutique shops amongst the cobbled streets and a large marina lined with restaurants and bars, St Florent is a beautiful town and an ideal spot for a relaxing holiday to Corsica.
St Florent
We stayed at the boutique 3* Hotel Dolce Notte, which is just a 10-minute walk into St Florent centre. The best thing about this hotel is the location being right on Ospedale beach, with beautiful sea views from all of the bedrooms. The sound of the gentle waves lapping at the pebble shoreline and watching the most beautiful sunset, is one I will never forget.
We found the rooms to be very comfortable and loved that breakfast is brought to your room every morning, so you can enjoy the beautiful views whilst sitting on your balcony with a coffee and croissant. There is also a lovely large terrace where you can sit with sunloungers and have cocktails brought to you whilst you take in some sunshine. Why not take a dip in the crystal-clear sea, it is after all the hotel's swimming pool..!
Hôtel Dolce Notte
