ABOUT AREA
Marine de Davia is an exclusive private estate of luxury villas, just 4 kilometres from the town of L'Ile Rousse. With several fine sandy beaches, many houses are situated with direct access to the sea or 'pieds dans l'eau' as the French say, making this an ideal place for a quiet and relaxed villa holiday.
BEACHES
Davia
There are two small, usually uncrowded beaches on the Davia peninsula, which can be accessed by driving down through the Marine de Davia residential complex.
L’lle Rousse
The town beach of L'Ile Rousse can be very busy - it has excellent facilities with cafés, restaurants and sunloungers lining the beach. If you're prepared to wander a little further, you can generally find a quiet spot. Another benefit of its size is that it is generally patrolled. It's a fine yellow sand beach and the water is a gorgeous clear blue. There are good opportunities here for water sports.
Bodri
Just west of L’Ile Rousse, Bodri Plage is an unspoilt beach, a walk through the maquis and over the railway line. The walk is worth it, as the beach has almost white sand and a turquoise sea.
Baie de Giunchetu
A short walk further west, around the rocky Punta di Genebre you will find this beach. It is slightly less picturesque, but larger.
FESTIVALS
Festimare in L'Ile Rousse
A celebration of the sea held each May. In addition to fish and seafood produce, there are many activities for children as well as scientific stands, competitions, exhibitions and workshops.
Estivoce in Pigna
Estivoce is a celebration of Corsican music and arts with concerts of polyphonic music from June to September with many of the celebrations being in July.
Foire de l’Amandier in Aregno
Since 1997, Aregno has played host to Corsicas only Almond festival. Held at the beginning of August, nut farmers and their families travel from all over the island to take part in the cooking competitions.
Festivoce in Pigna
Held early August, this festival provides a forum for long nights of traditional a cappella singing in the outdoor amphitheatre.
Fiera di l’Artigiani in Felicetu
The craftsmen of the Strada di l’Artigiani congregate to celebrate their crafts every August.
Rencontres Polyphoniques de Calvi
Polyphonic singing is at the heart of Corsican culture and musicians from around the world perform in the citadel at this event.
THINGS TO SEE & DO
Train Journeys
Taking a train journey is a delightful and different way to experience the varied and wonderful landscapes of Corsica. The closest stations are in L’lle Rousse and Algajola. And allow you to explore the coastline to the west of L’lle Rousse, stopping at all of the beaches en route. The line, built in the 1880’s and 1890’s hugging the coast is undoubtedly one of the worlds most scenic railways. The complete journey takes approx 50 minutes, and depending on the time of year travelling, there are between 5 and 10 return journeys a day.
Sant’Antonio
Explore the narrow streets of the oldest inhabited village in Corsica, labelled as “one of the most beautiful villages in France” and enjoy some of the most spectacular views over la Balagne.
Monticello
Monticello is the village where it is believed that Christopher Columbus' mysterious mother was born. The village has a couple of charming restaurants and sports facilities. Why not go pony trekking through the Balagne hills to discover the area’s true natural beauty.
Algajola
Algajola is a charming, sleepy little village with a long stretch of beach, half way along the coast between Calvi and L'Ile Rousse. An ideal place to relax, unwind and dodge the crowds, the town remains calm and tranquil even in the height of summer. Algajola is a real treasure, wandering around the streets and passageways shows a way of life that is essentially Corsican, the atmospheric citadel itself guarded the townsfolk from marauding pirates in medieval times.
Pigna
The pretty blue shuttered village of Pigna is also well worth a visit, home to some fabulous craft shops and the irresistible setting to the Festivoce, a festival of Corsican polyphony.
Strada di l’Artigiani
Follow the craft trail “Strada di l’Artigiani” through the villages of la Balagne and sample the local specialities en route.
