Major city: Ajaccio, Bastia

Mediterranean island
Untouched mountains, forests and coastline
Unique traditions and history

Corsica, known to the Ancient Greeks as Kallisto - "the most beautiful" - well deserves the name Island of Beauty. This island is one of the three largest islands in the Mediterranean. Half of its population is concentrated in the two main towns of Ajaccio and Bastia while the rest is scattered throughout the island leaving wide stretches of uninhabited terrain and large open spaces among the mountains, the forest and along the coastal area. Trees cover nearly half the countryside where mountain peaks reach to the height of 8,900 feet - all encircled by 600 miles of an enchanting coastline. Apart from wonderful sunshine, the quality that makes Corsica so special is its rich variety of people, scenery, traditions and dialects.

Ajaccio is Corsica's largest city as well as cultural center. It is also the birthplace of Napoléon. One can see on the Place de Gaulle the famous equestrian statue of Napoléon surrounded by his four brothers.

Bastia, the second largest city has a host of attractions such as the old port that overlooks the old town, the 17th century church of St. Jean Baptiste and the Chapel of the Conception which were magnificently decorated in the 18th century and the Museum of Corsican Ethnography in the Genovese Governor's Palace.

A stunning sight in Calvi is the Citadel or upper town with 13th-16th century ramparts which stand on a rocky promontory that juts out to the sea. The Gulf of Porto surrounded by red granite cliffs, is also beautiful, especially at sunset.