Chall's Travel Escapades: April 2009

Having travelled to Corsica for many years, this is the area I have chosen as ‘home’. The main town of Propriano is not as pretty as those of Calvi and Ajaccio, but it does have a nice air of shabby chic about it.

Taken with my back to the port facing the restaurants

Harbour-front restaurants and cafes

Taken through the windscreen of a car which is why it's not so clear. This is the main street, harbour/port on the right, one of the beaches at the end of this road. It was particularly quiet - no cars in the road - because it was a bank holiday.

Souvenir shops at the bottom of the main street

View of the harbour from the promenade - most restaurants along the main street have terraces with views over the harbour.

From the Residence Marie-Diane you can walk to two beaches - the Plage du Phare (also known as the Plage du Lido) and the Plage Arena Bianca;

Plage du Phare/Lido

Arena Bianca Plage (on a very quiet day!)

What I really love are the beaches in this area; mellow golden sand and turquoise water mostly bordered by huge granite rocks making a whole series of little creeks and coves so even in the summer you can often find a place all of your own. I prefer the north side of the bay between Vitricella and Porto Pollo, which is south facing and gets the sun all day. Simply drive along the coast and wherever you see cars parked and no apparent reason, there will be a little footpath down to the beach. From this side of the bay you also get a lovely view of the town and the port opposite stretching all the way to the Campomoro tower.