Wikipedia does not contain a complete list of all the islands in the Mediterranean, but it does list over 1,000. I haven't visited that many, but, of the ones I have visted, Corsica is my favourite. And if I was asked to take you to my favourite spot on that island it would have to be the town of Bonifacio. I never tire of the spectacular approach or the great atmosphere ashore, and it appears to be a favourite amongst our guests as well, judging by the hundreds of pictures I now have of the place. Let me share just a few with you.
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Corsica
Probably the first written mention of Corsica, and, in particular, Bonifacio is in the writings of Homer who based the land of the Laestrygonians on Corsica. When Odysseus sent three men ashore to explore, one was ripped apart and eaten on the spot while the others were chased back to the harbour. Thankfully, raw tourist is no longer considered a delicacy, and the locals are much more friendly towards visiting boats.
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus) and i is one of the 26 régions of France, but was once briefly an independent Corsican Republic, until being incorporated into France in 1768.
Corsica is famed as the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte. His ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte, is located in Ajaccio, the island's capital.
Corsica has been occupied continuously since the Mesolithic age. It acquired an indigenous population that was influential in the Mediterranean during its long prehistory. After a brief colonization by the ancient Greeks and an only slightly longer occupation by the Etruscans it was preempted by the Roman Republic and became with Sardinia a province of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the empire it was invaded by a number of short-lived powers before being rescued by the March of Tuscany. As a medieval state speaking a Romance language it became an object of contention between the Republic of Pisa and the Republic of Genoa. The Genoese again took possession of the island in 1347, and governed it until 1729 - interrupted only by a brief intervention of the French in 1553.
1729 the Corsican Revolution for independence began. After 26 years of struggle, and with the help of the British) the independent Corsican Republic was formed in 1755 under the leadership of Pasquale Paoli and remained sovereign until 1768. But the Corsican Republic was unable to eject the Genoese from the major coastal cities, and In 1764 Corsica was purchased secretly by France from the Republic of Genoa.
1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote in his opus, The Social Contract, that Corsica would one day astonish Europe. This was written some seven years before Napoleon was born in Corsica.
Corsica has 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) of coastline, more than 200 beaches, and is very mountainous, with Monte Cinto as the highest peak at 2,706 metres (8,880 ft) and 20 other summits of more than 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Mountains comprise two-thirds of the island, forming a single chain. Forest comprises 20% of the island. Over 1/3rd of the island is dedicated to nature reserves.
The island is divided into three major ecological zones by altitude.
Below 2,000 feet (610 m) is the coastal zone, which features a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The natural vegetation is Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrubs. The coastal lowlands are part of the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests ecoregion, in which forests and woodlands of evergreen sclerophyll oaks predominate, chiefly Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and Cork Oak (Quercus suber).
From 2,000 to 6,000 feet (610 to 1,800 m) is a temperate montane zone. The mountains are cooler and wetter, and home to the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, which supports diverse forests of oak, pine, and broadleaf deciduous trees, with vegetation more typical of northern Europe.
From 6,000 to 9,000 feet (1,800 to 2,700 m) is a high alpine zone. Vegetation is sparse. In spite of the southern latitude, the highest elevations are snow-capped with small glaciers.
The food of Corsica can best be defined as a fusion of the French and Italian cuisines. Popular foods such as pizza, pasta, cured meats and sheep's milk cheeses can be found. Each region within the island has its own take on recipes. In the mountains, wild meat like boar, rabbit, and trout from the many rivers offer variety according to the seasons.
Tourism plays a major role in the Corsican economy. The island's climate, mountains and coastlines make it a popular destination among the French and other Western Europeans. However, the island has not had the same level of intensive development as other parts of the Mediterranean and is thus relatively unspoiled.
In 1584 the Governor of Genua ordered all farmers and landowners to plant four trees yearly, among which is a chestnut tree (plus an olive-, fig- and mulberry-tree). Many communities owe their origin and former richness to the ensuing chestnut woods. Chestnut bread keeps fresh for as long as two weeks. Corsica produces gourmet cheese, wine, sausages, and six varieties of honey.
Corsu is the traditional native language of the Corsican people, and was long the sole language of the island, which was acquired by France in 1768. In 1990, more than two centuries later, nearly all Corsicans were fluent in French, usually as a first language. In addition, an estimated 50% of those also had some degree of proficiency in Corsu, and a small minority, perhaps 10%, used Corsu as a first language.
Britain's Admiral Nelson lost his eye in Corsica when laying seige to Calvi citadel. Unable to take it from the sea he landed his guns at 'Agro Bay', hauled them to the top of a neighbouring hill and started the bombardment.
Britain's Martello Towers, built to protect the south coast of the UK, owe their existence to similar towers built by the Genoese some centuries earlier. In 1794, whilst attacking Saint Florent, Admiral Lord Hood was so impressed with the tower's strength that he noted its construction and took the idea back to England.
Potted history & trivia
- and here are a few of other parts of this island, just in case you think Bonifacio is the only place we visit in Corsica.