The Cap Corse area
The island within the island
In fact, the inhabitants of this region, forced by the smallness of their territory, will turn to the sea in order to develop trade with their neighbours and export their wine and agricultural production.
The Cap Corsins were therefore peasant sailors, using this natural border to their advantage to connect neighbouring Italy or to serve the various navies that line the coast.
At that time the villages, hamlets and valleys of Cap Corse were connected only by paths, the boat appeared then as the most efficient way to transport the goods and move quickly.
'The island in the island' as Cape Corsica is called, was thus a dynamic region, with a maritime tradition based on fishing and import-export trade with the Mediterranean islands and countries.
Liguria, Provence, Tuscany, Sardinia, Sicily, Genoa, Rome constitute as many ports of call and places acting as commercial counters for the sailors of Cap Corse.
Exporting white wine from Cap Corse, wood, cheese, but also importing iron ore from the island of Elbe, wheat from Maremmes, will make Cap Corse one of the most prosperous regions of Corsica.
To understand the history of this part of Corsica, what better than a boat ride with a captain from the region?
The East Coast
Cap Corse is a peninsula, located in the north-east of Corsica. It is a region of old maritime traditions, of exceptional beauty. Its cultural heritage bears witness to its unique history and past centuries. Its geographical location in the western Mediterranean has made it a strategic place coveted by the Martian powers during the wars that punctuated the past centuries. The towers and buildings that can be seen from the sea are indeed the precious witnesses of it.
Sea excursions allow you to discover all the richness of the east coast of Cape Corse. They last between 1 hour 30 minutes and 4 hours, during which the local guide will present the heritage to the passengers of the boat (12 persons). In addition, during these boat trips, you will have the opportunity to swim in the fresh water of the coves… A real pleasure to share!
Few steps
Sea excursions along the coast of Cap Corse will allow you to discover a large part of the local cultural heritage as well as its history. With some improvised swimming in the bays of the island!
The sanctuary of Lavasina
This sea excursion thus begins with a visit to the coastal hamlet of Lavasina, located in the town of Brando, just north of Bastia.The Lavasina Navy is famous throughout Corsica, as there is a particularly venerated Marian sanctuary. The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-lavasina was erected, facing the sea, in 1671 and enlarged side chapels from 1678. This spiritual high place also bears the name of «Lourdes de Corse». From the sea, you will have a breathtaking view of the centuries-old building, which has lost none of its former splendour. Our local guide will tell you the history of the place.
The Erbalonga marina’s
Erbalunga is a village located in the town of Brando. This small fishing village typical of the island is of an unnamed beauty. The turquoise-blue water of the sea offers a beautiful setting, which you can discover during a sea excursion with our local guide. The Marine of Erbalunga is an exceptional place, rich in historical monuments such as the church Saint-Erasme and its baroque facade. The small village located not far from Bastia offers a total change of scenery and a postcard decor. It is really worth the detour!
The Genoese tower of Erbalonga
Built in 1545, it was damaged and destroyed by the wars of the time, and finally rose from its ashes a few years later in 1561. This tower is therefore one of the key elements of the Corsican cultural heritage. Its history is irreparably linked to that of the small emblematic village of the east coast of Cap Corse, which our local guide will present to you during your sea excursion off Erbalunga.
The Genoese tower of Cala di Losse
The tower of Cala di Losse is one of the most beautiful in Corsica. It was built at the end of the 16th century, and more precisely in 1599. It is fourteen metres high, with a diameter slightly greater than eight metres. It is a remarkable building that was perfectly restored. It overlooks the sea and thus offers a magnificent site to discover between Pietracorbara and Porticciolo.
The Porticciolo marina
Your excursion will also take you to the Porticciolo Navy, surrounded by the hills and the sea, dominated by the hills of the Catoni estate. It is a remarkable site where you can admire the typical cultures of Cap Corse.
Porticciolo also has its own history that participates in the construction of the maritime identity place through fishing and shipbuilding.
With the Porticciolo Navy, the east coast of Cap Corse is sure to surprise and dazzle you…
Santa Maria Bay and its ruined Genoese tower
The bay of Santa Maria is one of the most beautiful in Corsica. It marks the end of the famous customs trail, which crosses the island. During your sea excursion, your guide will stop you for a few moments in this haven of peace and nature, isolated from everything. The tower of Santa Maria, seventeen meters high, was built in 1549 near the Romanesque chapel of Santa Maria della Chiapella. In the 18th century, the tower was heavily bombed. However, it was not enough to destroy it. Even today, it is still observed in the bay of Santa Maria.
The bay and the tower of Agnello
The tower of Agnello and its bay are located at the top of Cap Corse. They are located in front of the island of Giraglia. This is one of the last stages of the sea excursion along the east coast of Cap Corse. The tower of Agnello faces directly to the sea, from the northernmost point of the island. Agnello Bay is one of the crossing points of the famous Customs Trail. It also offers an idyllic setting for its visitors who come to observe it on land, or from the sea.
The island of the Giraglia
The island of La Giraglia is located off the top of Cap Corse. It faces the bay of Agnello and the beach of Barcaggio (about a mile away). There is one of the lighthouses of Corsica, as well as a Genoese tower. The lighthouse was commissioned for the first time in 1848, and was powered for more than a century by a huge oil lamp. The Genoese tower of the island was built in 1582 to defend and monitor the Corsican canal.
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