Corsica day 1 Bastia to Porto
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RouteXpert Peter Moerman - RouteXpert
Last edit: 07-07-2021
Route Summary I rate this route with 4 stars because of the challenging roads, beautiful nature and fantastic views.
We have driven this route by car before. It should be even more fun to do with the bike.
This route is part of 6 routes covering all of Corsica, the first of which starts and the last ends at the ferry in Bastia
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Verdict
Duration
10h 52m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
296.29 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review The peninsula Cap Corse (Capicorsu) is the most northern part of Corsica and is also called “The Finger” due to its shape. The peninsula is approximately 40 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide. From the boat it may look inhospitable, but nothing could be further from the truth: the cape is dotted with lovely villages, cozy harbors, beaches, islands and forests. From the very tip of the cape you have a beautiful view of the Ile de Giraglia lighthouse.
Via the D80 you drive on the coast road to the north of Cap Corse. At the village of Macinaggio you cross inland and the road also starts to climb to above 300 meters. At Ersa turn right onto the D253 towards Barcaggio, a lovely village in the far north of Cap Corse and Port de Centuri where the first stop is planned at the harbor. From there, the route heads south on the western coast road of Cap Corse. The lunch stop is planned at Saint Florent in the very south of Cap Corse. If you think this is too early, you can also continue on the D81 to L'Ile Rousse for lunch.
L'Île Rousse is one of the few places on the island without medieval or Genoese origins. It was only founded in 1765 by Pasquale Paoli. That was the leader of the Corsican independence movement that did not want a port owned by Genoa. This port was then a major reason for the growth of L'Île Rousse at the end of the 20th century.
To continue the route, follow the coast road towards Calvi. A refueling stop is planned just before Calvi. The city of Calvi is the capital of the Balagne, also known as the garden of Corsica. On a 25-kilometer strip, good quality olives grow on a fertile plot of land and fruit is grown on a large scale. Like several places in Corsica, Calvi is also divided into lower and upper towns. The upper town with its citadel is located in the northeast corner of the city. In the background, the Monte Cinto (over 2700 meters) is visible, which is covered with snow for parts of the year. A plaque on a ruined ruin says that Calvi is the birthplace of Columbus. In the center of the citadel, a staircase leads to the former Calvi cathedral dedicated to John the Baptist. Shopping is done on the Rue de Clemenceau and terraces can be found on the quay. At the end of the harbor is the Tour du Sel. Also worth seeing is the Gulf of Porto further along with its Calanques (eroded red granite rocks).
From Calvi you continue towards Galeria and finally Porto, the end point of the route. This road contains countless bends and if you meet it with a local driver, it is all enjoyment. There are several hotels in Porto and at the harbor you can enjoy a great meal in one of the restaurants. This town will be the base for exploring the rest of the island for the coming days.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
Corsica
About this region
Corsica (, Upper Corsican: [ˈkorsiɡa], Southern Corsican: [ˈkɔrsika], Italian: [ˈkɔrsika]; French: Corse [kɔʁs] (listen); Ligurian: Còrsega) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the French mainland, west of the Italian Peninsula and immediately north of the Italian island of Sardinia, which is the land mass nearest to it. A single chain of mountains makes up two-thirds of the island. In 2018, it had a population of 338,550.
The island is a territorial collectivity of France. The regional capital is Ajaccio. Although the region is divided into two administrative departments, Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud, their respective regional and departmental territorial collectivities were merged on 1 January 2018 to form the single territorial collectivity of Corsica. As such, Corsica enjoys a greater degree of autonomy than other French regional collectivities; for example, the Corsican Assembly is permitted to exercise limited executive powers. Corsica's second-largest town is Bastia, the prefecture of Haute-Corse.
Corsica was ruled by the Republic of Genoa from 1284 to 1755, when it seceded to become a self-proclaimed, Italian-speaking Republic. In 1768, Genoa officially ceded it to Louis XV of France as part of a pledge for the debts it had incurred by enlisting France's military help in suppressing the Corsican revolt, and as a result France went on to annex it in 1769. The future Emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte, was a native Corsican, born that same year in Ajaccio: his ancestral home, Maison Bonaparte, is today a visitor attraction and museum. Because of Corsica's historical ties to Tuscany, the island has retained many Italian cultural elements and many Corsican surnames are rooted in the Italian peninsula. Corsican, the native tongue, is recognised as one of France's regional languages. Corsica is the smallest French region by population.
Read more on Wikipedia
The island is a territorial collectivity of France. The regional capital is Ajaccio. Although the region is divided into two administrative departments, Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud, their respective regional and departmental territorial collectivities were merged on 1 January 2018 to form the single territorial collectivity of Corsica. As such, Corsica enjoys a greater degree of autonomy than other French regional collectivities; for example, the Corsican Assembly is permitted to exercise limited executive powers. Corsica's second-largest town is Bastia, the prefecture of Haute-Corse.
Corsica was ruled by the Republic of Genoa from 1284 to 1755, when it seceded to become a self-proclaimed, Italian-speaking Republic. In 1768, Genoa officially ceded it to Louis XV of France as part of a pledge for the debts it had incurred by enlisting France's military help in suppressing the Corsican revolt, and as a result France went on to annex it in 1769. The future Emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte, was a native Corsican, born that same year in Ajaccio: his ancestral home, Maison Bonaparte, is today a visitor attraction and museum. Because of Corsica's historical ties to Tuscany, the island has retained many Italian cultural elements and many Corsican surnames are rooted in the Italian peninsula. Corsican, the native tongue, is recognised as one of France's regional languages. Corsica is the smallest French region by population.
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Statistics 
13Amount of RX reviews (Corsica)
16355Amount of visitors (Corsica)
674Amount of downloads (Corsica)
Route Collections in this region The 10 most downloaded routes in France from RouteXpert Hans van de Ven
Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in France.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. Villard de Lans through the wild Vercors
2. Provence Mountains and Lakes
3. From Saint Michel de Maurienne to Barcelonnette South of the Col du Galibier
4. Western Alps from Barcelonnette to St Sauveur sur Tinee
5. R03 Round trip Ribeauville
6. Round trip Appietto Asco Appietto
7. Round trip Appietto Osani Appietto
8. R05 Round trip Urbes
9. R04 Ribeauville to Urbes
10. R02 Wissembourg to Ribeauville
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. Villard de Lans through the wild Vercors
2. Provence Mountains and Lakes
3. From Saint Michel de Maurienne to Barcelonnette South of the Col du Galibier
4. Western Alps from Barcelonnette to St Sauveur sur Tinee
5. R03 Round trip Ribeauville
6. Round trip Appietto Asco Appietto
7. Round trip Appietto Osani Appietto
8. R05 Round trip Urbes
9. R04 Ribeauville to Urbes
10. R02 Wissembourg to Ribeauville
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Discover Corsica in 3 great tours or 6 tours in a row
These tours will introduce you to three regions of Corsica.
The Balagne is a region in northeastern Corsica with a rich history that has developed its own identity over the centuries. The region has long been a prosperous garden of Corsica and proud of its architectural treasures. The Balagne is a world in itself whose breathtaking beauty combines the mountains and the sea with magnificent panoramas, picturesque villages surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards, and idyllic roads in between where you will need all your concentration. But that tension is well worth the Balagna.
The Castagniccia, land of chestnut trees, is the greenest region of Corsica. Very different in character and appearance from the rest, it is a region of small villages and hamlets and steep wooded hills. It still has the charm of authentic Corsica. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions. Exploring Castagniccia is a fascinating experience. There are no autoroutes here, rather a maze of small winding streets that wind up and down the hills and past the small villages. Rather, it is the harmonious whole that has the appeal. The roads are a fantastic challenge for the motorcyclist.
The south of Corsica is the most touristic part of the island. The long beaches with blue-green water, coves and cliffs have been very popular for years. Inland lies the impressive Alta Rocca massif. Here rise the stately 'Aiguilles de Bavella'. Behind Porto-Vecchio is a large forest and rocky area with beautiful views of the sea. Nearby is the Massif de l'Ospédale. Fortified city of Bonifacio has a spectacular location. The prehistoric menhirs of Filitosa are World Heritage. Porto-Vecchio is also called the 'city of salt'. In and around the harbor in the lower town you will find a maze of streets, terraces and shops. Ajaccio is the largest city in Corsica and the capital of the Corse-du-Sud department. The city is also known as the birthplace of the French Emperor Napoleon.
The Balagne is a region in northeastern Corsica with a rich history that has developed its own identity over the centuries. The region has long been a prosperous garden of Corsica and proud of its architectural treasures. The Balagne is a world in itself whose breathtaking beauty combines the mountains and the sea with magnificent panoramas, picturesque villages surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards, and idyllic roads in between where you will need all your concentration. But that tension is well worth the Balagna.
The Castagniccia, land of chestnut trees, is the greenest region of Corsica. Very different in character and appearance from the rest, it is a region of small villages and hamlets and steep wooded hills. It still has the charm of authentic Corsica. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions. Exploring Castagniccia is a fascinating experience. There are no autoroutes here, rather a maze of small winding streets that wind up and down the hills and past the small villages. Rather, it is the harmonious whole that has the appeal. The roads are a fantastic challenge for the motorcyclist.
The south of Corsica is the most touristic part of the island. The long beaches with blue-green water, coves and cliffs have been very popular for years. Inland lies the impressive Alta Rocca massif. Here rise the stately 'Aiguilles de Bavella'. Behind Porto-Vecchio is a large forest and rocky area with beautiful views of the sea. Nearby is the Massif de l'Ospédale. Fortified city of Bonifacio has a spectacular location. The prehistoric menhirs of Filitosa are World Heritage. Porto-Vecchio is also called the 'city of salt'. In and around the harbor in the lower town you will find a maze of streets, terraces and shops. Ajaccio is the largest city in Corsica and the capital of the Corse-du-Sud department. The city is also known as the birthplace of the French Emperor Napoleon.
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