A Mandria

A Mandria enjoys a spectacular location in a mountain village in the Balagne countryside, an incredible region of mountainous landscapes, delightful villages and rolling hills.

The heart of the village only a short walk away where you will find a bakery, small grocery shop and a couple of simple village restaurants. One of these little restaurants is part of the owner’s village hotel, a charming 19th-century palazzu – make sure you ask for a tour of the old chapel, the original kitchen with its grand chimney and the beautiful salon. You can also visit the family’s own winery in the village which produces highly regarded wines.

There’s a lovely walking trail from the village up to the ‘Falcunaghja’ (House of the Bandits), from where you can enjoy the marvellous views. Indeed, the Balagne countryside offers a wealth of marked walking trails, some of which connect some of the wonderful villages dotted across the region. There is also horse-riding, golf, rock-climbing and even para-gliding nearby.

Sant'Antonino (10km) is one of the villages which is featured on many walking routes, one of Corsica’s oldest villages and now classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. Wander along the steep lanes and find a restaurant where you can enjoy good Corsican food with mesmerising views. Pigna (12km) is also full of charm and features some lovely artisan shops selling local ceramics. There is a great community of artists and musicians across the village; look out for concerts in the village where you can listen to traditional Corsican chants.

Other incredibly beautiful Balagne villages include Speloncato (8km), Corbara (12km) and Lumio (16km) with its weekly market on a Wednesday morning. There is a walking path from Lumio leading to the abandoned village of Occi, yet another spot for panoramic vistas of the breathtaking scenery around you.

Drive along winding lanes, passing spectacular vistas, and within around 15km you will reach L'Île-Rousse, a charming seaside town. Visit the covered market, wander through the picturesque lanes filled with traditional restaurants and pretty shops, stop for a coffee on the main square as old men play boules then enjoy lunch in one of the beachside cafes. It’s not a huge town but there is always a lovely and relaxed ambience.

There are some wonderful beaches along this stretch of the Balagne coastline. Plage de Bodri is particularly beautiful or discover further coves and summer beach cafes all the way up to Algajola and Calvi. You will find a good range of watersports in both L'Île-Rousse and Calvi and you will also find scuba-diving, sea kayaks, windsurfing and snorkelling in Algajola (20km). In the other direction, Ostriconi beach (25km) is one of Corsica’s wildest beaches with white sands and grassy dunes, accessed via a remote and steep path.

There’s also the charming little train, U Trinichellu, which runs between Calvi and L'Île-Rousse via Algajola, stopping off at lovely beaches on the way.

Calvi is a very popular town to visit with its large sandy beach, historic citadel, atmospheric marina and a great choice of lovely restaurants and cafes with amazing sea or mountain views wherever you look. From Calvi you can take a boat trip out to the Scandola Reserve on Corsica’s west coast, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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