Although located on the southern-most tip of Corsica (l’Extreme Sud) and separated from the rest of the island by an expanse of maquis, Bonifacio is within driving distance of some great days out in Corsica’s spectacular, craggy mountain interior (the Alta Rocca). Other places to visit near Bonifacio include a boat trip from Bonifacio to the nearby islands of Lavezzi or even Sardinia. The chic coastal town of Porto-Vecchio is only half an hour by car and boat excursions also run here.
The mountainous region of the Alta Rocca provides a real treasure trove for visitors. Attractions include mountain villages such as Sainte-Lucie de Tallano, intriguing ancient towns such as Sartène, and prehistoric settlement sites at Pianu di Levie. Away from the main resorts in Corsica, English is not that widely spoken so a basic knowledge of French, or a French phrasebook, is useful!
Day-Trip Destinations
The Iles de Lavezzi are a group of small, barren uninhabited granite islands, 10 km southeast off the coast of Bonifacio, with beautiful shell sand beaches and azure-coloured sea.
Several boat companies in Bonifacio marina run day trips to this designated nature reserve. The islets are a paradise for swimmers, snorkellers and divers.
It is a ten/fifteen-minute walk to the most popular beaches from the boat drop-off point (by the cemetery Achiarino). A network of clearly marked footpaths span the island, which you are free to wander.
A one-hour ferry ride from Bonifacio, Santa Teresa di Gallura is a bustling, pretty coastal town on the northern tip of the island of Sardinia, Italy. It has an attractive piazza/square with cafes and restaurants, and a beautiful port.
Santa Teresa is perched on the end of a short promontory overlooking the Bocches de Bonifacio (Straits of Bonifacio). The Corsican coastline, 12 km away, can be seen from the town’s Rena Bianca beach.
Near to Santa Teresa is one of northern Sardinia’s largest and best preserved prehistoric villages, La Brandall, and Tomba del Giganti.
Levie, set high in the Alta Rocca, is a pleasant village made up of reddish-orange roofed stone houses surrounded by mountains.
It is home to the Musée de l’Alta Rocca, a museum providing information on Corsican geology, geography, flora and fauna, archaeology and ethnology (admission 3 Euros).
The drive to Levi through the Alta Rocca is in itself one of the most exhilarating places to visit near Bonifacio. The roads, although winding and narrow (and in places in disrepair) with some precipitous drops, provide dramatic views and excellent photographic opportunities.
Sainte-Lucie de Tallano is an attractive mountain village, perched high above the Rizzanese Valley in Corsica’s Alta Rocca, famous for the charming view of its stone houses with red tiled roofs set against the mountains.
It has a pleasant village square with a fountain, lined with a handful of good restaurants where you can watch the locals play petanque, whilst soaking up the quintessentially Corsican atmosphere. There is a small Tourist Office in the village.
Restaurant Santa Lucia, on Ste-Lucie’s main square, is an excellent restaurant serving a variety of delicious plats de jour.
Known as the “most Corsican of Corsica’s towns”, Sartene is an ancient place steeped in the traditions of superstition and vendetta. Even today it retains a fascinatingly sombre atmosphere.
Set high on a hill, the perfectly preserved Old Town has high granite walls, tall townhouses, with steep steps to guard against unexpected attack, and a maze of narrow passageways.
Sartene is renowned for its ancient ‘Catenacciu’ procession held on Good Friday, one of the oldest traditions in Corsica. This is a re-enactment of the Passion, when a weighty wooden cross and chains is carried through the town by an anonymous hooded penitent.
Porto-Vecchio is a stylish coastal town, just 27 km from Bonifacio. It’s one of the most popular places to visit near Bonifacio. It boasts an historical Old Town, a marina, designer shops, numerous restaurants and bars (not to mention the largest outdoor nightclub in Europe nearby), as well as easy access to some of the most beautiful beaches in Corsica.
The Old Town has a vibrant feel to it during peak season, teaming with Italians who flock here for sophisticated nightlife and nearby beaches.
A wealthy yachting crowd is also drawn to Porto-Vecchio, taking advantage of its excellent marina facilities and many eateries.