Corsica / Calvi - The Corsican Saint Tropez
Despite being developed as a tourist destination after the 1950s, Calvi now prides itself on being Corsica’s number one tourist attraction and a great sailing holiday destination thanks to the off-shore wildlife reserve with its unique fauna and relief.
General Info
Thanks to its position on the northwestern corner of the French island of Corsica, Calvi has had a long and tumultuous history. 95 km from Bastia, another important town on the island, Calvi gets most of its income by acting as a summer resort for European tourists who come here for a Yacht Charter vacation. Its location on the Mediterranean coast and the easy access make it perfect for those who find the French Riviera as too crowded or flashy.
Travel & Arrival
One of the reasons why this town is so popular is the relative ease with which one can arrive here. The most popular option is to fly in. The closest airport servicing the town is Calvi-Sainte-Catherine International, 7 km southeast of the center via the D81 road. A bigger airport is the one in Nice, but the only link with the island is made by ferry, however that should be no problem if you have a Yacht Charter company waiting for you with a boat in Nice.
The other way to get to Calvi is obviously by water. For this reason there are several ferry operators making runs from Nice and Savona. As always, you are advised to book in advance to avoid getting stuck on shore due to the crowds that choose this town as a Yacht Charter destination.
Avant & Apres Sail
For top views of the whole region and for a little lesson of its history, you should head to the Citadel but know that it’s not as easy as getting off a cab. With lots of steep cobble steps, the trip usually takes its toll on the weary travelers which then make pit stops at the many shops and restaurants along the way. It’s worth noting to Yacht Charter crews that the Foreign Legion has a base here and once a year they put on parachute shows landing in the sea.
Another famous building worth visiting is the L’Eglise Santa Maria, which shouldn’t be too difficult to find since it’s the only big pink church in town. Once you’ve seen these, the only place left to visit is the marina and the natural reserve on the island of Scandola. You can take the Yacht Charter boat up there yourself or get on one of the 4 hour boat trips.
And what would a Yacht Charter holiday destination be without some local food specialty to attract gourmet tourists? For Calvi, this specialty is actually a number of goods which can be bought at almost every store. These include dried meats, honey, spices, chestnut flour (used for making crepes), olive oil and herbs.
The fashionistas in your Yacht Charter crew will be happy to know that they can go shopping for clothes on the Rue Artisanat for anything ranging from hats to watches. Souvenirs can also be picked up around here and a wide assortment of knives, probably a tradition here in town that has something to do with all the salted meats.
Events & Activities
There is much to do in and around the city, both on land and on water. In town, the promenade that lines the harbor is a good spot to eat, drink and just relax. Outside of town, you can go on the train along the coast of Ile Rousse. Yacht Charter enthusiasts will enjoy the boat trip to the Scandola Natural Reserves, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers 1000 hectares of scrub and sea.
A special date for people in Calvi is the 15th of August which brings here one of the biggest and most extravagant fireworks shows in the Mediterranean. The best place to catch it according to tourists that have seen it before would be from a boat offshore, so get your Yacht Charter party out of the harbor and take in the beauty.