PORTO-VECCHIO
Area: Corsica
Country: France


Location:
On the SE coast of Corsica, 17 miles N of Bonifacio, 13 miles NE of Figari airport, 80 miles S of Bastia airport.

Telephone code from UK:
33

Website:
http://www.corsica.net/corsica/uk/regboni/ptov/ptovtop.htm

Position:
Spread along a rocky hill in a sheltered corner of a broad indented bay. Embraced by wooded promontories, pristine beaches of fine white sand with sparkling turquoise shallows, rocky coves and marshes.

Description:
The town looks down on a small fishing port, fashionable yacht marina and numerous romantic distant islets. Along its several bustling commercial streets, the majority of buildings are constructed in solid blocks of local grey granite. They cluster about the remains of a citadel built in 1539. Some small hotels, restaurants and cafes have sprung up in the port area so the town can boast distinctive upper and lower parts, separated by steeply sloping woodland. Porto Vecchio looks and feels a genuine holiday resort. An explosion in the number of villas, holiday homes and camp sites has resulted in more people and more cars during the summer months. A bypass W of the town struggles to alleviate the congestion of the town centre.

Suitability:
Upmarket with possibilities for middlemarket families. Couples, all ages, young singles. Appealing to those interested in cruising and sailing.

Accommodation:
Predominantly 2- and 3-star hotels. Apartments are often located in isolated places where a car is essential.

Shopping:
Good range of small souvenir shops, boutiques, handicraft shops and small branches of French banks but no food shops. A couple of large supermarkets are a mile from the centre of town. Modest fruit and vegetable market. Local specialities are wood carvings, baskets, pottery, jewellery and leatherwork.

Beach:
Those close to town tend to be swampy and unattractive for bathing and there are extensive salt flats. A few miles to the S are the impressive beaches of Santa Giulia; to the N around the Golfe di Sogno; to the SE, at Palombaggia.

Entertainments:
Daytime: limited to shopping and idling in cafes or watching at yachts in the port. Nightlife: a couple of discos and relaxing cafes.

Eating:
Good range of small restaurants at reasonable prices. Fish and local shellfish are expensive, particularly "langouste". Local wines are good quality; rose is very popular. The local dishes include smoked ham, "lonzu", "coppa", sheep's and goat's cheeses, meat and vegetable stews, fish soups and various fritters.

Public-transport:
Daily bus to Bastia or Bonifacio and limited seasonal service to Santa Giulia. Taxis expensive.

Local-excursions:
Almost nonexistent as nearly all visitors tend to hire cars. The nearby forest of Ospedale and mountain peaks of Bavella as well as the towns of Bonifacio and Sartene are the most popular destinations.