Distinguished by conquests and assaults throughout its history, Corsica bears its scars with pride – one look at the island’s history immediately demonstrates the ongoing and relentless attempts and successes for domination and acquisition, and this has largely contributed to maintaining the very soul of the people. With a length of 183 km by 83km, and surface size: 8 680km2, this island thrones with her summits achieving over 2700m, and is the third largest island in the western Mediterranean, situated relatively near to Italy (only 90km)...

The island offers a wide panoply of attractions 

And when you consider its size you realise just how considerable these are effectively. Over the winter months, one can enjoy trips to Val d’Ese (1620m) and Ghisoni (1586m), if you look forward to and enjoy – the snow! Extended rows of mountains draped in white, literally glowing in the daily sun, will capture your attention and pleasure. Having recently returned from a short stay on the east coast, I was somewhat marvelled at the distinction between both sides of the island over the same period of time, when leaving the snow-topped west and arriving at the snowless east, just within a few hours – and here is a significant example of what you can expect from Corsica...

As is normally so in a community

Composed of many villages and small towns, customs, traditions, beliefs and natural omens are certainly present throughout history and every day subsistence. It is not unusual to find large trees in front of churches, or to have heard shepherds speak on the flight of birds, measuring omens and hearing thunder and roars announcing forthcoming deaths. Superstitutions and religion mingle, and traditions very much alive, portray a definite desolation through the Corsican traditional music and polyphonic singing. Being a highly Christian island, pilgrimages, festivals and processions occupy a noted importance in daily life...

Each region possesses its variety and exclusiveness as regards to what is ‘naturally’ present

This is declared as ‘endemic’ and Corsica has a high rate of endemism. Approximately 280 species and sub species of plants, of which 140 are located in Corsica, and 80 in Sardinia highlighting the fact of the importance of this area in the persistence of species. The abundance of soils, insularity and climate variation influence the ecosystems. If you are lucky and also patient, on one of your walks up the mountains, you may see a Corsican mouflon! Molluscs, insects, butterflies, fish, reptiles, birds (fauna/flora)...

If we were to choose the two major representatives of Corsican history

  The choice would undoubtedly lean towards Napoléon Bonaparte and Pascal Paoli. Both admiration and rivalry bore within the two parties. During his youth, Napoleon greatly admired his elder Paoli, who appeared quite indifferent and at times quite cold towards him. It would appear, a certain rivalry existed between the families, along with their divergency of ideas concerning Corsica. Finally exiled to St Helena, an island in the middle of the South Atlantic, Napoleon remained there until his death in 1821. With regards to Pascal Paoli, when the island was re-occupied by France he went into exile in Britain where he died in 1807...