Basking between the fiery orange bastions of its 15th century Citadel and the glittering waters of a moon-shaped bay, Calvi feels closer to the sophistication of a French Riviera resort than a historic Corsican port.
High above the quay the watchtowers and battlements of the town’s Genoese stronghold stand guard, offering sweeping views inland to Monte Cinto (2706m). Unsurprisingly, Calvi is one of Corsica’s most popular tourist spots.
According to legend, Christopher Columbus supposedly came from Calvi, which at the time was part of the Genoese Empire.
Pointe de la Revellata: a two-hour (round-trip) walk along a well-defined track brings you to the nearest Corsican point to the French mainland, home to a lighthouse and a gorgeous view of Calvi and the spiky mountains of La Balagne. It’s 4 km west of Calvi.
Spend the rest of the day enjoying water sports activities in a nearby bay.
Girolata is a quite inaccessible village and region at the south of the Scandola Nature Reserve in western Corsica, it falls within the western part of the Corsica Natural Park. The dramatic setting, with the small village on a peninsula surrounded by the sea and running up the high mountains in the famous red rock of the region, make for a very impressive scenic location.
There is a small beach and an ever-watchful Genoese tower that stands above the village.
Despite its small size the village does have some facilities like restaurants.
The highlight is of course the scenery, the chance to see the wildlife and the astonishingly clear sea water.
Scandola Peninsula: Situated to the north of the Gulf of Girolata, it can be reached by tender. Diagonal light-coloured stripes contrast with the dark rocky peaks and the eye is greeted with huge boulders in the form of islets, and headlands jutting into the sea.
The islet of Garganello flanks that of Gargalo, whose lighthouse marks the westernmost part of Corsica. You will then see Punta Palazzu, bristling with rocks, and Punta Nera, which frame the ravine of Elbo to the north of the reserve.
The coastal town of Propriano is situated on Corsica’s south-west coast, in the centre of the Gulf of Valinco. Much of the architecture in Propriano dates from the early 19th century, when the port was established. Although the ancient Romans and Greeks settled here, little remains from this time, since it was often under attack and almost completely destroyed by pirates in the 18th century.
The most spectacular sight in Propriano is the Church of Notre Dame de la Misericorde, which dominates the centre of this small town. At it's heart is just one long main street, and the perfect place to admire the traditional houses and luxury shops, cafés and bars.
Just a short hop from Sardinia, Bonifacio has a distinctly Italianate feel: sun-bleached town houses, dangling washing lines and murky chapels cram the web of alleyways of the old citadel; down below on the harbour side you can find brasseries and boat kiosks. The city is also the setting of Guy de Maupassant’s short story, 'Vendetta'.
La Maddalena is the name of the principal island of an archipelago off the north-eastern tip of Sardinia. The archipelago consists of over sixty islands, islets and rocks. The most famous attractions are the beautiful unspoiled beaches, the blue seas and the final home of Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi, on the island of Caprera.
Mérouville: the waters off Bonifacio offer plenty of scope for diving . Divers are guaranteed to get up close and personal with big groupers.
Aquarium: a large cave complex innovatively transformed into an eye-catching aquarium. Mediterranean fauna and flora are on display.
Porto Cervo is the creation of one of the world’s richest men, Prince Karim Aga Khan, who set up camp here in the 1950s after falling for the area’s beauty. Today, it’s a honeypot for international celebrities. The likes of Rihanna, Reece Witherspoon and Paris Hilton have all been spotted holidaying here.
It doesn’t take much to figure out why Prince Karim was so taken with this place. Gentle hills tumble down into an aqua-marine lagoon that’s peppered with tiny islets. The beaches look like they belong in the Caribbean, with spotless, talcum powder-like sands.
Spend a day at anchor in the Bay of Cala di Volpe and go ashore to the exclusive Cala di Volpe Hotel for lunch around the swimming pool or for an elegant dinner. This is “the place to be”.
For the avid shopper, the town is blessed with the most elegant boutiques, which is an excellent way to finish the afternoon before diner at the prestigious restaurant Cipriani next door to the famous Billionaire nightclub where you can dance the night away.
For the most active guests, the area offers golf and tennis at the world-known Pevero Golf Club.
Cala Luna is one of the most exclusive beaches in Sardinia. Difficult to access by land, it is located on the gulf of Orosei, just south of Dorgali and close to the village of Cala Gonone.
Set against an imposing backdrop of steep limestone cliffs and lush greenery, its azure waters are crystal clear, making it one of the best snorkeling beaches in Sardinia. It lies secluded, 3 km away from the Bue Marino Caves – a collection of sea caves with stalactites, stalagmites, and rock carvings – which makes Cala Luna perfect for exploring by boat.
As your time aboard Sedative comes to an end, finish by exploring the historical town of Olbia. With an extensively rich history, it is an often overlooked gem of Sardinia.
It is believed that the Phoenicians were the first settlers in Olbia until it was later conquered by Rome only to be subsequently attacked a few centuries later by the Vandals.
Corso Umberto is the main street for shopping and leads to the waterfront and the more relaxed Piazza Margherita boasts charming old stone buildings to be explored.
