Forêt de Valdo Niello

On the Corsica drving tour, after the Porto valley, the road now runs through the beautiful forest of Aïtone, over the Col de Vergio (1464 m/4803ft), the highest pass in Corsica, and through the Valdo-Niello Forest with its Corsican pines to Calacuccia, chief place in the Niolo basin, a good center for excursions in the surrounding area and a good base from which to climb Corsica's highest mountain, Monte Cinto (2,710 m/8,891ft; 7-1/2 hrs with guide). From the summit there are magnificent panoramic views. The route continues through the rocky valley, which narrows into the Scala di Santa Regina, a gorge enclosed by rock walls over 1,000 m/3,300ft high, and then either on the direct road to Corte via the village of Castirla or on the