Round Cap Corse Drive

Bastia, chief town of the département of Haute-Corse and Corsica's principal port, lies at the northern end of the east coast, at the base of the Cap Corse peninsula. Founded by the Genoese in 1380 and protected by a mighty bastion, Bastia was capital of Corsica until 1811, when, on Napoleon's orders, this distinction was transferred to his birthplace, Ajaccio.

The Cap Corse peninsula (40km/25mi long, 12-15km/7.5-9mi across), the northernmost tip of Corsica and one of the most beautiful parts of the island, is occupied for its entire length by the Serra, a range of hills which reaches its highest point in Monte Stello (1,305 m/4,282ft). On both sides of the hills are fertile valleys in which vines, fruit and olives are grown. On the Corse driving tour, the road runs via Ste-Lucie, from which there is a fine view of Bastia with its citadel and harbor, and San Martino di Lota (alt. 183 m/600ft) to Miomo, with an imposing Genoese tower.

At Erbalunga are the ruins of a castle and a watch tower. Beyond this is the little port of Marine de Sisco. The chapel of St-Michel, on a crag 7km/4-1/2mi inland (fine view), dates from the 11th C. To follow the Corse driving tour, or to see other sights in the area, follow the road north past the church of Ste-Catherine (12th and 15th century).After passing the Tour de Losse, another old Genoese tower, the road comes to Marine de Porticciolo and Santa Severa, at the mouth of the Luri valley. From here a road (D180) cuts across the peninsula by way of Luri to the Col de Ste-Lucie (407 m/1,335ft), with a ruined medieval tower known as the Tower of Seneca, in which the philosopher is said to have been confined in 43-49 A.D.. The road then runs on to Pino, which has the ruins of a Franciscan friary (1486).The road along the east coast continues from Santa Severa to Macinaggio, where Napoleon landed in 1793, and then turns inland into the hills.

From the Col de la Serra (362 m/1,188ft), flanked on the left by two old watch towers and on the right by a windmill, there is a fine view of the west coast. To the east is the island of Elba, to the north Cap Corse, with the little island of La Giraglia off the point. At Centuri the road returns to the coast.

In Corsica, the village of Centuri (pop. 600) is beautifully situated between the road and the harbor.

From Centuri the road continues down the west coast of the peninsula to Nonza, picturesquely situated on a crag rearing steeply up from the sea, with a ruined tower. To the east is Monte Stello (1,305 m/4,282ft).While on the Corse driving tour, at the Col de San Bernardino we join the road from St-Florent (D81), and turn left into it. It winds its way up through the villages of Patrimonio and Barbaggio to the Col de Teghime (548 m/1,798ft), from which there are superb views of the two seas and of inland Corsica to the south. The direct road to Bastia, the starting point of the trip round Cap Corse, runs down from the pass with many bends and magnificent views. The circuit of the island continues to St-Florent.