an island with a fascinating pastDISCOVERING THE ORIGINS OF CORSICA

The origins of Corsica

Although Corsica is best known for having been “Romanised” over many centuries (200 BC – 476 AD), it is also home to mythical places that are several thousand years old, bearing witness to the first traces of the Corsican peoples (around 8,000 BC). The hub of the Mediterranean, Corsica is marked by a succession of societies and cultures, from the earliest human migrations to the influence of the great Mediterranean civilisations, whose history is etched in stone. By visiting Corsica’s historic sites, these people left a lasting imprint of their presence on the island, which is still clearly visible today.

Our archaeological sites

The great classics!

Archaeological sites

Our traditions

To discover and rediscover

Corsican culture is also reflected in its traditions, habits and customs.

At the heart of the Sartenais-Valinco region, traditions are more than just a heritage: they are a way of living, passing on and bringing people together. Here, every village has its history, every festival has its song, and every ancient gesture still resonates in the present.

Polyphonic songs, religious processions, ancestral crafts, local gastronomy… These everyday rituals tell the story of the identity of a proud territory, shaped by the mountains, the sea and time. Generations come and go, but the attachment to our roots remains strong and sincere.

From winter wakes to summer festivals, our traditions are alive and well. They unite the locals, amaze visitors and weave a precious link between past and future.

©Holy Week Candles|OTI SVT - @B-Giacomoni

Original traditions

All the museums :

guardians of the island's cultural treasures

©Dl Hd Ld Casadiroccapina Jpeg 4| SVTOTIS

A casa di Roccapina :in the footsteps of the shepherds of yesteryear

This unusual place transports you into a mystical world, revealing the secrets of the “taffoni”, these amazingly shaped rocks fashioned by erosion. Travel back in time with “Jane”, the lion’s daughter, as she tells you the story of these places steeped in memory and immerses you in the daily life of yesteryear, evoking the paths of the shepherd-cantoners of the Roccapina Pass. You’ll also discover the legends of the privateers and shipwrecks that have marked this fascinating region.
Stroll through the surrounding maquis on a short 20-minute excursion between the orange of the stones, the azure of the sky and the crystal-clear sea. The famous rock lion overlooks the sea and the Sardinian coast in the distance. Located in the commune of Sartene, on the way to Bonifacio, A Casa di Roccapina invites you to a unique immersion in the heart of history and nature.

Sartène Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology

The Musée de Sartène invites you on a fascinating journey through almost 10,000 years of history, highlighting the island’s most emblematic archaeological treasures. From prehistoric times to the last decades of Genoese domination, its collections reveal an impressive diversity of objects: weapons, ceramics, tools, ornaments and much more, not forgetting the spectacular collection of statue-menhirs. Nestling above the Piazza Porta, the museum also boasts a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Valinco, offering you an unforgettable cultural experience.

The must-haves

Genoese towers :

symbols of authentic Corsica

Discover these characteristic buildings on the island of beauty! Dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, under the rule of the Republic of Genoa, the Genoese towers were initially defensive in nature. Intended to protect the island from invasion, they were also used to keep an eye on the coastline from the unobstructed strategic view they afforded of the sea. Although most of them are privately owned, they reflect an often coveted Corsica and are now an integral part of the island’s heritage.

In the Valinco region, the largest of them, the emblematic Campomoro tower is open to the public! At the end of its small fishing village, take time to stop off at the tower, perched high on the rocks and overlooking the sea with all its myth. A little further on, a splendid walk along the coastline, visible from the top, awaits you.

Campomoro

The Genoese Towers

Would you like to discover other themes?

Here are a few suggestions!

Original traditions