Free walking tours in Calvi and what to see

Must-sees

Calvi is the main town of the Balagne, in north-west Corsica. Its walled Genoese citadel dominates the bay from a rocky headland. Inside you can wander lanes, the old governors’ palace and the cathedral of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Calvi claims to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, and in the citadel a plaque marks the house where, according to local tradition, he was born.

Below the citadel are the harbour and the seafront promenade, with its café terraces. To the east stretches a long sandy beach backed by a pine wood, with the mountains behind. For the best view of the bay, climb to the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Serra. To the west, the Revellata peninsula offers seaside trails and coves of crystal-clear water.

Free tours and guided visits

Calvi has no regular free walking tours. What’s on offer from the town are nature trips around the island: 4x4 routes through the Agriates desert, a wild coastal area with no paved roads, an outing combining the mountain villages of the Giussani with Saleccia beach, and another 4x4 trip through the Asco valley, among mountains and forests.

How long to spend

The citadel and the harbour can be seen in half a day, but Calvi deserves a longer stay. With three or four days you have time for the beach, a walk on the Revellata, a 4x4 trip to the Agriates or the Asco valley and a tour of the Balagne villages, such as Calenzana and Sant’Antonino. For lazing on the beach, the pine wood gives shade in the hottest hours. July and August are the busiest months, while June and September are quieter.

Where to stay

If you want to do everything on foot, stay in the centre, by the harbour or below the citadel, where the restaurants are. Along the beach and the pine wood there are hotels, holiday residences and campsites, quieter and a short walk from the centre. If you are driving, nearby Balagne villages such as Lumio and Algajola offer houses and apartments with sea views.