Corsica's name is derived from a Phoenician word meaning cloaked in forests. More recent descriptions refer to it as a mountain in the sea, Corsica's best known claim to fame is as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. However contemporary Corsica rewards the curious visitor with much more than epithets and legends, for this is an island unspoiled, unhurried and uncrowded.

Corsica's 3,400 sparsely inhabited square miles are home to the 200ft laricio pines; prized for centuries as ships masts, and to parched acres of maquis scrubland, where every breeze carries a cuisine of aromas from juniper and rock rose to wild mint and myrtle. Soaring mountain ranges, capped with snow, send tumbling streams and cool cascades to meet the salt sea far below, where the Mediterranean is met by rugged rocks and often deserted sands.

For 2000 years, until Genoa sold it to France, Greeks and Romans, Byzantines, Moors and Lombards had all fought for ownership of this little island, giving it a history too huge for the size of its boundaries and a heritage rich in the remnants of these periods of its past. A scenic drive becomes a journey through time in a landscape sprinkled with towers and citadels, tiny chapels and big Baroque churches. Pretty seaside villages give way to small towns terraced into hillsides and to tiny hamlets clinging to the steep slopes of the mountains. A disarming blend of French and Mediterraneaniterranean character, the islanders can be as fiery as their peppered cuisine, as intellectual as their ancient ancestors, and as warmly welcoming as the climate.

Perhaps surprisingly, Corsica has never courted mass tourism so, while it has its keen aficionados who visit year after year, its colourful scenery, cultural heritage and contemporary attractions remain a relatively secret treasure, deliciously undiluted. With modern amenities in a timeless setting, it all adds up to an intoxicating atmosphere for a fabulous holiday.

Location
Corsica basks in Mediterranean waters a hundred miles southeast of Nice and fifty miles from Italy's western shore.

Beaches
Uncrinkle the ragged and indented coast and Corsica's shoreline would stretch 600 miles. The Sunday Times included no fewer than three Corsican beaches in its 2003 Best Beaches of Europe awards. Among the best beaches are the gently shelving 6km sands of Calvi, the gorgeous twin bays of Ile Rousse, crystal clear waters of Saint Florent and the beautiful Aregno beach at Algajola. In Bastia, the terraced St.Nicholas Beach has palm trees for shade and a lively collection of cafe tables with jaunty parasols. Gleaming Ajaccio forms an attractive half moon between the forested hillside and its big calm bay, and there are blissful white-sand beaches at Pinarello, Santa Giulia and Palombaggia, a broad shingle bay at Porto, and there are 3 good beaches at Propriano.

Food & Wine
'Simple and hearty' sums up the style of Corsican cuisine, with the island's wild herbs adding piquancy to the menus. Lobster tops the list of fresh caught seafood specialities, while the rivers and streams produce fresh-water fish (served mostly grilled and seasoned) and meat dishes include lamb, pork and wild boar. Try the smoked prizzutu ham with a chestnutty tang, a snack of figatelli spiced pork sausage, and pungent traditional cheeses - Brocciu and Fromage Corse.

The Italian influence has added fresh pastas and pizzas to many restaurant menus, and all the local cuisine is enhanced by the local wines. Reds and roses come in abundance, though there are some good whites too.

Local 'appellations' to look out for include the areas of Cap Corse, Patrimonio, Calvi, Ajaccio and Porto Vecchio. Dining out needn't be expensive here as many eateries offer a choice of set menus prices around £12-£15 per person.

Activities
The clear waters surrounding the island make snorkelling and sailing popular, and there are intriguing dive sites for experienced scuba enthusiasts whilst beginners are also catered for. Dive schools can be found in Calvi and near Porto Vecchio. Calvia, Algajola, Propriano and Santa Giulia make excellent bases for water sports, with windsurfing being especially popular. Instruction for beginners starts at around 40 Euros per hour and board hire is only about 12 Euros per hour.

Hiking trails and guided walks are especially rewarding in Corsica, revealing a range of stunning landscapes accessible only on foot. The most famous trail is the GR20, which winds its way along the spine of the island for approximately 200km from the north west to the south east. If this sounds a little daunting there are less taxing hiking trails from many of the hotels we feature, including A Flatta, La Corniche, L'Includine and Capo Rosso.

Located within 6km of Bonifacio, Sperone ranks as one of the most beautiful 18 holes, par 72 golf courses in the world. It is sometimes difficult to concentrate on the game, such are the views which unfold before you. Our hotels in Bonifacio are close by and our local staff will be able to help you with temporary membership formalities.

Boat trips, especially along the spectacular west coast from Calvi and also shadowing Cape Corse from Saint Florent, are exciting and rewarding. The light railway is fun nd can take you along the coast in the north and even further afield through the mountains.

The Clavi Jazz festival attracts international and national stars and takes place outdoors in mid June each year.

Shopping
Serious shoppers will probably home-in on the labyrinthine streets and vaulted passageways of busy Bastia, the flourishing capital city of Ajaccio, or the cobbled alleys of Calvi. Corte is one of many towns where a market adds colour and atmosphere to shopping for local produce. There's a little market in L'ile Rousse but the best places to buy native goods are the many towns and villages nestled in the countryside.

Entertainment
An innately relaxing island, Corsica lends itself to leisurely evenings, table talk and dining al fresco under the stars. A good variety of cafes and bars make perfect people-watching venues for sundowners before dinner and, in the island's larger towns, for some lively music and late night reverie. Religious feasts and music festivals add to the atmosphere on various weekends throughout the summer.

Getting around
A fairly good road links major north coast towns with the south and, following a circular route, with the eastern and western shores. There is a local train service which offers an inexpensive and pleasant way to get round some parts of the island (although at times it may be crowded). Smaller resorts and the mountainous interior are reached only via minor routes and, as local transport (though not unreliable) is very infrequent, we feel that a hire car would be advisable or even essential for the more remote resorts. Self-drive is also the best way to see the island's scenery, though guided walking tours and local excursions introduce you to Corsica's highlights. Taxis are expensive and difficult to locate.