Posted on January 30, 2013 by sguese

 

Arriving in Calvi feels like arriving to another mainland Mediterranean resort. However there are big differences. There is a significant lack of foreigners speaking different languages. The snowy mountain peaks of Monte Cinto are peeking over at sunbathers as the citadel does the same. Calvi is mostly a huddle of 13^thcentury hilltop houses and those with a bit more adventure in the hearts to make it all the way to Corsica.

 

The Charitable: Take a break from the beach in Calvi and soak up the Oratoire de la Confrérie St Antoine. The charitable institution has been active in Corsica since the 14^th century. Its walls are painted with impressive 15^th and 16^th century frescoes. The north wall holds an ivory Christ known as Le Sansevion, attributed to the Florentine sculptor Jacopo d’Antonio Tati.

 

The Market: Calvi hosts a covered market worthy of a traveler’s time. While its size is tiny, the market is a good spot for self-caterers to stop for fresh pickings. Calvi’s market frequently sells a variety of tempting desserts and richly scented sausages. Just don’t eat them together.

 

The Citadel: It is a difficult task to avoid Calvi’s citadel. The relic of the town’s sorted past was once a strategic military outpost. Today it offers little protection and mostly a pleasant stroll through cobbled streets and narrow passageways. The Citadel also affords good views of the bay and the mountains in the distance.

 

The Beaches: If you have arrived in Calvi, most likely you have come in the summertime to soak up the sun and beaches. The beaches of the town are the main appeal for many to come to Corsica. The town itself hosts five miles of sand. The more adventurous can head out to Scandola National Park. The park presents stacked slabs of rock set up against the sea. Their formation is the work of volcanic eruptions from 250 million years ago.

 

The Miniature Train: While not a miniature train per-say, Calvi’s antique trains are worth a round trip ticket ride. Sitting on plaid covered seats in a train car the size of most streetcars you can slowly make your way to different little towns in the area, including Ille Rousse. Riding on this antique train feel like something of another time.