MOTORCYCLE CORSICA - the island of Napoleon, mountains and a million curves with highway transit

We take off in the morning, our pilot usually joins at the place indicated in the ROAD BOOOK near Czestochowa, or Mszana, and from there leads the group along the highways.

Second day of transit. We head toward Livorno, Italy, stopping for the night near Bologna.

In the afternoon and depending on the ferry schedule, we arrive at Livorno harbor, from where we will cross to Bastia, Corsica. The crossing to Bastia, Corsica is scheduled to take about 4 hours. However, we are in Italy, so time often goes "a little slower" here, and it is difficult to be 100% sure of the punctuality of check-ins and crossings... We assume that by 19:00 we should, regardless of factors affecting objective shifts, be back on land, in the saddles of our motorcycles and on our way to adventure!

We still have about 80 kilometers to go along the east coast of the island, to our overnight stop and a full day's relaxation the following day. We could certainly use a short coffee stop somewhere, and perhaps a meal.

We start with a day of ease, relaxation and complete freedom.

We are gaining strength and acclimatizing before the days ahead among the stunning views of Corsica.

The only plan for today is a full day of relaxation. Participants decide for themselves what they want to do and how to spend their time. We can propose relaxation using the infrastructure of the place where we are staying, walks in the countryside, a short trip on our motorcycles, a beach, a bar, etc. For the impatient and eager - a winding route D71 with plenty of attractions on the way....

We set off to conquer Corsica... The road leads through the Aiguilles de Bavella (Bavella Needles) - a mountain range located in the southern part of the island. Naked rocks like needles shoot up towards the sky (hence the name translated as "Bavella Needles"....

At the 17th kilometer of the D268 road toward Zonza, just after the Larone Pass (Bocca di Larone), in a serpentine curve, is the beginning of the trail of the Purcaraccia Natural Pools. There is about a half-hour hiking trail to the first one, and another a little further on. Here we will stop for about 1.5 hours to take a walk into this fabulously beautiful place.

Lying at an altitude of 1218 m Col de Bavella is the most beautiful pass in Corsica and is very popular with tourists. Just a few meters from the parking lot the stunning mountain world begins.

It is here, perhaps, less than 200 meters from the place called Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, on the very corner, that there are atmospheric bars and pubs where we can have lunch.

In a cool deciduous forest Foret de Bavella, alpine violets, anemones and eagles bloom in the dark green meadows. At the pass there are picnic spots, a well with water and a store.

From here we continue at a touristy pace soothing our senses with the surrounding views along the D268 road toward Zonza, where we'll switch to the D368 toward Porto-Vecchio, a small port town on the east coast of the island, and from there straight to the lodge near Bonifacio.

Bonifacio itself, divided into the Upper and Lower Towns, is one of those places in Corsica that needs to be given a little more time. Therefore, the plan is to visit the Upper Town today until late in the evening. On the following day, we will visit the Lower Town , from where we will head straight for the rest of the tour.

After breakfast we set off for Bonifacio, this time the port part, the so-called Lower Town. Here we will stroll through the harbor streets, browse in the stores where we will find interesting souvenirs, there will also be an excellent opportunity to enjoy a pre-morning coffee. Shots of the Upper City skyline from this perspective will provide us with a new point of view of this charming, fabulous place.

Around noon, the direction north - along the winding and scenic T40 towards Ajaccio - the capital of Corsica, the birthplace of the legend, the city of Napoleon. There a walk through the streets, a museum set up in the house where the leader was born.

From Ajaccio to the east lies a picturesque promontory with the Parata tower (photographs from this place adorn business cards, calendars and other souvenirs from Corsica).

Northeast of the capital is the A Capulatta turtle reserve - the only such place in Europe! The reserve has more than 3,000 individuals representing more than 170 species from around the world.

If time permits we will drive a little deeper into the center of the island - to the Corse Natural Regional Park reserve itself.

Today quite a few, for Corsica, kilometers to do, although they are mainly scenic kilometers, not counting a visit to the Citadel of Calvi. But one step at a time. We set off immediately after breakfast from the Ajaccio area in the direction to Calvi.

One of the most beautiful sections lies ahead - the D81 road, near the village of Piana on the west coast of Corsica. It winds between beautiful vistas of a formation called calanque. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 during the seventh session of UNESCO.

After about 3 hours of driving with stops, we will reach the town of Porto, about halfway to Calvi. Here, we plan an overnight base near the town. After a quick check-in and leaving our luggage, we set off towards the center of the island - the Corsican Natural Park. We will ride the winding roads of the area until evening.

The second day during our entire trip when we put the motorcycles away. We can quietly sleep longer, not plan anything, surrender to spontaneous activities. We have the infrastructure at our accommodation, quiet surroundings, greenery, sea and beaches within reach, not to mention local bars and pubs. If we desire to do something together we will certainly do it, for those who need some time just for themselves this is an ideal opportunity. For the non-riders - the freedom of vinyling, the direction of the center of the island and the crazy winding sections with surprises... whatever you like.

We are moving on the last day to Corsica. Today slightly different landscapes of the north of Corsica, on the stretch from Calvi to Bastia. On the way Calvi - a town and resort of France, located on the northwest coast of Corsica in the Balagne region. Its origins date back to ancient times, when there was a small fishing settlement on the site of the current port. In the 10th century, the village and the entire island were occupied by the Pisans.

The place is lovely. In Calvi we will visit the Citadel, where the troops of the Foreign Legion are still stationed today, probably eat something, have a coffee and without hurry we start along the road along the northern coast to Bastia, where we will spend tonight in the vicinity of the ferry sweat, to report to the loading ramp in the very early hours of the next day.

We begin the return transit. In the luggage with us full disks of photographs and videos, there are also unforgettable impressions. 

We depart by ferry from Bastia to Livorno, Italy in the forenoon. We will arrive in Livorno in the afternoon, and from there we will take the highways north. Depending on the hours of the ferry crossing and the time available afterwards, we will travel another 200 to about 350 kilometers, ending our transit day near Venice.

Another rather long transit day. We move on highways and byways north to another overnight stay somewhere between Vienna and Brno.

The last transit section. On the way we will part at places convenient for you. Those heading to Czestochowa, or even further north will probably be accompanied by our pilot.