Oh Beautiful: Discovering Corsica

With French and Italian influences, a contrasting landscape of rugged mountains, hillside villages and pristine beaches, the island of Corsica promises an eyeful at every turn. Rent a car and brave the winding roads (hairpin turns included) in order to get the full scope of the countryside.

Tucked between the hillside and northern coast, La Dimora is a summer villa that dates back to the 18th century. The 17 rooms of the beautiful stone buildings are done in wood, iron and limestone and some come with terraces. The grounds are surrounded by fragrant gardens and olive trees and the swimming pool terrace is likely to be your go to place for the afternoon. Just a few kilometers from the coastal town of St. Florent, you can hop a boat to one of the nearby beaches.

La Signoria, once a Genoese estate, overlooks the sea from its perch in Calvi, on the north eastern coast. The 24 rooms are decorated with wood antique furniture and warm colors. The well maintained beach is just minutes away and offers all one needs for the perfect day in the sun.

Overlooking the Porto-Vecchio bay, Casadelmar is a modernist architectural masterpiece by Jean-Francois Bodin. Made up entirely of red cedar wood, Alicante grey stone and massive windows which allow for great washes of natural light. This summer the hotel La Plage at Casadelmar will open on a nearby private beach adding fifteen rooms, as well as an additional restaurant and lounge.

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