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So near and yet so far apart. Corsica and Sardinia are like two siblings who moved to different countries and are separated not just by the sea but by culture, too. This day trip to the cliff-perched town of Bonifacio in southern Corsica is the ideal way to get to know France’s wildest region. Local guide, Francesca, explains the dynamic, “People often think of the two islands as neighbours, but for centuries they were rivals. And despite Corsica being only 12km from Sardinia, the language, food and traditions feel distinctly French.”
After a drive to the north of Sardinia to catch the ferry at Santa Teresa, you’ll make the 50-minute crossing. Precariously built on 70m-high cliffs, Bonifacio's fjord-like harbour is quite the sight. You’ll hop on a mini train to the centre before a guided tour of its vertiginous citadel with tightly packed narrow alleys. Once the tour has given you your bearings, the afternoon is yours to find a spot for lunch and explore.
As you wander the cobbled streets, you’ll be following in the footsteps of Corsica’s most famous son, Napoleon, who plotted his failed 1793 invasion of Sardinia from here. The epic views from the cliffs make it easy to see why he chose this spot, but Francesca advises branching out from the viewpoints, “most visitors head straight for the views, but Bonifacio's real charm is in the backstreets. That's where you'll find the little cafés and workshops locals still use every day". You can browse for antiques, handicrafts and jewellery in the shops that now fill the ancient houses, or head down to the harbour to watch the yachts come and go.
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