
FRANCE - Corsica - Scandola -
Piana Calanques - Gulf of Porto
The coast of the Gulf of Porto is one of Corsica's most spectacular landscapes and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You have to discover it from the road and also with an afternoon cruise for the best pictures (departs from Porto harbor and takes around 4 hours to Piana Calanches, Scandola and Girolata). Stacked slabs, towering pinnacles and gnarled, archs and claw-like outcrops of rock were formed by volcanic eruptions at Scandola 250 million years ago and a subsequent erosion has fashioned spectacular shapes in the rock. The colours are remarkable and vary from charcoal grey, deep green to incandescent reds and rusty purples which strike a vivid contrast with the green maquis and the cobalt blue sea. The hamlet of Girolata is overlooked by a Genoese fort and only accessible by boat.
BEST TIME to VISIT PIANA
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to CORSICA
From May to October

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise - old Genoese tower

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Driving

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - View from the road

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Driving - Traffic jam as all tourists wants to make pictures

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Driving

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - view from Piana

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise - crystal clear water

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise - Arch

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Girolata is only accessible by boat or by a 7 kms trail - Cruise - Genoese tower

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Many cruises are departing from Porto Harbor - We recommand the one which visits the right side of the Gulf (Girolata and Scandola) and the left side (Piana Calanques) as landscapes are different - As it is the western coast : best time is afternoon

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Trees found the way to grow on red rocks

Gulf of Porto - Girolata beach is normally crowded with tourists, but there was other guests when we came

Gulf of Porto - Sailing

Traffic jam with unusual "vehicles" on a small road

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - the Genoese tower near the Porto harbor

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

the village of Piana at sunrise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

lovely bay with a yatch

lovely bay

beautiful pristine coastline

rocky coastline

scenic road with pinky rocks - one rock had a hole

scenic road with pinky rocks and sea views

Coastline

scenic road with pinky rocks and sea views

village of Piana

hotel with a swimming pool overlooking this amazing landscape

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise - Gull

Gulf of Porto - Calanques de Piana (Calanches) - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Girolata - Cruise - Genoese Tower

Gulf of Porto - Natural Reserve of Scandola - Cruise

Gulf of Porto - Trees are growing on the rocks

scenic narrow road

typical tiny village

Gulf of Porto and the village of Porto

landscape

scenic road

coastline

bay and a village

restaurant with a beautiful seaview

coastline

scenic road

bay and coastline