Calvi, Corsica, France

Citadel

When attempting to besiege this citadel in 1794, Admiral Nelson lost his eye. Today, one of the regiments of the French Foreign Legion is based here. A fortress with five bastions, built in the 13th century, was the subject of a dispute between Genoa and Pisa. At its entrance, the marble bears the inscription “Civitas Calvi Semper Fidelis”. It means that Calvi is under Genoa’s rule. In reality, the citadel had also come under Turkish control, who captured it with the help of the French. At the fortress’s highest point stands the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, built at the same time as the fortress. According to one of the legends, Christopher Columbus was born in this fortress, as evidenced by the commemorative plaque bearing his name and the mariner’s bust.

St. John the Baptist Cathedral

The current building of the Calvi Cathedral was built in the 16th century. It is located beyond the city walls and became the second church on this site. The first temple, built at the same time as the citadel, was damaged in an explosion at a gunpowder store in 1567 and later was rebuilt in the Baroque style and turned into a bishop’s residence. The church’s main shrine is a statue of Christ made of black wood. According to legend, when the Turks and the French approached the shores of Calvi in 1553, local residents held a procession around the fortress with this statue, and the invaders retreated. The other two important shrines of the cathedral are a 16th-century statue of the Virgin Mary and a 17th-century altar.

Salt Tower

A massive medieval tower at the end of the Landri quay was built as a lookout point in order to warn of frequent attacks by Berber pirates. And during the growth of trade, it housed a salt store, which is what explains its name. In addition to salt, because of the low temperature it “kept,” the tower was also used for storing meat and other perishable goods.

Beaches

Framed by a pine forest, Calvi’s coastline stretches along a wide bay and is washed by the cleanest seawater. From the 6 km-long beach, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the bay and the Citadel. Even in the height of the hot summer months, there’s space here for everyone, and the warm sea and absence of currents create ideal conditions for swimming with young children. Tourists love Calvi’s 4-kilometer beach for its pristine white sand and unusually azure water. The nearby beaches of Algajola and Sant’Ambrogio are just as popular. The hilly seabed and the wreck site of a bomber attract a large number of diving enthusiasts.

Scandola National Park

Located on the eponymous peninsula, the Scandola Nature Reserve offers picturesque coves of Girolata and Porto, volcanic rocks in every shade of red and black, and a habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife. Here peregrine falcons nest, along with blue rock thrushes, giant gulls, and eagles. You can also see the endangered raptor species osprey. In the coastal waters, you may spot sea turtles and seals. Admission to the nature reserve-listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site-is available only to researchers, and then by approval lists. Ordinary tourists can view Scandola only from the sea during a maritime excursion.

Balané Train

If you visit Corsica in the summer, we recommend taking an exciting and truly spectacular train ride on the Balagne train (Train de la Balagne), which runs between the towns of Calvi and Île Rousse (the north coast of Corsica). The train will take you along a scenic route through deserts and wild areas. You’ll see magnificent landscapes and genuine, untouched nature. In the winter months, the train will also bring you to these towns, but the views outside the window will be less attractive and thrilling. Please note that the train’s comfort leaves something to be desired-there is a high level of shaking and vibration... However, that even adds a certain charm to the journey.

Agriate Desert

For film buffs, this rocky landscape between Saint-Florent and L’Île-Rousse is familiar from the Oscar-winning film “The Longest Day.” Until the 1970s, Agriate was entirely covered with fertile fields, and after fires and soil erosion it turned into 15 thousand hectares of uninhabited land. Today, this is the only place on the island where there’s no busy coastal highway. The northern part of the desert stretches along the shore, and the most popular spots here are the beaches of Lotu and Saleccia.

Calvi Sightseeing Tour

Calvi is wonderfully beautiful and wonderfully situated. That is why, during the season, thousands of tourists come here. Calvi is one of the most popular resorts in Corsica. You will visit the small and cozy Upper Town - the Citadel - a symbol of Calvi built on a rock jutting out over the sea; you will see the chapel of Saint-Antoine, where you can admire works of art from the 16th-19th centuries; the Church of St. John the Baptist from the 13th century, whose main asset is a miraculous crucifixion; the Salt Tower, the story of which your guide will tell you; the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (1774) and much more.

You can find out more about the detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in your “Personal Client Account”.