Derekthered's Corsica blog

The last time we spent any time in Porto Vecchio was in 1993, so I felt it was time to take another look. We were camping then with our teenage lads and the chances to go exploring in the old town were few and far between.

In 1993, we spent most of our time on the beaches of Palombaggia and Rondinara (amongst the best on the island) but last Sunday we visited for a short weekend near the centre. This time we stayed at the stylish and elegant Hotel Le Tilbury on Rue du Général LeClerc.

The ancient citadel (one of the ancient gates of Porto Vecchio is pictured right) was a big surprise. We took a gentle stroll round the walls of the haute ville. Although it was a Sunday evening in June the place was packed. It’s full of intriguing little streets with lots of boutiquey shops and a restaurant, it seemed, every five metres.

We chose the restaurant A Merendella in Rue Borgo. They offered set-price menu from as little as 17 euros – a price which included the fabulous views over the Port de Plaisance and the bay beyond.

The medieval haute ville was built by the Genoese in the 1530s to bolster their fortifications in the east. But it was a much smaller invader that got the better of them – the mosquito. A bit of history that I’m happy to say has now been lost to us.