Girolata / Scandola, Corsica

At the far end of a turquoise gulf on the north-west coast of Corsica, the charming little port of Girolata can only be reached by sea or via a hiking path. You can admire the little white 16th century fort, a vestige of Genoese presence in Corsica, before sauntering in the shade through the smattering of little streets. To the north, the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers its vast, remarkable scenery full of protected fauna and flora: falcons, seals and dolphins living free and wild. Wonder of wonders: the spectacular red granite cliffs surging from the waters below.