Propriano in southern Corsica
Propriano is a port town located on the south-west coast of Corsica.
A BIT OF HISTORY
The Greeks, Romans, Pisans and Turks developed various settlements in Corsica, in particular in Propriano. The Vandals and the Saracens subsequently invaded the village, which now boasts many vestiges dating back to the times when Christianity was introduced to Corsica. The village of Propriano grew significantly following the construction of a road linking Ajaccio to Bonifacio.
MUST-VISITS IN PROPRIANO
You can begin your tour of Propriano at the port in the centre of town with the main beach and its shopping promenade. Many traditional houses are now cafés and restaurants. A bit further on, vibrantly-coloured dwellings invite to delight in a charming vista over the marina. Afterwards, head up the steps behind the port to Notre Dame de la Miséricorde, the town's church. Shimmering paintings, statues and pillars are a beautiful sight worth seeing.
BEACHES AROUND Propriano
There are 2 supervised beaches less than 5 minutes from the centre of town: Lido Beach and Mancinu Beach. They are surrounded by cafés and restaurants and, on Mancinu Beach, there is a water sports centre where you can rent SUP, kayaks, windsurf equipment and pedal boats.
Arena Bianca Beach is located just 1 km away, right next to the wild beach of Capu Laurosu.
Lido Beach in Propriano in Southern Corsica
NATURAL SITES AND HIKING CLOSE TO PROPRIANO
Many boat companies propose tours to Piana calanques and Scandola Nature Reserve, which will take around 4h by boat over the day. Another site to visit, much closer to Propriano, is the Sanguinaires Islands.
SANGUINAIRES ISLANDS
The archipelago of the Sanguinaires Islands, located in the Gulf of Ajaccio is made up of 4 isles: Mezzu Mare, Isolotto: island of the Cormorants, Cala d'Alga and Porri. This site is outstanding for its fauna and flora and is Natura 2000-classified.
You can go for a stroll with your family and head for the Genoese tower and lighthouse, centre staged by French novelist Alphonse Daudet in his "Letters from my Mill" short stories.
Genoese tower on the Sanguinaires Islands in Southern Corsica
Filitosa archaeological site
Filitosa archaeological site is located in the Taravo Valley, north of the Gulf of Valinco. These menhirs, dating back to 6,000 years BCE, are sculpted in granite and portray men, weapons, etc. Thanks to the dating of these ruins, archaeologists have been able to establish the period they were occupied, which ranges from the beginning of the Neolithic period to the Roman era.
MUST-DOS IN PROPRIANO AND THE AREA
In addition to hiking and discovering villages around the area, you can also enjoy a host of activities in Corsica around Propriano:
- Horse-riding on the beach and in the maquis
- Canyoning in Baracci Canyon: on the agenda, jumps, slides, abseiling and a zip-line
- Diving in the Gulf of Valinco setting out from Portigliolo or Cala Muretta
