Bastia

For the ultimate in location, choose the Hôtel des Gouverneurs. Ideally set at the tip of the citadel with views over the old harbour and the Mediterranean from many rooms.

Closer to the beach at L'Arinella, try the Hôtel Spa Restaurant l'Ostella. This three-star hotel features a full-service spa, health club and indoor pool.

North of Bastia in the Cap Corse village of Macinaggio, U Libecciu has an outdoor pool, a garden terrace and is close to some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches on Corsica.

Markets in Corsica are always a feast for the eyes, and Bastia’s is no exception. The main produce market is held in the Place du Marché each Saturday and Sunday, with smaller markets on other days. For vintage-lovers and bargain-hunters, visit the flea market in the Place Saint Nicholas on Sundays.

Even if you’re not a fan of shopping, you must take a trip to LN Mattei on your visit to Bastia. This old-fashioned boutique has the feel of a century-old grocery shop and sells authentic Corsican specialities alongside the signature local aperitif, Cap Corse.

If you’re looking for a souvenir or a gift from Bastia, look no further than the traditional good luck charms sold at Zia Antonia. Each of their gorgeous little pieces comes with a small book containing songs, stories and Corsican legends.

Bastia faces the Italian coast, and its ice cream is up there with the best Italy can offer. At Bastia institution Raugi on Place St-Nicolas, alongside traditional ice cream flavours like raspberry, chocolate and vanilla, try varieties flavoured with Corsican chestnuts, figs, sweet myrtle and even the scent of the Corsican countryside. Take away a cone or indulge yourself with a sundae at one of their pavement tables.

In a back alley near the old port, dine at A Scudella to try hearty Corsican mountain fare. Corsican charcuterie and chestnuts feature strongly on the menu, which also includes dishes like wild boar pasta, veal with olive sauce and Corsican cheeses.

For Italian food with a Corsican twist, try A Tana, near Place du Marché in the old town. This small, moderately-priced joint serves some of the best pizza in town, alongside pasta dishes.

After dinner, take a seat at a pavement café around the old port or on Place St-Nicolas and enjoy some people-watching as you sip one of the many excellent local wines.

March/April: Holy Week. Corsica is a strongly Catholic island and Easter is marked with processions, the nature of which varies significantly from village to village – some are celebratory while others are more sombre.

May: The Tour de Corse cycle race passes through Bastia on its 700-mile route.

July: Bastille Day is celebrated across Corsica with firework displays and street parties.

August: The village of Erbalunga just north of Bastia holds its Festival de Musique, with open-air concerts in the central square.

December: Bastia and Corsica is an unusual and very pleasurable destination for a festive break, with a Christmas market and even an ice-skating rink on Place St-Nicolas.

Visit the Musee de la Miniature. This miniature reconstruction of a traditional Corsican village gives a quirky and fascinating insight into the region.

Wonder at the Plage du Nonza. On the opposite side of the Cap Corse peninsula, Nonza beach is a wild and beautiful stretch of moon-like rocks backed with dramatic cliffs. A strong current means it isn’t suitable for swimming; for sandy beaches with look instead to Arinella Beach and Tahiti Beach, south of town.

Take a day trip to Saint-Florent. This former fishing village has a beautiful harbour which is often filled with glamorous private yachts.

Go diving. Corsica is renowned for its superb diving and Bastia and the surrounding area has a number of scuba diving schools. If you’re already an experienced diver, just off the coast of Bastia is a dive site where you can see the remains of a US P47 fighter plane lying on the sandy sea bed.

Nature-lovers will adore Lake Biguglia, the largest lake in Corsica and a haven for wildlife, especially birds. It’s separated from the Mediterranean by a wide sandbank and is both peaceful and exceptionally beautiful.

Take a road trip around Cap Corse. The 125-mile route around the edge of this peninsula at the tip of Corsica takes in picturesque villages, beautiful beaches, medieval forts, family-run vineyards and incredible coastal scenery.