France Bastia beach Travel Information

The beaches immediately to the north of Bastia are rocky and beautiful, with little coves. Follow the sign to the "cap corse" and the D80. The nicest beaches are Miomo (by a lovely Genoese tower), Lavasina, and Erbalunga (with another ruined tower). South: La Marana beaches are, in fact, a long stretch of single beach sandwiched between the Biguglia lagoon and the sea. Drive the from Bastia to the roundabout in Furiani, take a left, and bear left, you will pass over a bridge. Immediately to your left there is the first beach (unpaved road, no signpost). There is a small hut serving food and drink, it's a nice relaxed place.

Crowded with schoolchildren in the summer, the pebbly town beach in Bastia is only worth visiting if you're desperate for a swim in the fairly clean water. To reach it, go left at the flower shop on the main road south out of town, just beyond the citadelle. A better alternative is the long beach of L'Arinella at Montesoro, a further 1km along the same road, the beginning of a sandy shore that extends along the whole east coast. A bus to L'Arinella leaves from outside Café Riche on boulevard Paoli every twenty minutes; just get off at the last stop and cross the train line to the sea. There are a couple of sailing and windsurfing clubs here, and a bar.


There are absolutely no bars, but if you want to get to know the locals rather intimately, head for the beaches. The nearest places to Bastia are two beaches in La Marana. The first, you need to drive to the Furiani roundabout, take a left, bear left, cross the bridge over the river, than take the second unpaved road to your left, drive on to the beach on your left. The beach is not exclusively gay, but walk a little south, and its likely you'll meet some. If you are feeling hot , and I don't mean the sun, then take some shade in the bushes just near the beach, it gets, ahem, very busy. The second beach is a little more tricky to find, but more popular and has some nudists (mixed) dangling their bits… Drive like above, but continue almost to the south end of the lagoon, the road eventually bears sharply to the left and you will see, at the curve, a remainder of an older road curve. Take a left and follow the unpaved road till you get to the beach, then drive just a bit to your right and you're there.

Explore the wonderful streets of this neighbourhood. Start walking from rue Napoleon, with its cute shops, as you pass the Oratoire St-Roch (1609) with a rich Baroque interior and a rather fantastic/ecccentric organ. Just a bit further you'll find Oratoire de l'Immaculee Conception (1611), watch your step (!!), you will be walking over a Ligurian black/white/brown pebble mosiaca of the sun. If you are feeling camp, than youll find the Baroque interior putting you to shame, red velvet, chandeliers, and even a copy of Murillo's Immaculate Conception is hanged over the altar. Have a look in the sacristry, it contains a mini museum of religious art. Turn to the Place du Marche, where on saturdary/sunday there is a flea market, and a more ordinary one in weekdays mornings. You'll also find a modern fountain with a fat lady statue (who says you need vanity?), and several restaurants. You wont miss Saint-Jean Baptiste (17th century), Corsica's largest chruch, which has some paintings that Cardinal Fesch nicked from Italy.


Transportation

Bus are not very frequent in Bastia, there is one line and all locals use it. My best advice is TO WALk to discover the town and GO BY CAR above the town to have a very special view.

Bus from Airport to Bastia City is 4 euro/person The driving takes 20-25 min, depends on the traffic. Remember, the bus leaves sometimes before schedule. They leave 5 or 10 minutes earlier than the schedules on the board. So, be before time

Traveller Tips

Bastia people must take a nap. It is from 12-14pm. So, all shops, offices, car rental, foodmarket, almost all all all are closed. Some restaurants do open, some do not. The city is quite around this time, you could almost hear nothing of those annoying horn. I love it. But, it is a quite difficult for us as tourist when everything were closed. (the bar/foodmarket), Especially that we didn't know about this tradition before. Just stunned and confused why suddenly everything is closed. So, make sure you do book a car rental, or go buy something to eat, go to offices, museums, etc before noon or after 14pm.