Corte

Anyone up to speed about the Hôtel Dominique Colonna in Corte?

Also - I%26#39;m very familiar with the coastal parts of Corsica but less aware of the inland parts of the island, hence a plan to spend a week in Zonza and then a week in Corte.

Anyone got any bright ideas on activities in the Corte area and where do I go for decent river bathing in second half of July?

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I don%26#39;t know the hotel I%26#39;m afraid, but as for activities, I%26#39;d suggest that the National Museum in Corte is a must - allow the best part of a day for this! Also, if you%26#39;re into walking, I suggest a trip up the Restonica valley (you%26#39;ll need a car to get there).

As a previous visitor to the island, I%26#39;m sure you will be familiar with the train line that goes through Corte - if not, I suggest a (low cost) train ride from Corte to Ajaccio by train. This is the most spectacular train ride in Europe, I%26#39;m convinced.

I%26#39;ve never gone looking for river bathing in the Corte region. Solenzara, sure... Calvi area, no problem. Maybe someone else knows? I%26#39;d be interested to find out too. Have a great holiday, Geoff!

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Thanks for that - we%26#39;ll have a car and the hotel is in the Restonica valley direction. I%26#39;d forgotten about the train service and we%26#39;ll have a go at that. I think it%26#39;s more for the train ride though - have passed through Ajaccio on 2-3 occasions and not been impressed, too much of modern life is there with ring roads and industrial estates and shopping malls.

It%26#39;s peculiar - I never think of Corsica in terms of anything vaguely cultural. The scenery is so damned magnificent, the thought of going inside to look at anything seems wasteful.

If you%26#39;ve never tried river bathing, you%26#39;re missing one of the true delights of the island. Up the Fangu valley, inland from Galeria is a stretch where you can swim potter, or just sit in the river. Delight.

The place I want to go back to is the Col de Bavella which we drove over in a practically zero-visibility thunderstorm. Going over there through torrential rain and lightning makes it one of Corsica%26#39;s more dramatic drives, but I%26#39;d like to see it in the sun.

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I%26#39;ll admit to being not too familiar with the Corte area, but would just like to make a couple of suggestions.

With the train, you don%26#39;t, of course (or of corse!!) have to go to Ajaccio. You can go in the other direction and visit L%26#39;ile Rousse and Calvi. Only two trains a day but a day trip is possible.

Secondly, I would recommend to you the Asco valley. You will need your car - take a left turn just north of Ponte Leccia and after a few miles you reach the river and follow it all the way to Asco and beyond. Plenty of places for river bathing including a famous one just south of Asco village by a Genoese bridge. Very few places for refreshments along here so stock up at the supermarket in Ponte Leccia and enjoy a picnic.

The villages of Castifao and Moltifao are worth a short detour.

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Don%26#39;t know the Hotel Dominique Colonna but the listing of it in the Rough Guide to Corsica reads very well. Regarding river bathing, when we drove from Porto to Carlacuccia last September, there were two or three well patronised bathing spots before we reached Carlacuccia. The water looked marvellous - we had expected wild pigs/goats/hikers on our journey but not bathers ! Sorry can%26#39;t be precise on the exact location but its a lovely drive anyway.

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Sorry meant Calacuccia..

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We stayed at the hotel Domminique Colonna for a week in June about 4 years ago.

We liked the hotel so much we are considering spending a few days there next year as we were unable to go far up the valley when we were there as the road and all pathhs were lcosed due to bush fires the previous year. Not sure if the paths are open again or not.

The hotel is clean and freindly. They have rebuilt the swimming pool since we were there and you can bathe in the river if you wish.

The restuarant is very good with lots of local specaialities.

The hotel is well situated about a 15 minute walk into Corte if I remember correctly.

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Thanks for that Jackie - I%26#39;d been told the place had been refurbed. And good to know the river bathing%26#39;s on the doorstep.

All I have to do now is clock-watch from now until mid-July!

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