Porto Vecchio

Porto Vecchio overlooks one of the broadest and most articulated gulfs in southern Corsica, in a position that combines a commercial port, a marina and direct access to some of the island’s most renowned beaches. The historic center rises on a hill above the harbor, with narrow streets, old bastions and panoramic terraces facing the sea and the salt marshes below. Seen from the water, the town appears as a series of light-colored buildings gently climbing inland.

The gulf is wide and relatively sheltered, with seabeds alternating between sandy areas and deeper, darker stretches. The salt marshes, particularly visible in strong daylight, introduce a distinctive geometric element to the coastal landscape, forming shallow reflective basins that mirror the sky. Around the gulf, the coastline unfolds into bays and pale sandy beaches, including some of the best-known in southern Corsica, easily reachable by coastal navigation.

Behind the town rise green hills marking the transition toward the island’s mountainous interior. This combination of open sea, coastal lagoons and inland elevations gives Porto Vecchio a character distinct from locations defined solely by limestone cliffs. The atmosphere is dynamic yet balanced: an active port, an orderly marina and beaches stretching along the perimeter of the gulf.

Reaching Porto Vecchio by dinghy means entering a broader and more structured coastal setting compared to isolated coves. Navigating within the gulf reveals a sense of openness, with the town remaining visible in the background and beaches unfolding along the shoreline. Including Porto Vecchio in a dinghy tour between Sardinia and Corsica allows for an alternation between wild, untouched stretches and a more organized harbor stop, always keeping the sea as the thread connecting the journey.