Cliffs of Calanques de Piana, Corsica

My second post about my trip this year to Corsica is from a particularly special place. Just south of the village Piana, on the western most part of Corsica lies an amazing feast for the eyes and senses — extending over several kilometers, the calanche (calanques in French) are a series of steep red rocks and cliffs that plunge up to 300 meters into the Mediterranean Sea below.

Most tourists just drive through the Calanques, as it is the main road through this part of the island. As you can see in the photos below, lots of cars pass through. If you look closely at the photos below, you can see the cars they look so small compared to the incredible size of these giant red cliffs.

But if you are in Corsica and have more time, then the real beauty is to view the cliffs from below by boat and looking up. It is from this view look up that you get the unique point of how large the Calanques are from below.

Or, if you also have a little time to walk through on the paths and also stop by the city of Porto to explore. In a 1-hour round trip, you can visit the old castle at the end of the path.

Then there is the Gulf of Porto.  The Gulf of Porto is the point where  the Calanques de Piana red cliffs face South West meet the Girolata peninsula as well as the Scandola nature reserve in the North.

 

The Gulf of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one can see why with its magnificent beauty all around.

Walking through the heart of the Calanques de Piana is really something else. I actually had the chance this time to take a walk and stop by the local cafe for some refreshments before we were off to our next destination. I even made friends with the local animals, see the pretty goat below.

What do you think of these majestic red cliffs, the Calanques de Piana? I was simply lost in the moment surrounded by all of this beauty. I hope to have shared some of that magic in this post with all of you.