Porticcio and Grosseto-Pugna
While the pretty seaside resort of Porticcio initially displays its finest finery to passing travelers, to penetrate its soul, one must not stop at appearances.
Indeed, beneath its frivolous airs with salty scents, the Belle hides roots firmly anchored in the land, that of its mother village, Grosseto-Prugna.
It may seem strange that Grosseto-Prugna unites sea and mountain with a 35 km stretch of coastline inland, but island villages are often made up of several hamlets, protected by magnificent nature. Grosseto, once famous for its vineyards, thus brings together under its banner, in addition to Porticcio, Vignali and Prugna. The latter two were lucky enough to escape the route of the departmental road, thus keeping their original beauty intact.
Forget the coast for a moment - even if it is difficult to tear yourself away from the fine sandy shores bathed in crystal clear water - to get lost in their alleys, discover their old houses patinated by time, their Romanesque churches whose beauty is highlighted by their simplicity, their small shaded squares and, for Prugna, which is the true historic heart of the town, its Casa Forte and its Torra from the 16th century. A nice stop before setting off on the hiking trails. A climb to the Cricheto pass (17 km) will give you a panoramic view of the valley and take the little maquis train, very fun for discovering the mountain with children. Imbued with this sweetness and the scents of deep Corsica, you can go back down to the smiling shores, which have known a much more eventful history, of Porticcio which, like the entire coastline, had to defend itself from the attacks of the Barbary pirates, as evidenced by the two most famous Genoese towers on this side of the Island, the Capitello tower and the Frassu tower.
Along the way, you can quench your thirst with the local waters of Saint-Georges, whose bottles are signed Philippe Starck, or stop at Clos Capitoro to taste and buy some good Corsican wines.
Hikers from the Mare e Monte, from the south and the centre, who end up here, come at the end of their route to recharge their batteries on the beautiful beaches of Porticcio.
Like them, you will have the choice between the two magnificent twins which have made the site famous, the immense beach of Viva whose strip of white sand and deep blue waters are guarded by the Capitello tower, offering a splendid view of the Sanguinaires Islands, and the gentle beach of Agosta, very family-friendly, whose wild shore attracts walkers.
The combination of the sea and the mountains allows Grosseto-Prugna to offer you, among the classic water activities (windsurfing, paddle boarding, sailing, kite-surfing, swimming, sea trips, etc.), a whole range of activities ranging from tree climbing with Rêves de Cimes to horse riding on the beach and in the scrubland with the Porticcio equestrian center, through to discovering the splendors of the inland areas with Corsica Natura or, for those who like to exercise, introductory or advanced survival training courses with Nautic Camp.
Everything you need for young and old to have an exciting holiday!