The Gulf of Porto is located on the western coast of Corsica and is part of the Corsica Regional Nature Park. The Gulf, as well as the Calanche de Piana, the Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola Reserve have been listed as World Heritage Sites since 1983. Porto is a popular seaside resort. Originally Porto was a simple hamlet of the village of Ota, but it has metamorphosed over time and has become a popular seaside town for tourism. Porto offers sublime panoramas and many sporting activities. It is also the ideal starting point for many hikes. If you are staying in Porto, do not forget to visit its Genoese tower, one of the oldest in southern Corsica. Built on a rocky peak, it is different from others because of its square base (unlike the other towers found in Corsica, which are usually round). The tower is open to visitors and you can climb on its terrace to admire the spectacular view. If it's sunny, you will see in the north-west the Scandola Reserve and in the southwest the Calanques of Piana. Another unusual detail of the tower: the old gunpowder magazine houses an aquarium. A dozen basins host spider crabs, groupers, lobsters, and many other treasures of the island's marine life. |