History and Horticulture in Corsica 9311

We depart from London to Nice where we transfer to the ship. The remainder of the afternoon is spent at leisure.

Today as La Belle Des Océans enters its first Corsican port, we gather on the deck for a tasting of traditional myrtle liqueur and a pastry. In the afternoon, we explore the sights and scents of Corsica. We will cross the maquis—the Corsican underbrush exploding with a potpourri of flowers and plants—for a visit to Corsica PAM in Ocana. Paul and Jean-Pierre Caux built their essential oil business from scratch in the village they grew up in. The lovely surroundings and the panoramic view from the terrace are a great place to discover the secrets of their famous oils. We’ll then visit the honey farm Jardin des Abeilles to learn more about beekeeping. An informative walk in the forest and along the Prunelli River brings you to the centre of the maquis, where you’ll be able to breathe in the earthy scents emanating from the heather, arbutus, fig, box, holly, and alder trees. At the end of our tour, you’ll enjoy tasting a selection of honey from the farm. Enjoy an evening of Corsican music and song on board –  a great opportunity to get to know the island through its songs. Learn about some of the most famous Corsican musicians, past and present.

This morning, we will visit the Maison Bonaparte, a national museum. Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military leader and emperor, was born in this house on August 15, 1769. The museum retraces the history of the Bonaparte family in Corsica as well as the series of exiles they experienced. This is a great opportunity to learn about the former emperor’s life. The visit will begin on the third floor, where you’ll learn about Corsican life at the end of the 18th century, Bonaparte’s parents, his childhood, and his last visit to Corsica on his return from Egypt in 1799. The rooms on the second floor exhibit the decor under Napoleon III. Other exhibits address Bonaparte’s death, the legends built around him to glorify his actions, and Napoleon III’s visits to Ajaccio during the Second French Empire.
We return to the ship where the afternoon is at leisure.

Today is free spend at leisure in Bonifacio. Alternatively, you may wish to join today’s optional excursions. This morning offers a chance to join a guided tour of Bonifacio, rich with a history told along its small streets and paths, the thousand-year-old fortress, and the sturdy stone homes perched high above the sea waves. The descent (and subsequent ascent) of the King of Aragon’s Stairway will provide some of the best views on the trip – up some 187 steps!
After lunch back on board the afternoon’s optional excursion will take us to explore the Lavezzi Islands nature reserve where we discover this archipelago of islets and granite reefs, as well as the sea caves and cliffs of Bonifacio.
In the evening, we enjoy a dinner at a traditional inn situated in the heart of the Corsican countryside. As we sit by the fireplace or under the immense cork oak trees, we are welcomed by the owners who will explain their history and their love for this island. Corsican music and songs will accompany our dinner featuring dishes made using seasonal local produce.

After arriving in Porto Vecchio and enjoying breakfast on board, we depart for a visit to U Giardinu di l’Isuli. Here we find a collection of around 1400 plant species essentially of subtropical or tropical origin and around 4000 plants in total. Included in the collection are around 170 species of palm trees, 85 species of Aloe and 35 species of cycads. The garden is separated into geographical regions which highlight the plants found in each area. These include a semi-dry area with plants from south-western Australia and a subtropical area featuring plants from New Zealand and Eastern Australia. The Southeast Asian zone is dedicated to plants growing in countries from India to Japan including rare bamboos from the Himalayas. The New Caledonia and Pacific Islands area features the largest collection of
Neo-Caledonian Araucarias in France grown outdoors. The zone dedicated to Central and South America is further split into two areas – one of shade and the other of sun. The shaded area features rock formations and small palms such as such as Chamaedorea and Lytocaryum. In the other section are plants that are sun loving which have been artfully planted including palms, bromeliads, cacti and succulents. Finally, the Southern African area focuses on plants from South Africa and Madagascar where we find a very large Strelitzia nicolai near rare Jubaeopsis caffra palms, Ravenea rivularis and Dypsis decaryi.
We return to the ship for the remainder of the day at leisure. For those interested in history there will be the opportunity to attend an on board lecture: Pascal Paoli – Island Patriot.

This morning after breakfast, we will join a local guide for a walking tour of Bastia Old Town. As we wander through the 18th century narrow streets and alleyways our guide will explain the town’s history and highlight key places and buildings of interest such as the ‘Terra Vecchia’  home to the morning market and the large Saint-Jean- Baptiste church, originally built in the 16th century with the interior renovated in baroque style during the 18thcentruy. During our tour we will also visit the Romieu Garden, a haven of greenery located between the citadel district and the old port. Overlooking the quays, the Romieu Garden was designed in the late 19th century by local architect Paul-Augustin Viale. The Romieu staircase with wrought iron railings winds its way between standing vases, statues and a fountain beneath shady palms leading to spectacular views across the sea.
We return to the ship for the remainder of the day at leisure. This afternoon’s lecture in the lounge for those who wish to attend: The Bonapartes – A Corsican Family.

Today after breakfast we head to Saleccia Park, a unique seven-hectare estate at the gateway to Ile Rousse. Here we can explore Corsica through its landscapes and the various aspects of the flora and fauna thanks to local preservation efforts. We have the chance to discover the ‘Art of gardening in the heart of the Corsican maquis’ as we take a leisurely walk amongst olive trees, cypresses and oleanders. The garden was first opened to the public in 2005 and has since been classified as a ‘Remarkable Garden’.
We later return to the ship for lunch on board with the afternoon at leisure.  As we bid goodbye to Corsica, we gather on the Sun Deck for a cocktail and take in one last glimpse of the beauty of the island before a gala evening.

Arriving back in Nice this morning, we disembark after breakfast and return to the airport for our flight to London.