Corsica

Located 170km (105mi) southeast of the Côte d'Azur, Corsica is the geological envy of all the other islands of the Mediterranean. Corsica is suffused with a welcoming ambience courtesy of the islanders' distinctive language, cuisine and way of life. Although nationalist groups generally restrict their violence to internal tit-for-tat killings and property damage, travellers are advised to act with caution. The port city of Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, is where most begin a visit to the island. Apart from a number of monuments and museums devoted to Napoleonic lore, you can visit the Pointe de la Parata, a black granite promontory famous for its sunsets, or bathe in the beaches just out of town. The island's most famous natural sight is Les Calanche, a spectacular mountain landscape of multicoloured granite forms resembling both nightmarish and prosaic people, animals and buildings. When it's clear, there are terrific views of both the Mediterranean and the northern mountains. The Citadelle of Bonifacio, in Corsica's extreme south, is perched atop a long, narrow promontory of limestone cliffs. The coast between Calvi and l'Île Rousse, 25km (16mi) to the north, is punctuated by a series of attractive beaches. The best time to visit Corsica is during May and June, when the island is generally sunny, the wildflowers are in bloom and it's not overrun with Eurotourists.