If you pull up a digital map and scroll over the Mediterranean, your eyes usually land on the "big two" first: Sicily and Sardinia. But nestled just above Sardinia, looking like a jagged vertical thumbprint in the middle of the sea, is Corsica.
Honestly, it’s in a bit of a geographical identity crisis. If you look at the sheer distance, it’s way closer to Italy than it is to the French mainland. It sits roughly 56 miles (90 km) from the Italian coast but double that distance—about 105 miles (170 km)—from southern France. Yet, the flag flying over the citadels is the French Tricolour.
Where is Corsica on a Map Exactly?
To find it without zooming in like a madman, look for the "knee" of Italy’s boot. Corsica is the large island directly west of the Tuscany region. Specifically, its coordinates center around 42°04′N 9°01′E.
It’s the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean. Only Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus are bigger.
The island is basically a mountain in the sea. That’s not a metaphor. Two-thirds of the entire landmass is made of an ancient crystalline mountain range. When you look at a relief map, you’ll see a spine of peaks running from the northwest to the southeast. The highest point is Monte Cinto, which towers at 8,891 feet (2,710 meters). To put that in perspective, that’s over twice the height of Ben Nevis in the UK.
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The Neighbors
- North: The Ligurian Sea, separating it from Genoa and the French Riviera.
- South: The Strait of Bonifacio. This tiny, 7-mile (11 km) gap is all that separates Corsica from the Italian island of Sardinia. On a clear day, you can stand on the white cliffs of Bonifacio and literally see the houses in Sardinia.
- East: The Tyrrhenian Sea and the Tuscan Archipelago (including Elba, where Napoleon was famously exiled before he escaped).
- West: The vast Mediterranean expanse leading toward Spain.
The Weird History of Whose Island it Is
Why is an island that’s so clearly "Italian-adjacent" actually French? It comes down to a debt and a desperate Republic.
For centuries, the Republic of Genoa (now part of Italy) owned Corsica. But the Corsicans were, let’s say, difficult to manage. They wanted independence. By 1755, they actually got it, forming the Corsican Republic under Pasquale Paoli. Paoli is still the island’s true hero—much more so than Napoleon, who many locals feel abandoned his roots.
Genoa, unable to crush the rebellion and drowning in debt to King Louis XV of France, basically said, "We can't pay you, so just take this rebellious island instead." France annexed it in 1769.
The timing was wild. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio that very same year. If France had waited another twelve months to sign the treaty, Napoleon would have been born a Genoese citizen, and European history would look completely different.
Finding the Main Hubs
If you’re scanning a map for where to actually go, you’ve basically got two halves: Haute-Corse (Upper Corsica) and Corse-du-Sud (South Corsica).
Ajaccio is the capital. It’s on the west coast, sitting in a massive, sunny gulf. It feels very Mediterranean—palm trees, cafes, and a whole lot of Napoleon statues.
Bastia is the powerhouse of the north. It’s the main port for ferries coming from Italy and France. If you’re looking at the "finger" of Corsica (the Cap Corse peninsula pointing north), Bastia is right at the base of it on the eastern side.
Bonifacio is the one you see on postcards. It’s at the absolute southern tip. The town is built on top of limestone cliffs that the sea has been eating away at for thousands of years. It looks like it’s about to fall into the water.
Corte is the only major town that isn't on the coast. It’s tucked deep in the mountains in the center of the island. This was the capital of the independent Corsican Republic and remains the soul of Corsican nationalism today.
Getting There (The Map in Motion)
You can't drive to Corsica. There are no bridges or tunnels. You have two real choices: wings or waves.
By Air
The island has four international airports:
- Ajaccio (AJA) – South/West.
- Bastia (BIA) – North/East.
- Calvi (CLY) – Northwest.
- Figari (FSC) – Far South (near Bonifacio).
By Ferry
This is how most locals do it. Ferries run from:
- France: Marseille, Nice, and Toulon.
- Italy: Livorno, Genoa, Savona, and Piombino.
- Sardinia: Santa Teresa di Gallura (this is a quick 50-minute hop).
The "Island of Beauty" Label
The French call it L'Île de Beauté. It's not just marketing. Because it's so mountainous and has a relatively low population (about 350,000 people), much of it is wild.
About 40% of the island is a protected regional park. You have the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO site only accessible by boat, where red volcanic cliffs plunge into turquoise water. Then you have the Maquis—the dense, fragrant shrubland that covers the hills. It smells like rosemary, myrtle, and wild mint. Napoleon used to say he could recognize the smell of his home before he could even see the coast.
What to Keep in Mind
If you're planning a trip based on the map, don't trust the driving times.
On a map, 50 miles looks like an hour’s drive. In Corsica, 50 miles might take three hours. The roads are narrow, winding, and often shared with wild pigs or goats who have zero interest in your schedule.
Also, while French is the official language, you’ll see road signs where the French names are spray-painted over, leaving only the Corsican (U Corsu) names. It’s a proud, rugged place.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Ferry Schedules: If you’re coming from Italy, the Livorno-to-Bastia route is the shortest and often cheapest.
- Pick Your Base: Choose the North (Bastia/Calvi) for rugged hiking and history, or the South (Porto-Vecchio/Bonifacio) for the best white-sand beaches.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service in the mountainous interior is spotty at best; don't rely on live GPS when driving through the Gorges de la Restonica.