If you are kicking your heels while waiting for Le Tour to come by in June why not take an early morning motorboat from Bonifacio to the Îles Lavezzi. Cruise through the narrow harbour past deep rocky inlets and into the magical Grotte du Sdragonatu and a nearby cave where the movie Guns of Navarone was filmed.
It takes about an hour to get to Lavezzi and the limestone and granite rock formations are so mind-blowing that it’s fun to pick out shapes along the archipelago including a sunken ship, Winnie-the-Pooh, a rhino, a dragon and a coypu!
Look out for the memorial to honour 700 soldiers who lost their lives in a ship on its way to the Crimean War. They crossed between Sardinia and Corsica because it was considered a quicker route; but the message is… don’t cut corners!
On the islands, giant granite rocks look like Henry Moore’s sculptures – all smoothed by centuries of erosion. There are lovely beaches so you can laze about or wander looking at the blanket of wild flowers including a rare species of yellow horned poppy and white sea daffodil.
There are no cafes so take a picnic.
On your return you can cruise past Cavallo Island and the Pointe de Sperone passing villas including one owned by Caroline of Monaco (on one of the islands few golf courses). Look up at mighty Bonifacio, hanging on the rock’s edge and before you know it you’ll be back in the port, exhilarated by a unique journey past geological wonders of limestone strata created over millions of years.
Lesley Bellew
@lesleybellew
It takes about an hour to get to Lavezzi and the limestone and granite rock formations are so mind-blowing that it’s fun to pick out shapes along the archipelago including a sunken ship, Winnie-the-Pooh, a rhino, a dragon and a coypu!
Look out for the memorial to honour 700 soldiers who lost their lives in a ship on its way to the Crimean War. They crossed between Sardinia and Corsica because it was considered a quicker route; but the message is… don’t cut corners!
On the islands, giant granite rocks look like Henry Moore’s sculptures – all smoothed by centuries of erosion. There are lovely beaches so you can laze about or wander looking at the blanket of wild flowers including a rare species of yellow horned poppy and white sea daffodil.
There are no cafes so take a picnic.
On your return you can cruise past Cavallo Island and the Pointe de Sperone passing villas including one owned by Caroline of Monaco (on one of the islands few golf courses). Look up at mighty Bonifacio, hanging on the rock’s edge and before you know it you’ll be back in the port, exhilarated by a unique journey past geological wonders of limestone strata created over millions of years.
Lesley Bellew
@lesleybellew
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