La Citadelle Appartements

The renowned seaside resort of Saint Florent is an ancient Genoese town, set in the legendary wild countryside of upper Corsica. The quaysides of the marina are great for walking, and as we travelled through the town to the apartments I was so glad I was going to have time to do my version of trekking – a light turn around the harbour followed by relaxation time in one of the little restaurants lining the water’s edge. There is a pier running alongside the marina, and from there you get a great view of the Genoese citadel and the colourful houses of the town. Two kilometres further on, along the road to Fromentica, we arrived at our own Citadel – the apartments.

Overlooking the beach, the apartments are bright and fresh from the outside, with pretty little balconies and terraces. A large garden surrounds them with bright bougainvillea and green shrubbery. There are gravelled terraces with seating and sun beds, and a barbecue area. We collected our keys from reception, and set about exploring our new quarters. We were delighted to find a welcome basket of biscuits and jams and other spreads waiting to greet us. The apartment was clean and simple, not over-furnished but with everything we needed. In the living room, there was a generously-sized sofa and coffee table, and a dining table and chairs which were simple and elegant. From here we could step out on to the balcony, which was also furnished with a table and chairs as well as reclining sun loungers. My bedroom was cool, clean and fresh with a tiled floor, a large double bed and lots of wardrobe space.

The bathroom was very big, with enough space for a convenient washing machine as well as the more traditional bathroom fittings. In the kitchen, everything we needed was to hand and I was really looking forward to finding the local food market and sourcing some fresh Corsican produce to experiment with my own version of traditional cookery! My friend was all set for her coastal walk, but wasn’t leaving for a couple of days so we had plenty of time to explore our surroundings. First though, it was time to sit on the balcony and drink in the view (as well as a glass of wine) over the turquoise water of the bay, with the outline of craggy mountains in the distance. It really was a superb view and we could understand why this spot had been chosen for the apartments.

Over the next couple of days before my friend set out on her trek we made the most of the region, discovering some lovely restaurants and cafes around the Saint Florent marina, and travelling a little further afield to enjoy the Corsican countryside. The Biguglia Lake was a highlight - a nature reserve where wildlife enthusiasts, me among them, can spot a huge variety of sea birds. And in the Bevinco valley, we saw la Chiesa di San-Michele-de-Murato, a beautiful 13th century Romanesque church with a white and green façade decorated with hundreds of little sculptures.

As for the rest of my stay, I simply enjoyed the beach, the shops and markets, having the freedom to cook or just laze in the garden with a book, or stroll in the hills watching the paragliders - all with the comfort and convenience of La Citadelle Apartments in a perfect location.