Porto

Porto is a small village in Corsica, renowned not for its architecture, but for the stunning natural beauty that surrounds it. This is the gateway to the famous Calanques of Piana. The area encompassing Porto, Piana, the Calanques, Girolata Bay, and the Scandola Nature Reserve to the north forms the Gulf of Porto, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The village itself is largely made up of hotels and a promenade with a spacious parking area, but the true charm lies in the dramatic landscapes that feature intricate rock formations and steep cliffs. The coastline near Porto is home to the Calanques, rocky inlets reminiscent of the famous Calanques near Marseille. And like much of Corsica, Porto boasts a classic Genoese tower.

Porto is an excellent base for boat excursions along Corsica’s coastline. It’s a great spot for a quick meal, but you likely won’t need more than a day to explore—once you’ve seen the main sights, there’s little else to do.

Get in

There are rare buses to Porto from Calvi and Ajaccio (where the airport is located):

The bus from Ajaccio runs along the route Ajaccio — Calcatoggio — Tiuccia — Sagone — Cargese — Piana — Porto — Ota. Departure from Porto at 10:00 May — June — July — September. Timetable.
The bus from Calvi: Porto — Serriera — Partinello — Curzo — Col de Lacroix — Galeria — Bonifato — Calvi. Departure from Calvi at 15:30.
Official website
Unofficial website

There are also buses to Porto from the city of Corte, located in the central part of Corsica. They conveniently stop at a couple of beautiful villages, such as Evisa. So you can at least see what is interesting there from the window along the way. Timetable.

*Update: The bus Corte — Porto no longer runs, you can partially take the route Corte — Col de Vergio (20€).

It is, of course, more convenient to get here by car: you can stop along the way and take pictures of the surrounding landscapes. It is really worth it.

Parking in Porto:

The central square of the village is reserved for parking, but by midday it is already difficult to find a place (however, many do not stay in the city, and by evening the parking lot is noticeably empty).

Highlights of Porto

The Calanques of Piana
Aquarium housed in the village’s former powder magazine
Genoese Tower and Heather Museum
Girolata Fortress and Bay
Prehistoric caves known as “taffoni“
Porto’s Genoese Tower

The Genoese Tower

Built by the Genoese in the 16th century, this square tower stands 45 meters high on a cliff, serving as a lookout and defense against pirate raids. Featuring a door, arches, and a parapet around the upper deck, this tower is listed as a historical monument and is open for visitors.

La Poudrière Aquarium

The aquarium is located by the sea in a former gunpowder warehouse. Inside you can admire various fish from the region.

As of 2020: the aquarium is permanently closed.

Boat cruise

This is one of the way to enjoy a beauty of Calanques from the sea. Be aware, that in low season, such as Easter, for example, there are very limited offers. Prices depends on period and the cruise length, starthing from 30 € and going up to 80 € (useful link).

Check better local offers, as at the time of my being in Porto it was not very “internet-freindly” and felt more like a decade besides of other France.