Port de Plaisance de Calvi

The Port de Plaisance de Calvi, also called Port Xavier Colonna, is the marina of Calvi, on the northwest coast of Corsica. It lies on the sheltered side of the rocky headland where the Genoese citadel stands, so a boat entering the harbour has the walls of the old town above it and the mountains of the Balagne rising behind. The marina has room for visiting boats as well as hundreds of permanent berths on several pontoons, and it also offers fuel, a lifting area for boat repairs and the usual services of water and electricity. It is open all year and is designed to be accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

For people who are not sailing, the harbour is still a pleasant place to spend time. Cafés and restaurants line the quay at the foot of the citadel, and in the evening the lights on the water, the ramparts overhead and the cooler air make a lively setting. Yachts range from small sailing boats to large motor cruisers, and watching them come and go is part of the charm. Calvi also hosts a jazz festival in early summer, which fills the quays with music, and the harbour is a natural gathering point for such events.

The citadel above the marina is the town's defining landmark. It was founded by the Genoese in the thirteenth century and remained a stronghold of the Republic of Genoa for several centuries, and its walls dominate the bay. Inside are narrow lanes, the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the old Governor's palace. Calvi also claims to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, a local tradition that is disputed by other places but is celebrated on a plaque in the citadel. The climb from the harbour to the citadel is short but steep, and it is worth doing in the cool of the evening.

Beyond the harbour, Calvi's long crescent beach of fine sand runs for several kilometres along the bay, backed by pine trees, and the small town offers boat trips along the coast. If you arrive by boat, contact the harbour office in advance during the busy summer season, as places can fill quickly, and be aware that rules on mooring outside the port exist in the main season.

The marina suits sailors, couples, and anyone who enjoys a harbour walk with a view of the citadel. It is easy to combine with a visit to the Citadelle de Calvi and the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and the Tourist Office near the port can help with bookings.