TOP 10 of the things to do in Corsica when it rains

Top 1: Spend a relaxing day in the warmth of the Riva Bella Thalasso & Spa centre in Linguizzetta

In the heart of a thalasso center of the over 500m² thalasso centre, discover the benefits of heated seawater during your hydrotherapy treatments, warm up in the hammam or sauna, then relax during the massages. A day at Riva Bella is an opportunity to recharge your batteries in summer as well as in winter. From the seawater circuit (a set of hydromassage jets), observe the Terrenzana ponds, the eastern Corsican maquis and the Cortenais and Fiumorbu mountains in the background while soak in the 32°C water. A panorama to appreciate from the centre's jacuzzi.

Top 2: Discover the towns and villages

Many towns are worth a visit and stand out for their architecture and history:

• Bastia for its citadel and its old port,
• Bonifacio for its cliffs and its bastion,
• Cervione for its museum and its chestnut and hazelnut processing expertise
• Corte for its museum on Corsica, its old town, its panorama of the mountains, its bars and restaurants
• Saint Florent for its bastion, and pretty alleys
• Nonza for its traditional houses and its panorama over the grey sand beach
• Erbalunga for its typical houses and its small port

Top 3 : Walk in the animal park with the llamas

Stretch your legs and opt for a little walk with the donkeys, llamas, pigs, and other animals in the Riva Bella park. This is an opportunity to get to know these friendly and sociable animals and to enjoy nature and the landscapes around the lagoons. Of course, you will need an umbrella or a mackintosh. Follow this up with a relaxing session in Riva Bella´s free (for residents) sauna!

Top 4: Learn more about the island's culture by visiting museums

Does Corsica have its origins in Italy? In France? Elsewhere? How did the Corsicans live 100 years ago? What is the significance of religion on the island? Where do polyphonic songs originate from?

The island of beauty will no longer hold any secrets for you once you have visited these different museums:

• Aléria archaeology museum of
• Anthropological museum of Cervione
• Museum of Corsica in Corte
• Pascal Paoli museum in Morosaglia
• Galea Park in Folelli
• Museum of the Resistance in Zonza
• Archaeological museum of Mariana
• Palais Fesch / House of Napoleon in Ajaccio
• Museum of the Citadel in Calvi
• Governors' Palace in Bastia

Top 5 : Visit producers

Corsica is full of authentic products and culinary know-how that has been passed down from generation to generation and whose recipes are often carefully preserved. Participate in the local economy and short circuit intermediaries by visiting producers at their farms. In the area surrounding Riva Bella you will find vineyards, whisky, gin, vodka, and liqueur distilleries, breweries, an oil mill, a mustard workshop, beekeepers, producers of essential oils and by-products, farmers, cheese and by-product cooperatives, farms specialising in chestnut and hazelnut products, traditional bakeries, etc. You can find all the producers on the website:
www.gustidicorsica.com or on www.ecotourisme-corseorientale.corsica.

Top 6: Bathing in hot springs

What could be better on a rainy day in Corsica than to bask in hot springs? You will find several more or less developed springs:

• Pietrapola Les Bains
• Caldane's baths
• Guitera Les Bains
• Baths of Baracci

Top 7 : Taste the Corsican gastronomy

A day of bad weather is also an opportunity to taste Corsican gastronomy: brocciu, oysters, mussels, figatellu, coppa, fiadone, frappes, cannistrelli, azziminu, wild boar specialities, prisuttu, canelloni with brocciu, veal with olives, etc. Many inns welcome you in a friendly atmosphere and are an opportunity to learn more about the culture and traditions.

Top 8: Do local craft workshops

On this gloomy day, get your imagination and creativity going by discovering local crafts during workshops:

• Essential oil diffuser making,
• Pottery classes
• Painting classes
• Soap making workshop

This will also be an opportunity to bring back a small souvenir of your stay.

Top 9: See Corsican shows or concerts

Although not well known, many theatre groups perform in Bastia, Ajaccio or even in smaller venues (check the program of Anima, a cultural association in Fiumorbu). Consult the tourist offices to find out when the polyphonic singing concerts are held, often in churches. These songs, which are a true intangible heritage of the island's culture, used to describe pastoral life, village customs and Corsican legends. Occassionally you can listen to Corsicans singing in certain inns.

Top 10: Discover local crafts

Corsica's arts and crafts combine the quality of the island's materials with know-how and creativity. Given the island's traditions, craftsmen have a predilection for certain materials such as earth, wood and metal, thus producing works of ironwork, the traditional Corsican knife, furniture (particularly chestnut) and both both utilitarian and decorative pottery. Discover a list of craftsmen who open the door of their workshops here:
www.gustidicorsica.com.

Let's have a little top 11 ! for the road ! Cinema, bowling, escape game,

OK, this is a bit of a departure from the traditional Corsican way of doing things, but it's also an opportunity to have some fun!

You will find cinemas, bowling alleys, life-size games, and laser games in the big cities. It's an opportunity to have a good time with the family even if it's raining outside.

A typical recommendation: a traditional and friendly cinema can be found in Abbazia, about 30 minutes from Riva Bella. It is the Excelsior, run by Jacqueline, who used to run a traveling cinema and who now takes care of the customers who come to watch the film. The particularity of this place is that underneath the screen there is a bar where customers can enjoy a drink or one of Jacqueline's specialties. At film time, the bell is rung, the bar is closed and the film begins!