Hotels in Vescovato

Vescovato is a hill village in the Casinca district of northeastern Corsica, perched above the flat eastern plain south of Bastia. Its name comes from the bishops of Mariana, who moved their seat here in the Middle Ages after the coastal lowlands became too malarial and exposed to raids. That history shows in the tall, austere stone houses stacked along steep lanes, the shaded village square, and the old baroque church at the top of town.

It is a lived-in Corsican village rather than a resort, with chestnut-covered slopes behind it and the sandy beaches of the eastern coast a short drive below. Be honest: there is not much to do in town beyond wandering and eating, the restaurant and shop choice is limited, and you will need a car for beaches, Bastia or the mountain villages of the Castagniccia. The upside is that Bastia-Poretta airport is close, which makes it a calm first or last night on the island. Stay in or near the old village for atmosphere and views, or lower down toward the plain if beach access matters more.