Porto-Vecchio is located on the southern coast of Corsica, the French island in the northern Mediterranean Sea.
The port includes moorings for 450 small craft, commercial facilities and a ferry station.
History
Corsica was under Carthaginian influence and domination until 237 BC, when it was taken over by the Roman Republic. It remained under Rome until its conquest by the Vandals in AD 430, and later in 522 by the Byzantine Empire. With the collapse of Byzantine control, Corsica came under various influences, including Arabs and Lombards, before it finally fell to Genoa in 1282 following the Battle of Meloria against Pisa. Despite take-overs by Aragon between 1296-1434 and France between 1553-1559, Corsica would remain under Genoese control until its purchase by France in 1768.
The Republic of Genoa was strong enough to keep Corsica until 1755, the year Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Corsican Republic. Paoli took most of the island for the republic but he was unable to force Genoese troops out of the towns of Saint-Florent, Porto-Vecchio, Ajaccio, Bastia and Algajola. Leaving them there, he went on build the nation, The Republic of Genoa sold Corsica to France and French troops replaced Genoese ones in the towns. Corsica was annexed to France in 1780.
Porto-Vecchio is placed in a region that in earlier times was marshy and suffered greatly from malaria. The anchorage however is excellent and the Romans established a port here. Subsequently the region was more or less abandoned because of the malarial marshes. The city was refounded in 1539 by the Bank of Saint George at Genoa.
The Genoese were careful to preserve the Roman port within the walls. Malaria killed most of the Genoese settlers and a further settlement in 1546 suffered the same fate.
The problem was not solved until World War II. For their own protection allied troops stationed in the area undertook a large operation involving drainage, filling and spraying the problem land.
Weather
The climate of Porto-Vecchio is located on the northwest coast of the island of Corsica. is typically Mediterranean and provides sunny warm and dry summers. In the height of summer, the coast of Corsica sees average temperature of 25°C but it can rise to 35°. The sun shines for an average of 280 days per year, concentrated from April to October, making the Mediterranean summer, the perfect time for a yacht charter in Porto-Vecchio.
General
There are several prehistoric sites in the area: Torré, which has given its name to the Torréen Culture. The hamlet of Ceccia. Castellu de Tappa. Castellu d'Araghju is just above the village of Araggio. It has a circuit wall 2 meters thick and 4 meters high.
The yacht charter season on Corsica runs from April to October. Low season: from October and April is the low season. May, June and September and considered the middle season and the high season is July and August
French is the official language of Corsica but Italian is also spoken widely. Standard EU regulations cover passport and visa requirements. The currency on Corsica is the Euro. Electricity is 220V.
Porto-Vecchio is easily accessed through Figari Airport, some 15 miles away.
Detailed reports of Marinas and Harbours in Corsica can be found in our Cruising Guide
