Scandola Nature Reserve

The Scandola Nature Reserve occupies part of the west coast of Corsica, inside the Corsica Regional Park, and was established in 1975. UNESCO has recognised it as a World Heritage Site since 1983 for its beauty, its biodiversity and its maquis shrubland. The coast here is red porphyry dropping straight into clear water, with sea caves and stacks that no road reaches. The reserve runs between Punta Muchillina and Punta Nera and takes in Cape Girolata and Cape Porto. The maquis that covers the slopes is dense, aromatic and, in high summer, closed for fire risk.