Northern Corsica revealed itself slowly, kilometer after kilometer. We started from Bastia, followed the coast of Cap Corse and reached Saint-Florent, passing through ports, small villages, coastal paths and landscapes dominated by Mediterranean scrub.
We weren't looking for a quick itinerary to complete. We wanted to observe the island, stop when a place piqued our curiosity, and understand how landscape, architecture, and craftsmanship coexisted in a land with a strong identity.
The photographs in this article were taken by us during our trip to Corsica.
Logbook
01 — Arrival by sea
Bastia, Corsica's gateway
Seeing Bastia from the ship was our first encounter with the island. The light-colored facades lined the coast, with the bell tower, palm trees, and houses rising towards the hills.
Once on land, we walked around the Old Port and the historic city, among buildings marked by salt spray, shutters, narrow passages, and sudden squares. Bastia did not seem like a city built to reveal itself all at once: it is discovered through details, changes in light, and glimpses of the sea.
In Bastia, we were particularly struck by the surfaces: worn walls, faded shutters, stone, iron, and plasterwork capable of telling the continuous relationship between the city and the sea.
02 — The road north
Cap Corse, between sea and Mediterranean scrub
Continuing north, the landscape became harsher. The road followed the coast, alternating between cliffs, inlets, small towns, and sudden openings to the sea.
In Macinaggio, we slowed down. The port, the boats, and the start of the Customs Officer's Path suggested a different way of experiencing the area, more connected to walking and observation.
We especially remember the scent of the vegetation, the sound of the wind, and the color of the water, which changed from clear green to a deeper blue.
Note from Cap Corse
Here, the landscape does not seem decorated by man. Roads, houses, and small ports rather seek to find space within a much larger nature.
03 — Towards Nebbio
Saint-Florent between port, stone, and vineyards
Saint-Florent appeared more compact and luminous to us. In the port, traditional boats, small fishing vessels, and yachts coexisted, while the town center maintained the rhythm of an ancient village overlooking the water.
We wandered without a precise destination, observing the relationship between the port, the houses, and the mountains behind the city. From here, the landscape opens up towards the Nebbio region and the vineyards of Patrimonio.
Wine, cuisine, and agriculture are as much a part of this area's identity as the sea. They are not elements added to the tourist experience, but parts of a local culture deeply connected to the land.
Landscape
Sea, mountains, and vineyards meet in a surprisingly compact space.
Material
Stone, wood, clay, and worn surfaces define the character of buildings and objects.
Rhythm
A slower way of life, where the land continues to influence gestures and habits.
04 — Inside the workshop
Artisan ceramics in the Nebbio region
One of the most significant memories of the trip is linked to visiting a ceramics workshop in the Nebbio region. Entering the workspace allowed us to observe the ceramics before they became finished objects.
On the shelves, fired forms, tests, bowls, small containers, and pieces still in progress alternated. On the table, tools, clay, and dust told the daily story of the craft more than any display.
We were struck by the time required to complete each step: modeling, drying, finishing, firing, and experimentation. Ceramics appeared as the result of a slow succession of decisions, not as an instantaneously produced form.
From the island to interiors
Material as a memory of the territory
The visit to the workshop reminded us why ceramics play such an important role in Vicode's research. Earth, water, and heat become objects capable of preserving the character of a place and the hand of those who made them.
To learn more about techniques, forms, and ways to use these objects in interiors, discover our guide to ceramic art and decoration.
The selection of design vases and artisanal ceramics, on the other hand, brings together contemporary forms, vintage pieces, and craftsmanship from different regions.
What remains of the trip
Bastia left us with the color of the facades overlooking the sea. Cap Corse, the wind and vegetation. Saint-Florent, the relationship between the port and the land. The workshop in Nebbio, however, reminded us how much value can be held in an object made slowly.
We left Corsica with photographs, notes, and the feeling that we had only seen a small part of it. It is an island that cannot be exhausted in a single trip and that invites you to return, taking a different path each time.
Lorenzo & Elena — Vicode
