Saint-Florent, Coastal village in Haute-Corse, France.
Saint-Florent sits along a protected gulf between the Balagne and Cap Corse regions, with a working harbor at its heart. The village spreads toward the water with mountains rising steeply behind, creating a natural amphitheater of settlements and peaks.
Genoese merchants founded the settlement in the 16th century and built a citadel to defend the coast from pirate raids. The fortress remains a landmark that shaped the village's layout and survives as a reminder of those centuries of maritime danger.
The narrow streets follow the layout left by Genoese settlers centuries ago, shaping how the village feels today. Walking through the center, you notice the tight arrangement of houses and the way locals still gather near the harbor and main square.
The village connects to Bastia by road, with regular bus services available between the two places. The waterfront is easiest to explore on foot, and summer brings calmer seas that make the gulf more inviting for swimming and boat trips.
The former Nebbio Cathedral sits on a hillside just outside the village center, displaying Romanesque stone walls that few visitors seek out. Though officially protected since the 19th century, many travelers pass through without noticing this early religious structure that once served a much larger area.
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