Phare de la Chiappa, Lighthouse near Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France
The Phare de la Chiappa is a lighthouse at the southern entrance to the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, near the beach of Piccovaggia, in southern Corsica. Its white stone tower, roughly 52 feet (16 meters) tall, sits on a rocky point about 210 feet (64 meters) above sea level and includes a cluster of lower buildings that once housed the keeper.
The lighthouse was put into service in 1845 after about six years of construction, designed by the architect Léonce Reynaud. It was built during a period when sea traffic in the Mediterranean was growing and a reliable marker for the gulf was becoming necessary.
The Phare de la Chiappa stands on a rocky point and serves as a familiar reference for sailors entering the gulf. Around the tower, wild bougainvillea now grows over the walls of the former keeper's quarters, which have stood empty for years.
The lighthouse is only accessible by unpaved tracks, so a vehicle with good clearance or sturdy footwear for walking is a good idea. There are no facilities on site, so it is worth bringing enough water and time, especially in summer.
The tower was designed by the same architect behind several other major lighthouses on the French coast, and follows a plan that combined the light function with enclosed living quarters around a walled courtyard. This layout was unusual for the time and looked more like a small fort than a plain tower.
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