The Gulf of Porto is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located on the western side of Corsica, France. It is famous for its bright colors and rough cliffs. The gulf is within the Corse-du-Sud department. The area around the gulf is part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica. In 1983, the Gulf of Porto was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area includes the Calanques de Piana, Gulf of Girolata, and Scandola Nature Reserve. It is known for its beautiful scenery, many birds and sea animals, and maquis shrubland.

Geography and Biodiversity

The Gulf of Porto is surrounded by five communes. Starting from the northern coast of the gulf and moving clockwise around the coastline to the south, these communes are Osani, Partinello, Serriera, Ota, and Piana. The northernmost part of the gulf is located in Ota, where the Porto River flows into the sea. The coastline of the Gulf of Porto is known for its orange-red cliffs and headlands that rise as high as 900 meters. The steep cliff faces are broken by many grottoes, and the gulf contains numerous sea stacks, islets, and coves.

The coastal and marine life along the Gulf of Porto is very diverse. The shoreline is dominated by sea lavender, and all 450 species of marine algae found in the Mediterranean have been recorded along the gulf. These include Halimeda species and other types of algae not seen in other parts of France. The clear water in the region allows algae to grow as deep as 35 meters. The Scandola Nature Reserve protects many land species in the area. In addition to algae, valuable coral is found in the shallow waters of the gulf. The strong currents also attract a large number of fish to the area.

History

The Porto-Piana region has not had many people living there because of its rough and difficult land and difficult history. From the middle of the 15th century to the late 16th century, repeated plagues greatly reduced the area's population. Later, from the 16th to the 18th centuries, food shortages and famines further decreased the number of people living there. At the end of the Middle Ages, the Gulf area was ruled by the Leca family, one of the noble houses in Corsica. In the late 15th century, Count Giovan Paolo di Leca caused conflict in the region.

During the second half of the 16th century, Barbary corsairs often attacked the coast of Corsica, leading to the building of several coastal defenses known as the Genoese towers in Corsica. Three of these towers were located along the coast of the Gulf of Porto: Torra di l'Isula di Gargali, on an island near Osani, Torra di Portu, at the northern end of the gulf in Ota, and Torra di Turghju, on the southern coast of the gulf in Piana.

Despite these defenses, attacks by the corsairs eventually destroyed entire villages, such as Paomia and Revinda. By the end of the 16th century, the coastal lowlands were described as completely empty: "So it is with Sia, the pit of Salogna, ruined, or that of Paomia, completely deserted in 1584." By the early 17th century, it was clear that Corsica could not be easily defended. People living in mountain villages who owned land on the coast asked for more fortifications, leading to the rebuilding of a tower in Sagone and the construction of six new towers: Omigna, Cargèse, Orchinu, Cavi Rossi, Gargalo, and Imbuto. These six towers were built between 1605 and 1611 under the direction of architect Anton Giovanni Sarola. During this time, Genoan leaders created policies that allowed certain groups to settle in areas, including the establishment of a Greek colony in Cargèse, which caused tension with nearby communities.

In his travel account Une excursion en Corse, published in 1891, Prince Roland Bonaparte described the area as one of Corsica's most beautiful natural places. Since 1983, the Gulf of Porto and its surrounding features have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO describes the area as "an impressive porphyry massif with tormented shapes."

Gallery

• Beach located at the head of the gulf
• South shore of the gulf with a view of the Genoese tower
• The Genoese tower during sunset
• A different perspective of the tower