Plage de la Viva in Porticcio: 2km of golden sand facing the Sanguinaires

Access and parking

The beach is freely accessible and is accessed from the road that runs along it. Several access points are available, each with free parking within 100 metres of the sand. It is one of Corsica’s most straightforward beaches to reach, with no steep descent or complicated path, the sand lies immediately beyond the road.

The experience differs markedly from Palombaggia or Cupabia (where more difficult access serves as a natural filter for visitors). La Viva is democratic, accessible, frequented by families from Ajaccio at weekends and holiday-makers during the week.

The atmosphere: seaside resort and water sports

Porticcio is primarily a lively seaside resort. The beach is dotted with restaurants, ice-cream parlours, cafés and gift shops. On the water sports front, the offer is comprehensive: sailing school, diving club, pedalo, jet-ski, kayak and paddle hire, and for the active, beach volleyball courts at the water’s edge.

The water is shallow for 30 to 50 metres, which reassures bathers and allows supervised activities to be organised. It is one of Corsica’s most suitable beaches for children.

The sunset: signature of the place

The position of La Viva on the southern shore of the gulf faces due west. Each evening, the sunset unfolds along the Ajaccio skyline with the Sanguinaires islands in the distance, rocky islets that owe their name to the blood-red colour they take on at dusk.

The moment has become a local ritual: residents come for an aperitif on the sand, restaurants fill from 7pm, and the relative quiet of the early evening (La Viva empties as evening falls) transforms the beach into a natural theatre. It is one of the highlights not to be missed during a stay in Porticcio.

The Tour de Capitello, at the southern end

The southern extremity of the beach is marked by the Tour de Capitello, an ancient Genoese tower from the 16th century built to watch over the gulf. Beyond it, the beach continues more wild until the mouth of the Prunelli. This is the most natural section of La Viva, less frequented, with no amenities, ideal for walkers in the late afternoon.

When to visit

La Viva, owing to its accessibility, remains very busy in July and August, particularly between 11am and 5pm. Mornings and late afternoons offer the best windows to enjoy the sand without crowds. May to June and September to October offer exceptional beach conditions with very manageable numbers, with water remaining suitable for bathing into mid-October in some years.

Planning a stay in Porticcio

AEC Collection selects and represents upscale villas and houses in Porticcio and around the Gulf of Ajaccio. The beach is to be discovered independently.