It’s not only the location of Isula Rossa that will impress you. In the heart of the incredibly charming seaside town of L'Île-Rousse in northern Corsica, this contemporary air-conditioned apartment has been beautifully styled to create a smart abode with a terrace looking out towards the mountains and glistening sea.

You’ll find Isula Rossa in an old building down a lovely pedestrianised lane, just a few seconds from little restaurants and pretty shops. Wander up the narrow stairs and through the door on the second floor and a striking glass spiral staircase will take you up to your home. A king-size bedroom sits alongside a sumptuous bathroom with a huge walk-in shower and an elegant freestanding bath. On the next floor an open living-dining space and perfectly equipped kitchen await you. Step out on to your very own terrace for a glass of Corsican rosé and gaze over the colourful rooftops towards the Mediterranean.

Pick up freshly baked croissants at a local boulangerie each morning or wander to the owner’s hotel for their award-winning buffet breakfast, perhaps on their terrace overlooking the sea. Pick up some delicious local delights from the daily covered market in L'Île-Rousse, watch locals play boules on the village square with a coffee under the plane trees and enjoy some freshly caught seafood in one of the beachside restaurants for lunch. In the evening L'Île-Rousse is a delight to explore as you come across charming restaurants serving all sorts of island specialities from wild boar and chestnuts to brocciu with Corsican mint.

Catch the delightful little train, U Trinichellu, which winds around the coast as far as Calvi, stopping off at glorious beaches with white sand and crystal-clear seas, some with a wealth of watersports, others simply backed by pine trees and maquis.

Hire a car and head inland to the enchanting Balagne villages where the vistas of mare e monti are incredible. Places not to miss include Pigna, Speloncato and Sant'Antonino, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. The landscapes of the Balagne are especially wonderful for keen walkers with many beautiful trails to follow.

As the sun sets on L'Île-Rousse at the end of the day, turning the town’s rocky islets an especially deep shade of red, you’ll realise what a magical place this is in one of Corsica’s most lovable and authentic towns.