Anchorage

Riva Bella

Shelter: NW, W, SW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off the long sand beach of Riva Bella, east coast of Corsica between Bastia and Solenzara.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Sand bottom, good holding, anchoring about 500 m off in 6 to 8 m. Sheltered from NW through SW, fully exposed to the E and to libeccio swell wrapping from the SW. Watch for mussel-farm lines in the water, which can foul a propeller, and keep clear of the military range to the south marked by two large target crosses; anchor off the north end of the campsite where the sand holds best. Rocks reach up to 1.7 m off the campsite, with a shallow reef off the beach restaurant. Anchor outside the bathing zone marked by yellow buoys in summer. Refuges: Port Taverna 10.3 NM N, Solenzara 19.8 NM S.

Practical

No services at anchor. The Riva Bella campsite behind the beach has a restaurant with pizza, a small shop for bread and essentials, a spa and an indoor pool, though the restaurant can play music into the evening. Other shops and restaurants in Aléria 4 km inland.

Ashore

Roman archaeological site of Aléria and Musée Jérôme Carcopino 4 km inland, with Greek and Roman finds from the ancient colony of Alalia founded in 565 BC. Étang de Diane lagoon just to the N, known for oyster farming.