PARADISE is a word I have always had trouble believing in.

To me it suggests a perfect place – something impossible for me to fathom.

Now I’m not going to suggest Corsica is paradise, but it was one of the closest experiences I have ever had to it.

Prior to my trip, the only exposure to Corsica I had was through the Asterix books, and the sheer beauty of the island depicted on the page captured my imagination back then.

But seeing it in person was a whole new experience and it was quite possibly the most majestic place I have ever seen.

The smell alone of the maquis – Mediterranean shrubland – is captivating, although I would not want to explore it too closely as it has a history of being used for Guerrilla warfare by the locals.

For a small island, Corsica takes a long time to drive across due to its vast mountains.

If you are a fan of walks, you have come to the right place, while skiers can take advantage of the island’s three resorts.

And thanks to its brilliant diversity, beach dwellers will also not be disappointed with scores of sandy spots to sunbathe in or take a dip in the sea.

One of my favourite ‘never thought I’d do this’ moments was sunbathing on Hotel La Roya’s speedboat zooming to its private beach around miles of gorgeous coastline and weaving in and out of sailboats.

It is a dream summer getaway and not too pricy, so there is little reason for the sunseekers to turn it down.

The rich history of Corsica is another reason to visit – the island is currently part of France but the occupants certainly don’t feel that way.

Corsica was under Genovese control until the 1700s, when it was conquered by France after a brief independent regime.

Now its occupants have their own identity and language with road signs in both French and Corsican, while the architecture of the island resembles its Italian ancestry, which is no surprise given it is closer to the latter.

Take the citadel at the port town of Calvi, for example, which was erected to shore up sea defences and keep the Italians separate from the natives.

Now it has no such role but gives a fascinating glimpse into the past while still being used as housing today, though in much less grand a manner.

Its churches and chapels, walls and winding roads remain almost untouched by modern life, save for a few shops and a very popular nightclub hidden away down an alley.

If that wasn’t enough, it claims to be the birthplace of Christopher Colombus, although with Barcelona and Genoa making similar claims, the matter is clearly up for debate.

Calvi itself is wonderful and, with its vast array of boutique shops and bars lined up along the coast, it truly is a sailor’s paradise.

As it is a small town, everything is within a quick walk.

Take the Hotel L’Abbaye where I stayed, just five minutes on foot from shops, bars and the tourist information centre. With its comfy rooms and fantastic breakfasts, it is somewhere I would return in an instant given the opportunity.

One claim to fame Corsica certainly has is its connection with the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born in the south. He remains a popular figure on the island with statues aplenty and plaques all over the place describing where he visited or lived even for the briefest time.

Corsica has two main industries now – tourism and agriculture.

The latter made up a big part of my visit, from touring the botanical garden at Saleccia in the lush Balagne region to visiting local producers of body gels and creams made from native plants.

The most mysterious is arguably l’immortelle, which grows across parts of Europe but takes on special powers in Corsica, according to legend.

When turned into a skin cream, it is said l’immortelle can keep you young forever, and by the looks of some of the so-called older residents it just might work.

If sand, sea and skin creams don’t keep you in Corsica, the food certainly will.

Michelin-starred restaurants seem to be round every corner, and it’s no surprise fish features highly on the menus, from prawn and lobster starters to the popular St Pierre main course that I sampled three times during my three-day visit.

Chestnut trees are another common sight and the produce is used in a variety of products, from liqueurs and beer to cakes and even bread.

Wine is another success story and a trip to the Alzipratu vineyard was a particular highlight, with my recommendation the Pumonte white.

But the unparalleled beverage of choice has to be the Muscat dessert wine and I have run out of superlatives to describe it.

Although fish is found in many coastal restaurants, traditional Corsican dishes are much more meat-based, with the roast lamb at Chez Leon at the small village of Cateri my favourite meal and well worth going the extra mile for.

With flights available on EasyJet to Bastia, it is simple enough to travel and reasonably priced.

But what sums Corsica up best for me is how sad I was to leave and how keen I was to return – the best proof it was worth the visit I can offer.

THE ESSENTIALS

EasyJet (easyjet.com) Flights available from London Gatwick to Bastia, Corsica, from around £95.

Hotel L’Abbaye (hostellerie-abbaye.com) A four star hotel with 43 rooms and prices starting at €80.

Hotel La Roya (hoteldelaroya.com) There are 29 rooms and four suites available, plus hire of its private boat. Room prices start from €150.

Chez Leon (hotel-corseusandume.com/restaurant-chez-leon.html) Set menu a la carte starting from €28.