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HOTEL CASADELMAR |
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CORSICA, FRANCE
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Hotel Casadelmar is the first hotel to put a contemporary spin on Corsicas rustic image. The once-modest property was transformed into a shimmering rectangle of glass, red cedar and stone by architect Jean-François Bodin and reopened last June as a haven of hip refinement. It is aimed at those who will prefer to laze by the heated, 25-metre infinity pool or indulge in massages with Corsican tangerine-seed essential oils rather than join the crowds of guide-toting trekkers. Everything is designed to dazzle, from the luminous, split-level white lobby and bar with its violet Frigerio stools to the comfortable, bay-windowed rooms with their fuchsia, orange or violet curtains; yet nothing can match the sweeping vista of the bay from the rooms' private wooden terraces. Up-and-coming star chef Davide Bisetto has just been awarded a Michelin star for his changing menu of exquisite Mediterranean dishes using local ingredients, served on a dining terrace in the landscaped grounds. Highlights include red tuna with pecorino and mint oil, saffron risotto with local honey, Corsican veal roasted with myrtle and asparagus, and a heavenly tiramisu. If you tire of the hotel's small, sandy beach, there is also a fitness centre and hammam, and the friendly staff
can arrange private boat excursions with a gourmet picnic on board.
WHEN TO GO
May for the wild flowers; September for the silky, warm sea and empty beaches
ROOM TO BOOK
Any upper-floor suite for the best sea views
CONTACT
Hotel Casadelmar, Route de Palombaggia, Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France (00 33 4 95 72 34 34; fax: 95 72 34 35; www.casadelmar.fr). Doubles from euro 320; suites from euro 570
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