Above: The winding roads of Cap Corse along the coast in Corsica, France

The D80 in Corsica mostly follows the sea around the Cap Corse peninsula. It is one of the most exhilarating and beautiful drives in the world, but be forewarned: This route has switchback curves and some hair-raising drops into the Mediterranean on the other side of the guardrail — when there is one. Overall, it is not for the fainthearted, especially when impatient Corsican drivers occasionally turn up the stress with aggressive tailgating (because they know the road and are in a hurry to get somewhere rather than to admire the view). That said, even in a little Renault rental car, the drive I did on a sunny summer day with the sea as a vast glittering swath of topaz was one of the most memorable road experiences I’ve ever had.

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Above: The winding roads of Cap Corse along the coast in Corsica, France

Read More from Our Trip:

Indelible Memory: The View From the Marstrand Ferry The Best of Corsican Cuisine Three Monuments to Napoleon in His Birthplace Drinking, Corsican Style