Capu di Muru (AKA Capo di Muro) is a breathtaking peninsula that can be easily explored on foot. There is a loop trail that encircles a large portion of the cape, allowing you to explore its natural beauty. By following this circuit track, you’ll reach the cape’s western tip, where you’ll find the most remarkable rock formations.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the loop walk on Capu di Muru.
Table of Contents
Capu di Muru (Capo di Muro) Walk
Capu di Muru is one of the most stunning coastal areas in Corsica and features a fantastic loop walk around it. So, what should you expect to see and experience during a walk around this cape?
Well, this stunning peninsula is nestled between two gorgeous bays – Golfe d’Ajaccio and Golfe de Valinco. Along large sections of the walk around the cape, you’ll enjoy mesmerising coastal views of these bodies of water.
The cape itself also features many species of endemic flora and fauna. Much of the headland is covered in scrubland, creating a natural haven across the peninsula. Closer to the coastline, the scrubland gives way to dramatic, steep rocky headlands and rugged accumulations of amazingly coloured and shaped granite.
Aside from natural attractions, the cape also features a Genoese tower, a small chapel and a lighthouse. So, there is much to explore during a walk around Capu di Muru.
FYI – ‘Capu di Muru’ is the Corsican spelling, while ‘Capo di Muro’ is the Italian or alternate spelling. To keep things as authentic as possible, we’ll use the Corsican version!
Where Is Capu di Muru?
Capu di Muru is located in the southern part of Corsica, in the Coti-Chiavari area, about an hour’s drive south of Ajaccio. Below, we’ve pointed out the cape on a map of Corsica to help you get your bearings.
How to Get There
The most convenient way to reach Capu di Muru is by driving. Unfortunately, there is little to no public transport accessing the peninsula. So, if you want to do this walk, there really isn’t any other way other than to drive there.
Car Hire
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Parking
At the trailhead of the walk, there is a reasonably large unpaved dirt parking area (Google Maps). From the parking area, you’ll immediately enjoy sensational views of the cape and its coastline.
Now you know how to get there and where to park, let’s look at the trail specs for this walk.
Capu di Muru Trail Specs
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 8.7km
- Time: 2.5–3 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 265m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Parking Area
- Map: AllTrails
We’ve rated the circular walk around Capu di Muru as moderately difficult. This is due to the relatively long distance and the steep elevation gain that goes with it.
Capu di Muru Walk: Our Experience
Corsica is home to many incredible coastal walks, and Capu di Muru’s circular walk is undoubtedly one of them.
Beck and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this peninsula. Admittedly, we were pretty knackered when we arrived at the trailhead. Why? Well, we had completed two coastal walks already that day (Sentier Littoral des Bruzzi and Sentier du Littoral de Campomoro).
Despite the legs feeling heavy at the start of the walk, we quickly forgot about it. That’s because we were both distracted by the gorgeous scenery. And even as fatigue set in later in the walk, the stunning landscape remained an ongoing source of motivation. Perhaps it was the radiant warmth of the sun or the spray of the sea breeze, but our natural surroundings kept boosting our energy levels all the way to the end!
Anyway, let’s look at some highlights from the walk.
From the get-go of this walk, you’ll enjoy immense coastal views along the southern edge of the cape, towards Plage de Cala d’Orzu. From there, you’ll gradually descend and undulate towards Tour de Capu di Muru.
Tour de Capu di Muru (Genoese Watchtower)
After roughly 2.2km, you’ll reach Tour de Capu di Muru, which is a 16th Century Genoese watchtower.
At the time of writing, access is prohibited due to the tower’s instability and risk of collapse. There are barriers in place to prevent access, which slightly detracts from the visit. However, it’s still worth seeing this historical attraction.
Plage Capu di Muru
Once you’ve seen the watchtower, you’ll soon head west across the cape. Following sections of shade and cover from the dense scrubland, the trail becomes more exposed as you descend towards the western tip.
During the descent, you’ll enjoy immense views of the western coastline of the cape, while passing larger rocky cliff walls and accumulations of fascinating rock landforms.
Eventually, you’ll reach Plage Capu di Muru, which is at the heart of the most amazing collections of rock formations. This cove almost has an ampti-theatrical feel, as mind-blowingly high rock cliffs surround the bay. In every direction that you look, you’ll see an otherworldly shaped rock or sea stack that looks too good to be true.
Soaking in the atmosphere here was our favourite part of the walk. We took the opportunity to sit, eat lunch and take in the surrounding beauty. We even flew our drone to capture some aerial photography and videography of the area. Feel free to watch our Corsica Walks YouTube video (coming soon) to see this drone footage.
Chapelle a Madonuccia & Phare de Capu di Muru
At Plage Capu di Muru, you’ll also find two other attractions. First, there is an interesting, small, shrine-like chapel carved into one of the rocks. Known as Chapelle a Madonuccia, the mini-chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a patron saint of Corsica. The origins of this shrine are unknown, but it’s thought to date back to the 18th Century.
Atop Chapelle a Madonuccia, you’ll also see a lighthouse called Phare de Capu di Muru. Compared with other lighthouses we had seen around Bonifacio, we weren’t quite as impressed by this one. Of course, the lighthouse added to the ambience of the walk – its presence highlighting the potential hazards of the cape’s rugged coastline.
Plage du Fanetto
After exploring Plage Capu di Muru and its attractions, you’ll head east alongside the southern coastline of the peninsula. Along this part of the walk, the trail can be winding and narrow, so watch your step!
During pockets of this part of the walk, the dense scrubland lessens, and you get to see some truly stunning sections of coast. In particular, you’ll walk by a small yet pristine hidden cove called Plage du Fanetto.
Once you pass this beach, you’ll soon turn left to steeply ascend a switchback that helps you to complete the loop trail. Beck and I were huffing and puffing all the way to the top. We had really enjoyed the walk, but we were both pleased once the ascent was over. We could then retrace our steps back along a relatively flat yet undulating path to the parking area to complete the walk.
Where to Stay Near Capu di Muru
After completing the walk, we headed north to Ajaccio, about an hour’s drive, to stay for two nights. Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, offers the widest range of accommodation options. Whether you’re looking for something budget, mid-range or luxurious, there is accommodation in Ajaccio that’ll suit your needs.
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