Since tourism took over from fishing in the 1970s, the original village "core" of severe grey-granite buildings grouped around a dominant church has expanded into a narrow, scimitar-shaped stretch, ¼ ml from N to S and 1 ml E to W. The town boasts 3,500 inhabitants and mainly comprises discordant, pastel-washed apartment blocks, gaudy shops, cafes and restaurants, and intimate, curving, sandy beaches. Quite touristy but not without charm, it manages to maintain an unhurried ambience despite its active little ports (yachting, fishing and commercial) and busy, narrow streets. The main tourist hub is a modest seafront strip of grass with stout palm trees, overlooked by cafe and restaurant terraces where you can sit and watch the yachts and fishing boats. The 2 main shopping streets, which run parallel to each other, are choked by cars during the day. Driving is generally difficult and for the visitor unnecessary; it is more tempting to motor around the Gulf to other romantic, unspoilt beaches.

Upmarket and middlemarket families and young couples.

A reasonable range of hotels of different standards, both old-fashioned and modern, including one 4-star; self catering also available.

Choice of magnificent, gently shelving, sandy beaches right in town, within walking distance and across the bay, the latter accessible by car. No public sunbeds or parasols; 1 or 2 beach bars and restaurants.

Standard souvenir shops, small provincial supermarkets and a few old-fashioned shops lingering on for the local consumer. Local food market; clothing and household market (first and third Mon of month).

Daytime: beach-based activities; water sports, including water-skiing, jet-skiing, diving, underwater fishing, sailing and catamarans; horse riding; tennis; minigolf (at Hotel Arcu di Sole); sports centre with gym. Religious procession on sea for fishermen on 2nd June; water festival mid-Sept. Nightlife: generally simple, comprising cafes and discos (in town and just outside), traditional music bar, cinema. Firework displays 14th July and 15th Aug.

A score of restaurants with several specialising in fish and the local delicacy, spiny rock lobster. Pizzerias and snack joints galore. Good wines from nearby vineyards.

Daily bus service to and from Ajaccio and Bonifacio (without same-day return). Expensive taxis and car hire.

Half day: thermal springs at Baracci (3 mls) and Caldane (12 mls), by taxi or car. Half/full day: scenic coach trips to impressive prehistoric site of Filitosa, atmospheric Sartene, picturesque Bonifacio, Ajaccio, and the dramatic mountains and forest of Bavella; boat trips along the W coast and dolphin-spotting; walking tours in the national parks.

On the SW coast of Corsica. 45 mls SE of Ajaccio, 40 mls SE of its airport; 37 mls NW of Figari airport.

In a sheltered cove nestled deep within the beautiful Gulf of Valinco. The town scrambles up steeply sloping land to a bare, rocky hillside; natural scrubland and pastoral fields lie beyond, petering out to thickly wooded, rugged hills.

Post Code: 20110
Website: www.propriano.net

Airport Code: FSC
Flight time from ther U.K.: 3 hrs 45 mins