The island of Corsica, specifically the town of Calvi, is celebrating 75 years since it served as the destination for the first modern package holiday. In 1950, Russian émigré Vladimir Raitz, owner of Horizon Holidays, chartered a plane from London to bring British tourists to the French island for a two-week stay.
This initiative is widely considered the genesis of the modern package holiday. While Thomas Cook had offered escorted tours since the Victorian era, these were typically elaborate and catered to an affluent clientele. Raitz's venture, leveraging the post-war increase in commercial air travel, made international travel more accessible. The trips were priced at £32 10s for two weeks, approximately £900 in today's currency, and combined flights and accommodation into a single booking.
An initial experimental trip in 1950, primarily for teachers, involved a six-hour flight, accommodation in surplus army tents, and entertainment consisting of music played on a gramophone on the beach. Despite these rudimentary beginnings, Raitz's concept laid the groundwork for a new era of travel.
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Calvi, with its medieval citadel and colorful houses, has maintained a quiet atmosphere. The island's rugged terrain, characterized by pine-covered mountains, made it unsuitable for the sprawling resorts that later emerged in other Mediterranean destinations. Raitz's successors would eventually turn to Spain to meet the growing demand for package holidays.
Today, travel to Corsica is significantly more convenient. A journey that once took six hours can now be completed in two-and-a-half hours via carriers like easyJet. Accommodations have also evolved far beyond the early tented arrangements.
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The northern coast of Corsica, situated over 100 miles from the French mainland, retains a largely unspoiled character. Mountain roads wind through sleepy villages, past deserted beaches, and family-owned vineyards. The region's history is marked by Genoese rule, and it was the site of a notable attack by Lord Nelson's fleet in 1794.
St. Florent, a coastal town near Calvi, is renowned for its picturesque setting and serves as a gateway to the Patrimonio wine region. This area has a 2,000-year history of winemaking, with local vineyards producing crisp white wines primarily from Vermentino grapes, adhering to strict appellation controlee regulations.
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Corsica is also historically significant as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and was a favored summer destination for Marie Antoinette.
Modern accommodations like Hotel Basgi Basgi, a family-run establishment near St. Florent, offer a tranquil retreat with amenities such as a pool, gardens, and a restaurant featuring local ingredients. The hotel's cellar boasts over 100 Corsican wines.
The Cap Corse coastal road leads to the island's northernmost point, passing by pebble beaches like Albo, which, at times, feel virtually untouched by visitors, a stark contrast to the origins of the package holiday industry that has since expanded to numerous other destinations.