Isolella Beach (Pietrosella): tips and photos
A peninsula of granite and pines on the south shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio, with sand on each side of the isthmus and a Genoese tower on the point.
We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links, at no extra cost to you. Updated 2 November 2026
Why go to the Isolella
The Isolella is a peninsula of granite and pines on the south shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio, in the commune of Pietrosella. A low isthmus about 150 m wide joins it to the coast, with a beach on each side: Cala Medea to the south, Sainte-Barbe and Stagnola to the north. At the far end, a Genoese tower guards the point.
The two shores suit different weather: when the wind blows from the north, Cala Medea stays sheltered; on calm days, Stagnola has the view of Ajaccio and the Sanguinaires islands. Everything is close at hand: the car park almost touches the sand, and the beach bus stops at the roundabout in season. In summer, boats moor in all three bays, on buoys booked through the commune.
Type of beach: sand, water and swimming
The Agence du tourisme de la Corse (the Corsican tourist board) describes pink sand around the peninsula; the tourist office speaks of fine sand. Between the beaches, the coast is made up of rocks and small coves.
Cala Medea forms a curve about 350 m long, open to the south-west. Stagnola, opposite, is a continuous strip of sand about 1.2 km long facing north-north-east. Choose your side according to the wind.
Swimming is unsupervised. The commune’s signs mark out swimming areas with yellow buoys and channels for boats, where swimming is banned. Offshore, recent averages (2023-2025) from the Open-Meteo Marine dataset give about 24 °C in June, 26 °C in July and August, and 24 °C in September; the sea is still around 22 °C in October and around 19 °C in May.
The parts of the peninsula
Cala Medea, south of the isthmus, is the main beach: the large car park behind it, a slipway at the eastern end, restaurants, watersports centres and sports pitches. Near the slipway, a sheltered cove suits young children.
On the other side of the isthmus, the bay of Sainte-Barbe faces north, with a rocky islet joined to the shore on its western side. The sand continues east to Stagnola, the longest of the three beaches. You can hire pedalos, kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis there (tourist office), and a diving club is based on the peninsula.
Towards the point, two unnamed coves hide among the rocks: the larger one, to the north-west, is about 11 minutes on foot from the Cala Medea car park.
The tower and the point of the Isolella
At the end of the peninsula, the Isolella tower, also called the tower of Sette Navi, stands above the rocks. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1992. Allow about 17 minutes on foot from the Cala Medea car park, along the chemin de la Tour, a dirt path through the pine wood.
The point is listed as a natural area of ecological interest (ZNIEFF Punta di Sette Nave), and the sea in the coves of Medea and Sainte-Barbe is part of the Golfe d’Ajaccio Natura 2000 sites. Fires, camping and horses are banned on the beaches. In the organised mooring areas, diving and spearfishing are banned: if you come by boat, book a buoy with the commune.
When to go
June and September give you a warm sea and emptier car parks. In July and August, come early or take the beach bus, which also runs on Sundays at that time of year. From November to April, the peninsula is good for a walk out to the tower, but the beach bus no longer runs and the restaurants do not publish their opening dates.
How to get there
The Isolella is on the south shore of the gulf, in the commune of Pietrosella, across the water from Ajaccio. You get there by car or, in season, on the beach bus from Porticcio.
By car
Allow about half an hour from the centre of Ajaccio (about 24 km) and about a quarter of an hour from Porticcio (OSRM calculation, outside summer and without stops). From Ajaccio, take the airport road, then the D55 towards Porticcio and the D555, and rejoin the D55 through Agosta as far as the Isolella roundabout. Then go down to Cala Medea.
Parking
A large car park lies behind Cala Medea (Agence du tourisme de la Corse), next to a car park reserved for boats. There are other car parks above Stagnola, and small ones on the peninsula. No parking rules have been published for 2026: follow the signs on site.
From the car park to the sand
From the Cala Medea car park, the sand is less than a minute away on foot; at Stagnola, allow about 3 minutes (OpenStreetMap walking route).
By bus
In season, the south-shore beach shuttle (Andemu network) runs from early May to late October and stops at the Isolella (“Hôtel Isolella” and “Rond-point Isolella” stops), about twenty minutes from the Porticcio tourist office. From the roundabout, Cala Medea is about 5 minutes on foot and Stagnola 8 minutes. Times and days of service: Porticcio tourist office.
From Ajaccio without a car
The Ajaccio-Porticcio shuttle boat crosses the gulf in about 20 minutes, all year round, from the Tino-Rossi harbour; it may stay in port when the sea is rough. From Porticcio, take the beach bus in season. Timetable: Porticcio tourist office.
Where the beach is
Good to know
Dogs
The signs put up by the commune of Pietrosella say so for Cala Medea, Sainte-Barbe and Stagnola: dogs banned from the beach, even on a lead.
Wheelchair users
The signs at Cala Medea and Stagnola show access for people with reduced mobility, but no bathing equipment (mat, amphibious chair) is listed, and the Isolella has no accessibility label. Check with the commune before you come.
With children
The Agence du tourisme de la Corse recommends the small cove near the slipway, at the eastern end of Cala Medea, for families with young children. Swimming is unsupervised: stay close to them.
Naturism
No official text provides for naturism at the Isolella.
Eating
The commune’s signs show restaurants at Cala Medea, Sainte-Barbe and Stagnola, and a shop on the isthmus. Their opening periods are not published: out of season, bring water.
The beach in pictures
Out at sea from Ajaccio, across the gulf
These trips leave from Ajaccio harbour, on the other side of the gulf: the shuttle boat takes you there from Porticcio. On the programme: the Sanguinaires, the gulf or a day out to Scandola.
Prices and ratings checked on GetYourGuide in October 2026. We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links, at no extra cost to you.
Staying near the beach
The closest area to the beach in our Ajaccio guide: Porticcio, across the gulf.
- Les Villas de Lorello 10.0/10 on Booking · Oct 2026Book
See 4 more places to stay Hide
We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Isolella beach from Ajaccio?
By car, allow about half an hour via the airport road, Porticcio and the D55 (outside summer and without stops). Without a car, take the Ajaccio-Porticcio shuttle boat (about 20 minutes, all year round), then, in season, the south-shore beach bus, which stops at the Isolella. Times from the Porticcio tourist office.
Where can I park at the Isolella?
In the large car park behind Cala Medea, less than a minute from the sand, or in the Stagnola car parks, about 3 minutes away. No parking rules have been published for 2026: follow the signs.
Are dogs allowed on Isolella beach?
No. The signs put up by the commune of Pietrosella ban dogs from the beaches of Cala Medea, Sainte-Barbe and Stagnola, even on a lead.
Is the Isolella good for children?
Yes, at Cala Medea: the Agence du tourisme de la Corse points to the cove near the slipway for young children, and the beach is sheltered from northerly winds. Stay close to them: there is no lifeguard.
Is there a lifeguard at the Isolella?
No. The commune’s signs read “baignade libre non surveillée” (unsupervised swimming) at Cala Medea, Sainte-Barbe and Stagnola. Swim inside the areas marked by yellow buoys, never in the boat channels.
