Île Porraggia (Porraggia Island)

Île Porraggia (also spelled Poraggia) is a small, uninhabited granite islet in the Strait of Bonifacio, off the south-eastern corner of Corsica. It belongs to the Lavezzi archipelago and lies inside the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve. It suits sailors, sea kayakers and anyone looking out from the beach at Piantarella, since there is no ferry, jetty or regular trip to it.

Between Ratino and Sperduto in the Lavezzi group

The Lavezzi group's smaller islets run from west to east as Piana, Ratino, Porraggia and Sperduto, around the larger islands of Cavallo and Lavezzi. Nautical guides place Porraggia about 2.5 km north of Cavallo. The nearest point on the Corsican shore is Piantarella, a beach and landing about 5 km east of Bonifacio, from which boats cross to Cavallo in around 15 minutes.

The islet is a low granite outcrop ringed by reefs and shallows. In calm weather the water around it is clear, and the reefs show as dark patches over pale sand.

Part of the 1999 Bouches de Bonifacio reserve

The Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve was created by a decree of 23 September 1999 and covers 79,460 hectares. The decree names the Lavezzi plateau, including Lavezzi, Piana, Ratino, Porraggia and Sperduto, among the areas protected. Within the strict protection zones, landing and walking are banned. Lavezzi and Piana are named among the few places where visitors may go ashore, on beaches and marked trails; Porraggia is not, so plan to look from the water. Spearfishing is banned in the strict zones, and taking noble pen shells, giant limpets and date mussels is forbidden throughout the reserve.

Navigation and anchoring around the archipelago are set by orders of the maritime prefect for the Mediterranean, and some sectors around the smaller islets are closed to boats to protect nesting seabirds. Check the current order before setting out.

Reefs, shoals and unmarked approaches

Sailing guides warn that the islet is surrounded by reefs and shoals and that its approaches are poorly marked, with no buoys or beacons. Skippers should study an up-to-date chart, pass in good light for reading the water and choose settled weather, as the wind in the strait can rise quickly.

Viewing it from Piantarella and Sperone

Most people see Porraggia from Piantarella or the Sperone coast, a short drive east of Bonifacio. From the islet the view runs south to Cavallo and Lavezzi and north to the Corsican coast and the ruined Sant'Amanza tower, about 3 km away. Some boat-hire and excursion companies in Bonifacio cover the waters around the eastern islands, and sea kayaks leave from Piantarella on calm days. There is no fee, no public transport and no facility of any kind. Calm mornings give the best conditions; a boat trip past the islet takes one to two hours.