A ruin on a Corsican hilltop is now one of the most desirable places to stay on the island, reinforced and modernised with raw concrete, spiral stairs and wide picture windows. The former olive mill retains its original crumbling stone as a charming envelope for the bright, tactile interior.

Three double bedrooms are fully wired, with views to Corsica’s arid inland mountains and olive and almond groves, with slivers of the Mediterranean, seven miles away. The woody, new kitchen and sit-up island give onto a generous open-plan lounge and diner with terraces beyond where the old and new structures come together.

Stepping down from the peak is an in-ground pool built to face west to the Gulf of Valinco. Around it are a vegetable garden, scrubby fields and a low-lying vineyard.

The beaches of Propriano, suitable for swimming, are a few minutes away by car. The historic town has a small fishing harbour, ferry port and marina, as well as cafés and bars around the main square. The Corsican holiday home  is available to rent through Boutique Homes, from €550 a night.

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