In Tiny Paradise, Separatists Go After Vacation Homes

On Corsica, an old independence fight has zeroed in on a very modern symbol: the vacation home. The New York Times reports that since October 2023, dozens of mostly empty second houses on the French island in the Mediterranean have been blown up or burned, part of a long-running campaign by the National Liberation Front of Corsica to warn outsiders that "Corsica is for Corsicans." The group, active since the 1970s, recently staged a news conference with masked, armed members telling tourists and second-home owners to "stay home" or "do not consider yourself safe on our national territory."

The violence comes as France weighs giving Corsica limited autonomy via a constitutional amendment that would, for the first time, formally recognize the region's distinct language and culture and grant some local powers. Many Corsicans say that still skips the core question: Who gets to own land on an island where more than a third of homes are second residences and local wages lag far behind property prices? The piece explores that tension through nationalists, fearful (and unfazed) buyers, and residents trying to fit in. For the full picture and on-the-ground voices, read the New York Times piece.