The beauty of the gulf lies in its coastline of red-granite cliffs which contrast sharply with the blue of the sea: to the south, the Calanche de Piana, to the north, the Girolata peninsula and the Scandola nature reserve. This ensemble constitutes one of the rare coastal elements of the Regional Nature Park of Corsica. The protected area is home to an exceptional array of flora and fauna: rare plants and a few pairs of osprey, among others. UNESCO has designated the Porto Gulf a World Heritage Site.