Corsica (French: La Corse; Corsican, Italian: Corsica) is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus) and has been part of France since 1768. It is located west of Italy, southeast of France, and north of the island of Sardinia. Corsica has an area of 3,350 sq. miles. In France it is commonly nicknamed l'île de Beauté ("Island of Beauty"). It has also been called "the Scented Isle."
Corsica is commonly termed one of the 26 regions of France, although strictly speaking Corsica is actually a territorial collectivity by law. As a territorial collectivity, it has slightly more far-reaching powers than other French regions, but for the most part its status is quite similar to that of the other regions. Corsica is referred to as a region in common speech, and is almost always listed among the other regions of France. Although the island is separated from the continental mainland by the Ligurian Sea, politically Corsica is considered part of Metropolitan France.