Where do actors George Clooney and Kathy Bates, singers Tom Jones and Alicia Keys, and even socialite Paris Hilton (just to name-drop a few of Hollywood’s elite) go to escape the rigors of being in the spotlight day in and day out? Why, the tiny island of Corsica, that’s where.

No longer are the Mexican Cabo san Lucas or St. Barth’s in the Caribbean the only playground of the Hollywood heavyweights, even Cannes and St. Tropez with its old Continent glamor can be too commercialized for some.

Just off the coasts of France and Italy and jutting out of the Mediterranean Sea like an impregnable fortress, Corsica resembles a miniature continent, with astounding geographical diversity.

The birthplace of Napoleon impresses beach lovers, hikers, divers, and culture buffs alike, combining dazzling white beaches with dramatic mountain ranges and picturesque old towns. There’s plenty of activities for your body and some rich history to engage your mind.

Read more about this amazing little Mediterranean jewel, and all about how Hollywood loves Corsica in our latest print issue! Hollywood and Glamour.

By Jesse Nash, with Barney Lehrer, adapted by Milena Jakovljevic