Ajaccio

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Description

Ajaccio, known as the "uimperial city" is the largest city and capital of the French Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Napoleon’s birth place is located on one of the most beautiful bay in the world (some say it compares to the bay of Napoli), cuddled between  the mountain and the sea.

The old citadel dates back to the early years of its history, in the 16th century. Although fairly small, it is a charming relic of the village it once was. The town developed in the 18th century, when Napoleon made it the capital of the island.
 
Nowadays, most of the visitors come for the bright sunshine, soft breeze and beautiful white beaches that make the region very desirable.

Access

Air France is the airline flying to Corsica.

Transportation

There are direct ferry routes from Ajaccio to Marseille, Nice, Toulon, and Ciutadella. Summer seasons are generally busy, and thus it is advisable to book in advance.

Activities and Sightseeing

If you are looking for a cultural stop, visit the Fesh museum: it hosts the French second largest collection of Italian baroque paintings after the Louvre, which was donated to the city by cardinal Fesh, one of Napoleon’s uncle. Of course, you might also want to see the Bonaparte House (Napoleon’s house) and the Napoleon Museum.
 
At sunset, go to the Sanguinaires Islands for a drink (their name comes from the colour they turn into at that time of the day: the colour of blood): everything around you, the rocks, the sea, the sky, turns red.
 
 If you want to see more of red rocks, go to Piana . The spectacular porphyry cliffs of the “Calanche” will leave you breathless. These mineral sculptures represent trees, animals, plants, devils, or any other kind of monstrous shapes, separated by cavities called “taffoni” in Corsican, sometimes several meters deep. Imagine the number of years it took to create those drop by drop! A drink at the terrace of the Red Rocks hotel is a must.

Another must is a visit to the marine park of Scandola, the largest marine reserve in Europe.

Go to the charming port o’call of Porto, where you can charter a boat. Eagles and seals are among the countless species that can be seen in these blue waters, carefully guarded by a team of warden who will explain that you can’t swim, dive or even walk: the site is inaccessible. Then visit the village of Girolata, only accessible by boat … or by foot. The remnants of the old fortress, with its tower, have been restored recently.
 
The beaches, main attraction in July and August, can be really crowded. If you get tired of the festive atmosphere, drive up to the villages in the mountains. Sartene, or Corte (hart of Corsica both geographically and historically), are authentically Corsican. Try the “canistrelli”, cookies perfumed with anise, Corte most renowned specialty, or “fiadone” made with sheep milk, another delicacy.

Lodging

See the Listing of the Hotels in Ajaccio