Ajaccio

Ajaccio is an important port city on Corsica's western coast. It also serves as the island's capital. Records suggest that Ajaccio existed at least as early as the 2nd century AD, during a period of prosperity in the region of the Mediterranean basin. During the Middle Ages Ajaccio declined, but after the Genoese constructed a citadel there in 1492, the city started recovering.

In 1780, the French annexed Corsica and it has been a French possession ever since. Ajaccio was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769) and you'll find numerous monuments and museums that are dedicated to him.

The old town and the Borgu are typically Mediterranean and boasts numerous narrow winding streets and picturesque buildings.

In the neighbourhood called the Foreigners' Quarter you can see several old palaces, villas and other buildings, such as the Anglican Church, Hotel Palace-Cyrnos and the Grand Hotel Continental. Many buildings in this neighbourhood are in a state of disrepair and some of them have been demolished to make place for modern buildings.

The neighbourhood of Place Bonaparte is the place where most 'winter tourists' stay. They come to escape the cold winter months of northern Europe.

There are many places of interest in Ajaccio.

Churches

The Anglican Church is in the Foreigners' Quarter.
The Christian Baptistery of Saint John is one of the oldest religious structures in Ajaccio. It dates from the 6th century.
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption was built between 1577 and 1593.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is at Rue Saint-Charles. It dates from 1582.
The Chapel of Saint Erasme, or Sant'Erasmu, dates from the 17th century. It is located at 22 Rue Forcioli-Conti (17th century).
The Chapel of the Greeks is on the Route des Sanguiunaires. It was inaugurated in 1619.
The Church of Saint-Roch sits on the Cours Napoléon.
The former Episcopal Palace was built in 1622 and can be found at 24 Rue Bonaparte.
The Imperial Chapel was built in 1857. It contains the graves of Napoleon's parents, his brothers and his sisters.
The Oratory of Saint John the Baptist dates from 1565 and is located in Rue du Roi-de-Dome.
The Oratory of Saint Roch at Rue Cardinal-Fesch, was constructed in 1599.

Monuments

The Monument to Cardinal Fesch was erected at the Cour du Musée Fesch in 1856.
The Monument to the First Consul is in the Place Foch. It was made in 1850.
The Monument to General Abbatucci dates from 1854 and stands in the Place Abbatucci.
The Monument to Napoleon I is in the Place d'Austerlitz. It dates from the 20th century.
The Monument to Napoleon and his brothers was erected in 1864, in the Place du General de Gaulle.
There is also a monument in the Place du Casone.
The Statue of Commandant Jean l'Herminier is in front of the ferry terminal. Jean l'Herminier was commander of the French submarine that participated in the struggle for the liberation of Corsica in 1943.

Museums

Napoleon Bonaparte's House dates from the 17th century and is home to the national museum of the Maison Bonaparte.
The Bandera Museum is the history museum of Mediterranean Corsica.
The Musée Fesch has a large collection of Italian Renaissance paintings.
In the north wing of Musée Fesch is the Municipal library, which houses many old printed books, some of which date from the 14th century.

Other places of interest

The old Alban Factory was built in 1913 at 89 Cours Napoléon.
The 18th-century Baciocchi Family Mansion is at 9 Rue Bonaparte.
The old Château Conti dates fro mthe 19th century and sits at Cours Grandval.
The Citadel dates from 1554.
The Fesch Palace was built in 1827. Its address is 48 bis Rue Cardinal-Fesch.
The Grand Hotel can be found at Cours Grandval. It opened in 1869.
The Hotel Palace-Cyrnos opened in 1880 and was a luxury hotel and famous palace of the old days. It is in the Foreigners' Quarter and it has been converted into appartments.
The Hotel de Ville was another populatr hotel in its heyday. It dates from 1836.
The Italian Lantivy Palace is currently the headquarters of the prefecture of Corsica. It was built in 1837.
The old Lazaretto of Aspretto was constructed in 1843.
The Lighthouse on the nearby Îles Sanguinaires (Sanguinaires Islands) was erected in 1844.
Also in the Îles Sanguinaires are the Genoese towers of Torra di Capu di Fenu, Torra di a Parata and Torra di Castelluchju.
The 1820 Peraldi House
The Pointe de la Parata is a granite promontory, where many people go in the evenings to watch the sunset.
The Sawmill started operations in 1944. it is at Les Salines.
The Route des Sanguinaires is a road that runs along the southern coast of Ajaccio and begins after the Saint François Beach. The road is lined with villas and there are numerous coves and nice beaches. At then end of the route is Pointe de la Parata, not far from the archipelago of the Sanguinaires and the lighthouse.
The Sentier des Crêtes (Crest Trail) begins in the city center. It is an easy hike and offers marvellous views over the Gulf of Ajaccio. Here too are many small coves and good beaches.
There are many small paths running through the maquis (high ground covered in thick vegetation) that surround Ajaccio.

For most visitors to Corsica, Ajaccio is the place where they arrive to the island. There are numerous hotels and restaurants in town. The airport is called Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport. Ajaccio is 1000 km southeast from Paris.

Ajaccio

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