Ajaccio
photo
© Roy Digital Design


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



Monuments



Museums



Other places of interest



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.


Airhelp



Images

Ajaccio ©J.R. Harris
Ajaccio ©J.R. Harris

Cobbled street in the old town ©Simon Hermans
Cobbled street in the old town ©Simon Hermans

Torre Genovese di Parata on the Route des Sanguinaires ©Petr Slováček
Torre Genovese di Parata on the Route des Sanguinaires ©Petr Slováček

Statue of Napoleon ©J.R. Harris
Statue of Napoleon ©J.R. Harris


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