Experience Ajaccio: From Corsica’s Capital to Napoleon’s Birthplace

Ajaccio is the birthplace of a brilliant general who made Corsica and all of France famous for his military victories. Now in this largest city of Corsica, literally everything reminds of Napoleon Bonaparte: the names of streets, squares, numerous monuments, museums.

General information about the city

Ajaccio is the center and largest city of Corsica, with an area of just over 82 km2. It is located on the western coast of the Mediterranean island.

Ajaccio is a French city, but it is twice as close to Italy as it is to France. At the same time, the local population considers itself a people separate from the people of these states. As of 2023, the city is home to more than 74,000 people.

When the ancient settlement appeared, which stood a little north of Ajaccio, is not exactly known. The first written mention of Ajaccio dates back to the sixth and eighth centuries, when Corsica was under Byzantine rule. The city was founded by the Genoese in 1492, and it is thanks to them that it has such a fortified position. The Genoese successfully held Corsica from the XIII to XVIII centuries, and only in 1768 the island became part of France.

Now Ajaccio is not only the cultural and economic, but also the tourist center of Corsica. It offers a lot of different entertainment and activities, including excursions to historical sites, hiking in the mountains, beach holidays.

What to see and do

The most significant historical sights are located on the territory of the Old Town. It consists of several blocks with narrow streets facing the embankment and the port. While walking around this Mediterranean city, you can see a lot of interesting things.

Monuments to Napoleon

The tourist route passes through Place Foch, named after the Marshal of France during the First World War Ferdinand Foch. In the center of the square, on a high pedestal, there is an impressive monument … not Forsch-Napoleon, depicted as the Roman emperor with good-natured-looking lions at his feet.

Another monument to the emperor is located on Place Austerlitz. The statue of Napoleon, dressed in a military uniform and the famous three-cornered hat, is placed on a pedestal. On the pedestal, built in the form of an Egyptian pyramid, the dates and names of the battles of the famous commander are carved.

The spacious Place de Gaulle is also not without a monument to the great emperor. Here Napoleon sits on a horse with a laurel wreath on his head and dressed in Roman clothes. This time the general is surrounded not by lions, but by four of his brothers, also in Roman clothes. This monument was erected by the townspeople in 1865.

Bonaparte House Museum

The famous tourist site of Ajaccio and all of France is the Bonaparte House. From 1682 to 1923, members of the Bonaparte family lived there, and it was there that Napoleon was born. The last time Bonaparte visited this house was in 1899.

Now the house-museum maximally restored the atmosphere that was there during the childhood of Napoleon.

The museum houses the commander’s personal belongings, letters and documents. There is also a copy of Napoleon’s death mask and a model of the ship that brought his body from St. Helena. A rich selection of weapons and a variety of art objects of that time are available for inspection.

• Address of the house-museum: Rue Saint-Charles, 20000 Ajaccio, France.
• Сайт: https://musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr/musee-maisonbonaparte/.
• The museum is open all days except Mondays. The schedule is as follows: October-March – from 10: 30 to 12: 30 and from 13: 15 to 16: 30; April-September-from 10: 00 to 12: 30 and from 13: 15 to 17: 30.
• The ticket costs 7 euros, but on Sundays you can visit the museum for free.

The Cathedral

Built in the XVI century according to the plan of Giacomo della Porto, the cathedral is considered one of the main architectural monuments of Ajaccio and all of Corsica. It is a majestic Renaissance building that attracts attention with its unusual architecture.

Inside the temple, you can see many works of art, including paintings, stone and wood carvings. Especially impressive is the three-meter carved altar of the XVI century, which includes more than 200 figures in scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.

But the biggest attraction of the temple is considered by the inhabitants of Ajaccio to be the marble font, in which Napoleon Bonaparte was baptized in 1771.

• Address of the attraction: Rue Forcioli Conti, 20000 Ajaccio, France.
• The doors of the temple are open on Monday-Friday from 7: 30 to 19: 00, on Saturday from 8: 00 to 19: 00, on Sunday from 7: 30 to 19: 00.

Citadel of Ajaccio

The Republic of Genoa was constantly under threat, as other Mediterranean powers and Berber pirates tried to capture it. Therefore, the Genoese built fortresses in the coastal cities of Corsica. In 1492, a fortress also appeared in Ajaccio.

A powerful massive structure stands on a rocky promontory, as if its natural extension.

The fortress still remains a military facility. It is quite logical that it is closed to tourists. But walking near its walls is not prohibited, and the bastions and towers look picturesque from a distance, especially during sunset.

• Address of the attraction: 8-10 Bd Daniele Casanova, 20000 Ajaccio, France.

Parata Tower of Genoa

On the west coast of Corsica, in the commune of Ajaccio, there is a dilapidated Genoese tower. It stands on the promontory of Puente da la Parata, on a cliff 55 meters high. The structure itself rises to a height of 12 meters, and the diameter of the platform on its roof reaches 7.3 meters. Inside the tower, one above the other, there are two vaulted rooms.

The Parata Tower was built in 1551 and was one of the many coastal defenses that the Republic of Genoa built to protect itself from Barbary pirates.

The peninsula and Cape Pointe da la Parata are very close to the center of Ajaccio. It is worth visiting this place not only to see the Parata Tower, but also to admire the scenery that opens from a height. From the cape, you can see the picturesque Sanguinaries Islands, which received such a bloodthirsty name because of the color of the rocks that formed them. This place is rightfully recognized as one of the most beautiful in Corsica and in France.

But you can also do the opposite: go by boat to the beaches of the Bloody Islands, and from there admire the towering tower of Parata. The tour starts at the marina opposite Place Foch, ticket price 17 euros.

Beaches of Ajaccio

Around Ajaccio there are many coves with cozy sandy beaches, especially in the direction of the airport. Directly in the city and its immediate surroundings, there are more than 10 well-equipped beaches.

Saint-Francois Beach

Plage Saint-François is located almost in the center of the city, right in front of the citadel. In addition to such a good location, there is a well-equipped descent: stairs and a gentle exit for wheelchairs.

The beach is small in length and narrow, so you need to get there early to have time to take a seat. And since there is no parking for cars nearby, you need to either walk or take public transport.

The beach strip is covered with coarse golden sand. The coast is shallow, which is very much appreciated by families with children.

In summer, it is very hot at noon, and only the stone wall of the citadel provides a small piece of shade. Along Saint-Francois, there is a beautiful promenade with tall, sprawling palm trees.

Ricanto

Next to the airport is the most spacious city beach of Ricanto: with a large width, the length of the coast is almost 3 km.

Plage du Ricanto is covered with large light yellow sand with a slight admixture of small shells. The entrance to the water is quite sharp. Due to the fact that the beach is not protected by a bay, there is almost always a wind blowing and there are waves. Such features of Ricanto attract a large number of kitesurfers and windsurfers.

At the northern end, there is a toilet and shower, lifeguards and a boat rental service. The rest of the area is not equipped.

Ricanto is easily accessible by car, which can be left in a small unpaved parking lot or along the highway. You can also go by public transport: from the city railway station to the airport there is a bus number 8. There is a narrow path leading from the highway to the sea coast.

Barbicahia Beach

This is a spacious beach of Ajaccio, located in the city limits. The place is not the quietest, because there is a highway along the beach.

Plage de Barbicaghja is covered with soft sand of light yellow, almost white hue. The entrance to the water is long and smooth, suitable for families with children. Around the cliff, there are several beautiful coves nearby – ideal conditions for snorkeling.

Places to stay in Ajaccio

Ajaccio is dominated by 3* and 4*hotels. Regardless of the hotel category, the service is very good. As in general in France, the city of Ajaccio has a well-developed rental of affordable apartments.

Most popular among tourists are hotels in the center, where almost all the attractions and restaurants are located, as well as hotels in close proximity to the beach on the outskirts of the city.

Approximate prices for accommodation in Ajaccio:

• apartments: from 40 to 100 euros per stuki, depending on the area, location and services provided;
• 3* hotels: from 60 to 120 euros per night for a double room, depending on the location, season, level of service;
• 5* hotels: from 150 to 400 euros per night for two people, depending on the season, location and services provided.

Interesting facts about Ajaccio

1. The city has many fortresses, towers and walls built around it at different times to protect it from enemies. In 2008, Ajaccio was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the “Fortress City of Ajaccio”.
2. The urban population speaks their own dialect of Corsican, which differs from standard French.
3. According to linguists, “Ajaccio” comes from the Latin word Adjaccium, which means “place of rest”, “good”, “comfortable”.
4. Every year, at the beginning of August, the city hosts the Fiera di u vini festival, dedicated to winemaking.
5. Ajaccio’s cuisine is rich in seafood, meat and cheeses. A particularly popular dish is aziminu, a traditional Corsican meat and vegetable dish.
6. Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthday is celebrated by citizens from August 13 to August 15, and August 15 is an official day off.
7. The Fesho Museum or Ajaccio Gallery is second only to the Louvre collection in terms of the number of Italian paintings.
8. Ajaccio is home to the only casino in Corsica.
9. There is a cafe in Ajaccio that has been operating continuously since the Second World War. This is Le Grand Napoleon. Visitors are attracted not only by the excellent national cuisine of the institution, but also by the numerous adventurous stories associated with it.
10. Ajaccio has many monuments to the great Emperor of France. Including there is the grotto of Napoleon, which has a monument in honor of the capture of Moscow.
11. In 1943, all residents rose up against the Nazis who occupied the city. Ajaccio is the first city in France to be liberated from the German invaders.