Ajaccio

Staying in the imperial city and historical capital of Corsica will seduce you throughout your walks, hikes, excursions, or gastronomic and festive stops. Ajaccio is the most visited city in Corsica for all the good reasons that follow.

Ajaccio is a harmonious mix of sea, mountains, nature, and history that leads us from Genoa to Napoleon Bonaparte. All the little corners of the city of Ajaccio bear witness to its charms in a sunny atmosphere where it is good to stroll in peace.

Its historic city centre, which saw the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte and Tino Rossi, gives it an exceptional wealth of heritage that is easy to access.

Let yourself be guided by these good reasons to discover the town.

The new market hall, on the Place Campinchi, is a must-see, with its local products and producers waiting for you full of colourful charm, and the tastings are often an opportunity to discover Corsican specialities.

With its many bars, restaurants and shopping streets, Ajaccio offers all its culinary and cultural diversity which gives it all its charm.

The Place Campinchi with its tree-lined esplanades, its Napoleonic quays, its water mirror, and its footbridge are the beginning of your adventure.

The “Palais Fesch -Musée des beaux-arts” is located between the Borgu district of Ajaccio and the rue Fesch. It was created thanks to a gift to his city by Cardinal Fesch. It houses the most beautiful groups of French, Italian, Dutch and Corsican paintings, and the Napoleonic collection contains more than 700 works and objects.

The Imperial Chapel is the crypt of the Bonaparte family, built at the request of Napoleon III and classified as a historical monument.

The Bonaparte house, Napoleon’s birthplace where his family lived at the end of the 17th century, offers an overview of all the memories of the emperor and his family.

The Miollis Citadel, founded in 1492 by the Genoese, is a real military fortification built to control the bay of Ajaccio. It marks the Genoese history of the town and its future. It is now open to the public.

vue-baie-ajaccio-montagnes
vue-baie-ajaccio-montagnes

The Place Campinchi with its tree-lined esplanades, its Napoleonic quays, its water mirror, and its footbridge are the beginning of your adventure.

The palais Fesch -Musée des beaux-arts is located between the Borgu district of Ajaccio and the rue Fesch. It was created thanks to a gift to his city by Cardinal Fesch. It houses the most beautiful groups of French, Italian, Dutch and Corsican paintings, and the Napoleonic collection contains more than 700 works and objects.

The imperial Chapelis the crypt of the Bonaparte family, built at the request of Napoleon III and classified as a historical monument.

The Bonaparte house, Napoleon’s birthplace where his family lived at the end of the 17th century, offers an overview of all the memories of the emperor and his family.

The Miollis Citadel , founded in 1492 by the Genoese, is a real military fortification built to control the bay of Ajaccio. It marks the Genoese history of the town and its future. It is now open to the public.

The Genoese quarter is the oldest of Ajaccio as well as the fishermen’s quarter of yesteryear. They celebrate Saint Erasmus, the patron saint of fishermen, in a procession every year.

The typical old streets take you from Place Foch, in front of the town hall, to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to discover its monumental baroque style and all its chapels built to honour all its saints during the numerous religious festivals.

The foreigners’ quarter, just a few minutes’ walk away via the Cours Grandval, offers a unique architectural diversity, between the style of the Grand Hotel, now the seat of the Corsican Assembly, the baroque style of certain buildings and the small houses surrounded by greenery.

Place-foch-napoleon-ajaccio

A visit to the Place d’Austerlitz or Casone and the Napoleon grotto is not to be missed. This memorial site is dominated by the imposing statue of Napoleon I and its huge pyramid-shaped staircase.

The Genoese quarter is the oldest of Ajaccio as well as the fishermen’s quarter of yesteryear.  They celebrate Saint Erasmus, the patron saint of fishermen, in a procession every year.

The typical old streets take you from Place Foch, in front of the town hall, to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to discover its monumental baroque style and all its chapels built to honour all its saints during the numerous religious festivals.

The foreigners’ quarter, just a few minutes’ walk away via the Cours Grandval, offers a unique architectural diversity, between the style of the Grand Hotel, now the seat of the Corsican Assembly, the baroque style of certain buildings and the small houses surrounded by greenery.

A visit to the Place d’Austerlitz or Casone and the Napoleon grotto is not to be missed. This memorial site is dominated by the imposing statue of Napoleon I and its huge pyramid-shaped staircase.

plage-saint-françois-ajaccio

The Saint François beach, located at the foot of the citadel, offers a swim in a very protected cove in the heart of the city. Then, following the Henri Matisse promenade, the Trottel beach is a few minutes’ walk away.

Other coves or beaches (Barbicaja, La terre Sacrée, Morea…) invite you to dive into the turquoise waters, between the maquis and the Mediterranean perfumes, until you reach the Iles Sanguinaires.

The Sanguinaires Islands at the Pointe de la Parata and its Genoese tower where you can observe the sanctuary and walk along the discovery paths to the Capo di Feno beach for the most courageous on a hike along the customs path.

plage-saint-françois-ajaccio

The Saint François beach, located at the foot of the citadel, offers a swim in a very protected cove in the heart of the city. Then, following the Henri Matisse promenade the Trottel beach is a few minutes’ walk away.

Other coves or beaches(Barbicaja, La terre Sacrée, Morea…)invite you to dive into the turquoise waters, between the maquis and the Mediterranean perfumes, until you reach the Iles Sanguinaires.

The Sanguinaires Islands at the Pointe de la Parata and its Genoese tower where you can observe the sanctuary and walk along the discovery paths to the Capo di Feno beach for the most courageous on a hike along the customs path.