Corsica Tourist Attractions: 10 Top Places to Visit
Planning to visit Corsica? Check out our Corsica Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Corsica.
Top Places to visit in Corsica:
Les Calanche Cliffs, D81, Plateau de Coscione, Nature Reserve of Scandola, Grottes de Bonifacio, Aiguilles de Bavella, Village d'Occi, Bonifacio Citadel, Eglise Saint-Michel de Murato, Gorges de la Restonica
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AJACCIO - France Travel Guide | Around The World
Ajaccio is a French commune, prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud, and head office of the Collectivité territoriale de Corse (capital city of Corsica). It is also the largest settlement on the island. Ajaccio is located on the west coast of the island of Corsica, 210 nautical miles (390 km) southeast of Marseille.
The original city went into decline in the Middle Ages, but began to prosper again after the Genoese built a citadel in 1492 to the south of the earlier settlement. After the Corsican Republic was declared in 1755 the Genoese continued to hold several citadels, including Ajaccio, until the French took control of the island.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ajacciens or Ajacciennes. The most famous of these is Napoleon Bonaparte who was born in Ajaccio in 1769, and whose ancestral home, the Maison Bonaparte, is now a museum. Other dedications to him in the city include Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport.
Ajaccio is located on the west coast of the island of Corsica, 210 nautical miles (390 km) southeast of Marseille. The commune occupies a sheltered position at the foot of wooded hills on the northern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio between Gravona and the pointe de la Parata and includes the îles Sanguinaires (Bloody Islands). The harbour lies to the east of the original citadel below a hill overlooking a peninsula which protects the harbour in the south where the Quai de la Citadelle and the Jettée de la Citadelle are. The modern city not only encloses the entire harbour but takes up the better part of the Gulf of Ajaccio and in suburban form extends for some miles up the valley of the Gravona River. The flow from that river is nearly entirely consumed as the city's water supply. Many beaches and coves border its territory and the terrain is particularly rugged in the west where the highest point is 790 m (2,592 ft).
Napoleon Bonaparte (born as Nabulione Buonaparte) was born at Ajaccio in the same year as the Battle of Ponte Novu, 1769. The Bonapartes at the time had a modest four-story home in town (now a museum known as Maison Bonaparte) and a rarely used country home in the hills north of the city (now site of the Arboretum des Milelli). The father of the family, attorney Charles-Marie Buonaparte, was secretary to Pasquale Paoli during the Corsican Republic.
The city is, with Bastia, the economic, commercial and administrative centre of Corsica. Its urban area of nearly 90,000 inhabitants is spread over a large part of the Corse-du-Sud, on either side of the Gulf of Ajaccio and up the valley of the Gravona. Its business is primarily oriented towards the services sector.
The services sector is by far the main source of employment in the city. Ajaccio is an administrative centre comprising communal, intercommunal, departmental, regional, and prefectural services.
It is also a shopping centre with the commercial streets of the city centre and the areas of peripheral activities such as that of Mezzavia (hypermarket Géant Casino) and along the ring road (hypermarket Carrefour and E. Leclerc).
Tourism is one of the most vital aspects of the economy, split between the seaside tourism of summer, cultural tourism, and fishing. A number of hotels, varying from one star to five star, are present across the commune.
Ajaccio is the seat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ajaccio and Corsica South. It manages the ports of Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, Propriano and the Tino Rossi marina. It also manages Ajaccio airport[25] and Figari airport as well as the convention centre and the Centre of Ricanto.
By road, the city is accessible from National Route NR194 from Bastia and NR193 via NR196 from Bonifacio. These two main axes, as well as the roads leading to suburban villages, connect Ajaccio from the north - the site of Ajaccio forming a dead end blocked by the sea to the south. Only the Cours Napoleon and the Boulevard du Roi Jerome cross the city. Along with the high urban density, this explains the major traffic and parking problems especially during peak hours and during the summer tourist season.
The city is served by an Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport which is the headquarters of Air Corsica, a Corsican airline. It connects Ajaccio to a number of cities in mainland France (including Paris, Marseille, Nice, and Brive) and to places in Europe to serve the tourist industry. The airline CCM Airlines also has its head office on the grounds of the Airport.
The port of Ajaccio is connected to the French mainland on an almost daily basis (Marseille, Toulon, Nice). There are also occasional links to the Italian mainland (Livorno) and to Sardinia, as well as a seasonal service serving Calvi and Propriano. The two major shipping companies providing these links are CNCM and Corsica Ferries.
CORSICA - France Travel Guide | Around The World
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is located southeast of the French mainland and west of the Italian Peninsula, with the nearest land mass being the Italian island of Sardinia to the immediate south. A single chain of mountains makes up two-thirds of the island.
While being part of Metropolitan France, Corsica is also designated as a territorial collectivity (collectivité territoriale) by law. As a territorial collectivity, Corsica enjoys a greater degree of autonomy than other French regions; for example, the Corsican Assembly is able to exercise limited executive powers.
The island formed a single department until it was split in 1975 into two historical departments: Haute-Corse (Upper Corsica) and Corse-du-Sud (Southern Corsica), with its regional capital in Ajaccio, the prefecture city of Corse-du-Sud. Bastia, the prefecture city of Haute-Corse, is the second largest settlement in Corsica.
After being ruled by the Republic of Genoa since 1284, Corsica was briefly an independent Corsican Republic from 1755 until it was officially ceded by the Republic of Genoa to Louis XV as part of a pledge for debts in 1768. Due to Corsica's historical ties with the Italian peninsula, the island retains to this day many Italian cultural elements: the native tongue is recognised as a regional language by the French government. Corsica was ruled by various powers over the course of its history, but had several brief periods of self-government.
Napoleon was born in 1769 in the Corsican capital of Ajaccio. His ancestral home, Maison Bonaparte, is today used as a museum.
From the mountains to the plains and sea, many ingredients play a role. Game such as wild boar (Cingale, Singhjari) is popular. There also is seafood and river fish such as trout. Delicacies such as figatellu (also named as ficateddu), made with liver, coppa, ham (prizuttu), lonzu are made from Corsican pork (porcu nustrale). Characteristic among the cheeses is brocciu (similar to ricotta), which is used as a fresh ingredient in many dishes, from first courses (sturzapreti) to cakes (fiadone). Other cheeses, like casgiu merzu (rotten cheese, the Corsican counterpart of the Sardinian casu marzu), casgiu veghju are made from goat or sheep milk. Chestnuts are the main ingredient in the making of pulenta castagnina and cakes (falculelle). A variety of alcohol also exists ranging from aquavita (brandy), red and white Corsican wines (Vinu Corsu), muscat wine (plain or sparkling), and the famous Cap Corse apéritif produced by Mattei. The herbs which are part of Maquis (Corsican: machja) and the chestnuts and oak nuts of the Corsican forests are eaten by local animals, resulting in the noticeable taste in the food there.
Corsica has four international airports:
Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport
Bastia – Poretta Airport
Calvi – Sainte-Catherine Airport
Figari–Sud Corse Airport (near Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio in the south)
All airports are served by regional French airline Air Corsica, as well as Air France which mainly offers connections to Paris-Orly. Budget carriers such as EasyJet and Ryanair offer seasonal connections to different cities in Europe.
Corsica is well connected to the European mainland (Italy and France) by various car ferry lines. The island's busiest seaport is Bastia, which saw more than 2.5 million passengers in 2012. Second busiest seaport is Ajaccio, followed by L'Île-Rousse and Calvi. Propriano and Porto Vecchio in the south also have smaller ferry docks and are seasonally served from France (Marseille), while Bonifacio's harbour is only frequented by smaller car ferries from the neighbouring island of Sardinia.
The ferry companies serving Corsica are Corsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries (from Savona, Livorno and Piombino in Italy; Toulon and Nice in France), SNCM (from Marseille, Toulon and Nice in France), CMN - La Méridionale (from Marseille in France) and Moby Lines (from Livorno and Genoa in Italy).
Bonifacio old town, Corsica
Bonifacio old town, Corsica 2018
Bonifacio is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea, separated from Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio. It is a city placed on the best and only major harbour of the southern coast and also is a commune covering a somewhat larger region including the offshore Isles Lavezzi, giving it the distinction of being the southernmost commune in Metropolitan France. The commune is bordered on the northwest by the canton of Figari and has a short border on the northeast with the canton of Porto-Vecchio
Places to see in ( Corsica - France ) Porto Vecchio
Places to see in ( Corsica - France ) Porto Vecchio
Porto-Vecchio is a port town on the French island of Corsica. The walls of a 16th-century Genoese citadel are the backdrop to the old town and offer views over the yacht-filled marina. Shops, bars and restaurants line the town’s narrow streets and main square, Place de la République. Nearby, renowned beaches include Palombaggia, its stretch of sand lined with pine trees, and lagoon-like Santa Giulia.
On the south-eastern coast of Corsica, Porto-Vecchio is a very popular place with tourists. It is a town built on salt marshes and salt continues to play an important role in the town. In fact it was the marshes that prevented earlier development of the town, because they were infested with mosquitoes and malaria until well into the 20th century. If you visit in September you can still witness the annual salt harvest from the Porte Gènoise.
More recently the marshes have been drained and improved communication links have enabled the town to develop its role as seaside resort - a role to which it is admirably suited, given its location overlooking a lovely harbour. After a period of prosperity due to cork production, the town has in recent decades given way to tourism and now has something of a jet-set reputation with several media personalities having second homes here.
It is largely the renowned beaches and coastline to the south of the town that are the big attraction, but the town itself also merits investigation. It is a lively seaside town with a welcoming personality. Start your visit at the marina, an attractive area with the expected cafes and restaurants overlooking the harbour. This area is always good for a meal or a drink or simply a bit of people watching.
The old town of Porto Vecchio sits above the bay and the marina and often has views over the sea. The town is centered around the Place de la Republique and the narrow streets around the square. Place de la Republique is shaded by a huge tree which shades the outdoor tables of the cafes. Next to the square there are some lovely ancient buildings pressing in on narrow streets.
Notable historic monuments here include the imposing genoese entrance into the old town, the Church of Saint John the Baptist, and a fortress - the Bastion de France - and other parts of the historical defences. The granite church is quite distinctive as it is covered in short religious messages such as 'Pardon', 'Charity' and 'love others as I have loved you'. The fortress is now a gallery and hosts various exhibitions.
Porto-Vecchio makes a good base for exploring this part of Corsica - and beach lovers are spoiled for choice. There are several very attractive beaches around the town, in particular to the south of the town, including Palombaggia, Tamaricciu and Santa Giulia beaches, all internationally renowned for their beauty.
When it all gets too hot and crowded on the coast (as it tends to, in the height of summer) the mountainous landscape behind Porto-Vecchio also has a lot of rewarding and interesting scenery to explore, with craggy mountain tops looming from behind the parasol pines from across small mountainous lakes - in particular near the Col du Bavella.
( Corsica - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Corsica . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Corsica - France
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[Travel Montage] Corsica, What To Expect When Visiting The Island
Here are some shots taken all around the stunning island of Corsica, from Bastia to Bonifacio.
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Rebecca.
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Bastia - Le Port Génois - Corsica (4K)
Bastia est une commune française, préfecture du département de la Haute-Corse, située dans la région Corse. Avec 43 479 habitants, Bastia est la deuxième commune la plus peuplée de Corse après Ajaccio. Elle est la capitale de la Bagnaja, région du nord-est de l'île, s'étendant entre le cours du Golo et le Cap Corse.
Bastia (pronuncia italiana e corsa Bastia [basˈtiːa],[2] francese [basˈtja], in epoca romana Mantinum) è una città francese di 44.165 abitanti, prefettura del dipartimento dell'Alta Corsica nella regione della Corsica.
Seconda città della Corsica per numero di abitanti, ne rappresenta il principale porto e il principale centro commerciale e industriale. Da
Bastia est une commune française, préfecture du département de la Haute-Corse, située dans la région Corse. Avec 43 479 habitants, Bastia est la deuxième commune la plus peuplée de Corse après Ajaccio. Elle est la capitale de la Bagnaja, région du nord-est de l'île, s'étendant entre le cours du Golo et le Cap Corse.
Bastia sono normalmente visibili, da qualsiasi punto della città, le isole di Capraia, di Montecristo e dell'Elba. Inoltre, quando il tempo è chiaro, si possono scorgere Pianosa e il continente italiano (Promontorio di Piombino).
Bastìa hè una cumuna di u dipartimentu di a Corsica suprana.
A cità hè prefettura di u dipartimentu è capilocu di u circundariu è di 6 cantoni. Hè u portu principale di l'isula, a so principale cità cummerciale e a so più grande agglumerazione urbana. L'abitanti di Bastìa si chjamanu i Bastiacci.
Bastia (Corsican: Bastìa) (French pronunciation: [bas.tja], Corsican and Italian pronunciation: [basˈti.a]) is a French commune in the Haute-Corse department of France located in the north-east of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse.[1] It also has the second-highest population of any commune on the island after Ajaccio and is the capital of the Bagnaja region and of the department.
Aéroports de Paris - Nouveaux sièges d'Orly / New seats in Orly
Nouveaux sièges à Paris-Orly Ouest.
New seats at Paris-Orly West
Wild and beautiful Corsica
One week on the Mediterranean island Corsica in June 2018.
Music from epidemicsound.com
BONIFACIO - Corse du Sud | France (Bonifacio Corsica)
Bonifacio - Corse du Sud | France. Bonifacio est une ville située à la pointe sud de la Corse en France. Elle est connue pour son port de plaisance animé et sa citadelle médiévale perchée sur une falaise. Le bastion de l'Étendard datant du XIIIe siècle abrite un petit musée qui retrace l'histoire de la ville. L'escalier du roi d'Aragon, haut de 187 marches, a été taillé dans la falaise. Situées au sud-est de la Corse, les îles inhabitées de Lavezzi forment une réserve naturelle, avec leurs rochers en granite et leurs plages de sable. Elle constitue après Porto-Vecchio la deuxième agglomération du Freto, microrégion s'étendant depuis Bonifacio jusqu'à Conca au nord et Monacia-d'Aullène à l'ouest en passant par Figari et son aéroport.
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