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Ajaccio, Corsica, France Guide | |
| Major port, largest city, and administrative capital of Corsica, Ajaccio is a fine place to begin your explorations of the island. | ||
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Ajaccio (population 66,000) is the capital city of Corsica, a port for ferries from the mainland, and, unforgettably, the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte. Built around a broad bay on the west coast of the island, 210 nautical miles (390 km) southeast of Marseille (map), Ajaccio is a pleasant small city and a good place to begin your explorations of this French island département. Tourism, shipping and commerce, and government services support the local economy. The number of tourists is tolerable because most don't stay in the city long. Rather, they arrive by flight or ferry then make their way to the smaller seaside resorts to the south and on the east coast of the island. What to See & DoYou don't have to leave Ajaccio to enjoy the beach, though. The city has its own long beach starting at the foot of the Citadelle and extending all the way to the airport on the other side of the bay. The medieval Citadelle is still used by the French armed forces and thus is not open to visits, but the narrow streets of the historic Vieux Ville (Old City) around the Place Foch are delightful to explore. Napoleon's birthplace is now a museum, and Napoleon lore fills the town. Rue Cardinal Fesch is the street for souvenir shopping. A fine big market fills the Place Foch every day in summer, and some of the produce makes its way to the good small restaurants and bars on the Rue Roi de Rome and other Vieux Ville streets. For sea air and sunshine, take a boat excursion from the Port Tino Rossi out into the Gulf of Ajaccio, with a stop at the Îles Sanguinaires (Bloody Isles). TransportAjaccio is served by frequent car-and-passenger ferryboat sailings from Marseille, Toulon and Nice, as well as less frequent voyages to the neighboring Italian island of Sardinia, and to Livorno on the Italian mainland. Air Corsica, Air France, and numerous tourist airlines operate flights to Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte Airport from Brive, Marseille, Nice, Paris and various European and UK cities. The airport is 6 km (3.7 miles) east of the Gare d'Ajaccio (train station) in the city center, Muvistrada bus No. 8 connects the airport with the train station (map). The Chemins de fer de la Corse connects the major towns of Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, Corte, Île-Rousse and smaller towns by train. Where to StayBeing an important commercial, governmental and tourist destination, Ajaccio is well supplied with hotels in all price ranges.
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A street in Vieux Ville, Ajaccio, Corsica.
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