Photo : dronepicr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Bastia
The main town and economic hub of northern Corsica, Bastia takes its name from the 'bastiglia', the Genoese fortress built in the 15th century to watch over this strategic port facing nearby Italy. The Old Port, a circular basin surrounded by tall houses with colourful façades and restaurant terraces, is the beating heart of the town, overlooked by the Baroque bell tower of the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The citadel, perched on its rocky spur south of the harbour, houses the Genoese Governors' Palace and offers a panoramic view over the Tyrrhenian Sea and, on clear days, the Italian coast. Departure point for ferries to mainland France and Italy, Bastia combines intense port activity with a Mediterranean way of life in a well-preserved historic setting.
