Ajaccio Things to Do

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Arriving early in the morning, the first real glimpse of Ajaccio and Corsica is the lovely light that plays along the harbour and citadel walls. Of course best known as being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ajaccio does have other things to merit a visit. The main shopping thoroughfare is the rue du Cardinal Fesch and also has the museum named after him. Next to the museum is the Imperial Chapel, built around 1860 that holds the tombs not only of Fesch but also Napoleons parents. Unfortunately the chapel is closed for renovation work at the moment. Just opposite is the Ruccellu church, tiny but nice decoration. At the end of the street you come into the place Foch, home to the town hall and a "salon Napoleon". Visitable morning and afternoon Monday/Friday but closed Sat/Sun. On the place Foch is the statue of Napoleon as first consul standing over the 4-Lion fountain. After crossing place Foch you're in old Ajaccio with its tiny streets, the cathedral and Napoleons birthplace, now a museum. Please note that the citadel here is still occupied by the army and is impossible to visit.

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This house is in the narrow street of Rue St. Charles Ajaccio. Napoleon was born in 1769. He lived in Ajaccio till the age of 7.Corsica is proud of him, his name is everywhere, streets , bars, hotels all carry the name Napoleon or Bonaparte. The house is a museum and open to the public

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Ajaccio's name comes from the roman Adjacium ( place of rest) and was known as a winter resting place for the shepards who came down from the mountains during the winter to stock up on supplies and also sell their wares

Place Foch is in the centre of the old town and was once the site of the towns medieval gate, this lovely square is lined with cafes and resturants and the main Statue is of course Napoleon and is by the local sculpter Maglioli

The building was constructed upon demand of Cardinal FESCH, a maternal uncle of Napoleon Bonaparte, with the intention of accomodating an Arts and Sciences Instirute.
Born in Ajaccio in 1763 the Cardinal left at his death in Rome, a legacy of more than a thousand paintings to his native town.

With regard to Italian painting, the Musée Fesch is the most important French Museum after The famous LOUVRE in Paris.

The Museum's most prestigious collections are: Italian Primitives, Roman Baroque Painting and Napolitan Baroque Painting: very worthy of a visit.

The Musée is situated in the very centre of Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

these goats were let alone by the last farmers who lived there ( scandola) cause conditions of living were too hard...
it's funny to look these goats moving in these dangerous cliffs! :)) ( click to enlarge)

you MUST do that trip if you have one free day at ajaccio. indispensable!!!
you have boat each day who goes there during summer if the weather is ok. The embarcation is at the ajaccio port.
UNESCO recognise it in his "patrimoine mondial".
i just can show you some photos, describe with words is unuseful..
here is a photo of a small cliff 20 minutes after the departure of ajaccio.
you can see a man profile in the stone!!

here is the beach of Capo di feno at 15 km east of ajaccio.
The road you take to go there is interesting, nice landscapes around..
You have the choice of the coast road ( D111) or the road in the middle of little mountains ( D11 and D116)