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Ajaccio

Overview: The capital of Corsica, the holiday destination of Ajaccio lies in a calm bay on the west coast of Corsica, set against a backdrop of wooded hills. It is a relaxed rather than lively town and visitors come here on holiday to enjoy its wealth of cafés, restaurants and shops.

The sights in Ajaccio mainly revolve around Napoleon, who was born here. The town's main sights are the magnificent cathedral where Napoleon was christened, the Bonaparte residence and numerous statues and street names related to his family. Corsicans themselves are not particularly proud of the island having spawned Napoleon, and many consider him deridingly as a jumped-up Frenchman.

Locals in Ajaccio are, however, willing to boast about the Musée Fesch, which contains the art collection of Napoleon's maternal uncle, Cardinal Fesch. The collection of Italian paintings is considered to rate second only to that of the Louvre and are well worth seeing while in on holiday in Ajaccio.

Nearby Attractions

Filitosa The most celebrated prehistoric site in Corsica, Filitosa is worth a visit for its megalithic menhir statues, which have been carved to represent human faces or armed figures. The purpose of these granite structures is still unclear, and many mysteries surround the many ancient...  see full details
Iles Sanguinaires The four small islands in the Gulf of Ajaccio, with their red rocks and jagged outline are a popular destination for boat trips from Ajaccio. They are a sanctuary for birds, rare fauna and flora, and offer secluded swimming spots and good walking....  see full details

Activities

Hiking: The mountainous island is extremely well suited to walking, and options range from difficult multi-day hikes to strolls along clifftops, and day hikes up into the mountains. The GR20 is reputed to be the best and most challenging long-distance walk in Europe, and is the most famous hike in Corsica. Fifteen days of demanding walking takes hikers along the inland granite spine of mountains dividing the island from Calenzana to Conca. Other well known, but less taxing walks include the Mare e Monti (sea to mountains) and Mare a Mare (sea to sea) trails that last from five, seven and 10 days. The area around Corte and Vizzavona has numerous day walks in the mountains; there are also a number of coastal walks such as the walk to Girolata on the west coast or Le Sentier des Douaniers on Cap Corse, and forests and ravines invite walkers to discover beautiful waterfalls, swimming holes and wonderful views. The GR20 should be walked in summer between May and October, although late snows can prevail until June, which requires a more technical approach.

Diving: Corsica's Mediterranean coastline offers superb diving opportunities. The sea temperature is warmest in August, and calm, clear waters make for excellent visibility. The Reserve Naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio is the most visited area with outstanding dive conditions. Almost all the gulfs have dive centres and there are sites in and around Ajaccio, Porto Vecchio, Propriano, Cargese, Porto, Calvi and St-Florent. For expert divers, one of the top dive sites is the wreck of a B-17 bomber near Calvi. The peak dive season is between June and August.