Département: Corse-du-Sud
Ajaccio (pronounced Azhaksiä in French, Ayácho in Italian), the largest town in Corsica, lies half-way down the west coast of the island in the Gulf of Ajaccio, surrounded by mountains which have a covering of snow right into summer. The town was founded by the Genoese in
1492, and is the capital of Corsica. Its harbor is second in size only to that of Bastia and it also has an airport. Its situation, beautiful beaches and mild climate (average winter temperature 13.3 C/56 F) attract large numbers of visitors.