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.
The annual Festival of Notre Dame de la Miséricorde is held in March in Ajaccio. The Festival of St Erasmus is held in June. Napoleon's Bithday is commemorated August 15.
In Ajaccio, in Rue General Levie lies the Musée A Bandera, a museum which illustrates the eventful and warlike history of Corsica and other Mediterranean islands.
Address: Musée A Bandera, 1 rue du général Levie, F-20000 Ajaccio, France
In Ajaccio, not far to the south of the Town Hall, in Rue St-Charles, is the Maison Bonaparte, in which Napoleon was born on August 15, 1769, the son of a family which originally came from Lombardy and Tuscany. The house contains furniture of the period, weapons, portraits and family documents.
Address: Bonaparte House, Rue St Charles, F-20000 Ajaccio, France
Hours:
April 1 to September 30: 9am-12pm, 2pm-6pm; Closed: Mon
October 1 to March 31: 10am-12pm, 2pm-4:45pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
In Ajaccio, opening out from the harbor is the Place du Maréchal-Foch, studded with palms and plane-trees. On the north side of the square is the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall, 1826), which houses the Musée Napoléonien, containing mementos of the Bonaparte family, mainly pictures and a collection of orders and medals.
Address: Musée Fesch, 50 rue Fesch, F-20000 Ajaccio, France
Hours:
March 15 to October 31: 2pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Miséricorde, dedicated to the town of Ajaccio's patroness, known as La Madunuccia, was consecrated in 1593. In the first chapel on the left is a painting by Eugène Delacroix (1796-1863), "Du Sacré Côur".
The center of Ajaccio is the spacious Place de Gaulle, with an equestrian statue of Napoleon and his four brothers (1865 by Viollet le-Duc); there are fine views from the terrace.
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Ajaccio
