Ajaccio Attractions
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.
Ajaccio Festivals
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.
Bandera Museum
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.
Musée A Bandera
1 rue du général Levie
F-20000 Ajaccio
France
1 rue du général Levie
F-20000 Ajaccio
France
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Bonaparte House
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.
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 16:45 | 16:45 | 16:45 | 16:45 | 16:45 | 16:45 |
Cours Napoléon
Running north from the Place de Gaulle square is Ajaccio's main shopping street, the Cours Napoléon.
Napoleonic Museum
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.
Hours
March 15 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Notre-Dame de la Miséricorde
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".
Place de Gaulle
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.
Ajaccio Surroundings
Ajaccio Gulf
It is worth taking a trip down the coast road to the south of the town to view the beautiful Gulf of Ajaccio.
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Punta de la Parata
The Punta de la Parata is an ancient Genoese watchtower providing stunning views out to the Iles Sanguinaires.
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