Guide of Bastia

Bastia is a city in Corsica, it is the second largest but most important port on the island and is located in the north-east of Corsica. From Bastia, you can see several Italian islands, Elba, Capraia, Montecristo and when the sky is clear you can even see Piombino.

History

The city of Bastia was a small fishing port until 1378 when the Genoese governor Leonello Lomellini built a fortress there to defend against attacks, from which the city takes its name. Towards the end of the 1400s the city became a citadel and during the eighteenth century, it was one of the cities of the independence movement. At the end of the 1700s it was occupied by the French and with the Treaty of Versailles, the whole island was passed to France. Until 1793 Bastia was the capital of Corsica, which later moved to Ajaccio. During the nineteenth century in the city was involved in a series of struggles that saw it move from independence to annexed with France several times. During the Second World War Bastia was occupied by the Italians for two years and then passed into the hands of the Nazis and finally returned to France.

What to see 

The city boasts several monuments and religious buildings including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Statue of Napoleon, the Governors Palace, the Market Square, a small square with trees, where every weekend there is a charming market selling local products. The Palazzo dei Nobili Dodici and the Procathedral of Santa Maria Assunta; the Boulevard Paoli is an evocative avenue with very elegant old buildings.

Nearby beaches 

The Arinella is one of the most beautiful and well-known beaches six kilometres from Bastia with a jagged coastline that creates small ponds that are ideal for entertaining the little ones.  Marana beach is easily reachable on public transport.  The beach of Pino, as the name implies, is a beach that in the centre has pine trees.