Ajaccio, Corsica, France

 

My excursion for the day was the Panoramic Ajaccio - Take a panoramic tour for an ideal overview of historic Ajaccio and its beautiful surroundings. Drive with your guide to the Place de Gaulle, where you can admire the statue of the emperor Napoleon and his four brothers. Pass the Assemblée Régionale, elegant Belle Époque houses and another statue of Napoleon—a replica of the imposing original that watches over his tomb at Les Invalides in Paris—in the Place d’Austerlitz–Casone. Follow the magnificent villa-dotted coast to the Sanguinaires Islands, or Blood Islands, and view the remarkably preserved 16th-century Genoese Towers. Back in Ajaccio, visit the baroque cathedral where Napoleon was christened in 1771. A walking tour through Old Town passes Casa Bonaparte, the ancestral home of the Bonaparte family and a national museum, and the Place Foch, home to an impressive fountain and market. Explore at your leisure or follow your guide back to your ship.

Ajaccio is the capital and largest city of Corsica, France. It is located on the west coast of the island, 210 nautical miles southeast of Marseille.  

Since it is an island, there are multiple ferry services. 

The church of Saint-Roch in Ajaccio is a neoclassical church built to a design in 1885 by the Ajaccio architect Barthélémy Maglioli.

We drove past Place de Gaulle to see the statue of the emperor Napoleon and his four brothers. We really couldn't see the statue from the road because of trees. 

I thought maybe the Ferris wheel was up for the upcoming Christmas holiday, but it is a permanent structure. 

 The Place d'Austerlitz, known as the Casone in memory of an ancient building, is where legend has it that Napoleon visited as a child. The statue of Napoleon dressed as a colonel of the guard is the work of sculptor Seurre. It is a replica of the statue at the Invalides in Paris. Inaugurated in 1938, the monument's sloping surface is a reminder of the emperor's victories and achievements. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio in 1769.  

Monument on left of incline with date of Napoleon's birth.

Monument on right of incline with date of Napoleon's death. 

Interesting architecture. Ajaccio experienced a demographic boom in the 1960s, which explains why 85% of dwellings are post-1949. 

Sanguinaires Cemetery, was created in 1834 and enlarged twice in 1874 and 1936. The cemetery is remarkable for its very urban appearance with streets, large and small and even squares. The superb family chapels, sometimes real mausoleums, are the witnesses of a cultural heritage and identity. The tradition of entombing the dead above ground rather than below has its roots in the Genovese origins of Corsica. 

During our ride along the Gulf of Ajaccio, I saw these interesting structures in the water. 

They are part of an aquaculture company that grows sea bass. 

One of the rings was on shore so you can see how large it is. 

Sanguinaires Islands, or Blood Islands

Information panels inside the visitor center.  You might have to double-click on them, so they enlarge enough to read. 

Heading back towards town.

As we rode, our guide told us several interesting things.  One is that Corsica is known for its wild white boar hunting.  

This 16th century baroque cathedral was where Napoleon was christened in 1771. 

It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is a national heritage site of France.  

Organ from 1849 is over the door at the back of the nave. 

 The high altar was donated by Princess Elisa, Napoleon's sister.

The present cathedral was built between 1577 and 1593 and replaced the former Cathedral of Saint-Croix, which was destroyed in 1553 in order to make room for developments in the city's defenses. 

One of the side chapels is The Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, a 1752 chapel dedicated to the patron saint of Ajaccio, the Virgin Mary. It has a marble altar designed by Geonese sculptors decorated with spiral Brocatello marble from Spain.

Beautiful side aisle ceiling. 

We saw lots of bougainvillea, prickly pear cactus and oleander.  All things I was used to seeing in Arizona.  Our guide mentioned that weevils were killing trees. 

Pasquale Paoli, Corsican statesman and patriot, was responsible for ending Genoese rule of Corsica and for establishing enlightened rule and reforms.

Citadel of Ajaccio built by the Genoese in 1492

 It originally consisted of a keep or citadel (castello) and a lower wall.

Occupied by the military until 2020, it is now the property of the Town of Ajaccio.

Saw many of these old, pruned olive trees around town. 

Next, we walked to the home of the Bonapartes where Napoleon was born.  

Casa Bonaparte, the ancestral home of the Bonaparte family

The Bonaparte's Garden is a small green space located opposite the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. It features lush plants and a bust depicting Napoleon as a child.

The house was almost continuously owned by members of the family from 1682 to 1923.

Next up is Place Foch or Piazza Foch.  It features a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte as a roman consul.  The sculpture and the fountain featuring four lions were made by different artists. 

The majority of the Place Foch was being set up for the Christmas market season. 

The Palais Fesch, built at the bequest of Cardinal Fesch (uncle of Napoleon Bonaparte) includes a Napoleonic collection.  In the courtyard stands a statue of the Cardinal. The Palais Fesch structure has served in the past as a military barracks, an institute of study for boys, a soup kitchen (during World War II), and a museum. The present use of the building as a museum specializing in Italian painting dates from the late 1980s.

The Viking Saturn at port.