Sightseeing in Ajaccio - what to see. Complete travel guide

Ajaccio is a cozy and picturesque French town that is also known as the capital of Corsica. It is located in a small bay on the Mediterranean coast. This is not only a wonderful resort, but also a famous historical place as Ajaccio is a hometown of Napoleon.

The central street of the city is created just along the coastal line. When you walk on it, you can enjoy not only wonderful views, but also numerous shops, outlets, cafes and restaurants. The central street ends on the square of Leticia that is named after the mother of the great emperor. The house, where Napoleon was born and spent first 9 years of his life, is also located on this square. Today the 4-story building is turned into a museum; however, there are not many artifacts and valuable exhibits here. The house suffered a lot from fire in 1793. With the help of Leticia it was fully recovered, but the biggest part of historical rarities was destroyed.

Almost any street and park in Ajaccio remind of Napoleon. Don’t forget to visit the Museum of Cardinal Fesch – the uncle of the emperor. The museum exhibits a large collection of the Italian masters of 15-16 centuries. Here you can find the works of Botticelli, Lorenzo di Credi, Veronese, and Tiziano. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Once you’re done with historical sights, you can take a ride on catamaran and enjoy Corsica views. Travelers, who enjoy active rest, may like visiting scuba diving schools that organize night dives and rides to national reserve zones of the coastline. Ajaccio will definitely charm you with its warm home atmosphere. You can visit the city just once and you will definitely want to return there again and again.

A search for Napoleon's sculptures may become an engaging activity; they can be found literally everywhere in the city. One of the most beautiful and interesting sculptures is located on Palm Square, it is part of a fountain and is surrounded by an abundance of decorative plants. On the Place du Diamant is very beautiful equestrian statue of the commander, no less spectacular statue is at Austerlitz Square. This sculpture is considered as one of the most unusual, with the Napoleon figure hoisted on a high pedestal, built in the style of the Egyptian pyramids. 

Among the interesting religious sites worth noting is the Sainte-Marie Cathedral. The Cathedral is quite small and does not offer any special luxurious decorations, but it is interesting for its religious artefacts. In this cathedral is a preserved baptistery, where Napoleon Bonaparte himself was baptized in 1771. After more than two hundred years, the cathedral managed to retain a number of pristine interior, it is decorated with exquisite sculptures and bas-reliefs. 

An interesting historical object is the Imperial Chapel - an ancient crypt, which was built in 1857. In this crypt all members of the Bonaparte family are buried, and it is of great value from an architectural point of view too. 

Not many tourists know that the only working casino on the island is in Ajaccio. This will be an interesting place to visit to both experienced players and those who have never been fond of gambling. Casino occupies a spectacular historic building that has been operating for more than a decade. It attracts with its exquisite historic ambience, and many people come here only to drink a glass of premium alcohol at the bar. 

Favourite place for recreation in a gourmet circle is the Le Grand Napoleon café; it has been continuously working in since the days of World War II. A lot of interesting stories are connected with this cafe, there have been a number of gun fights during the time of war. Today, this cafe reigns unique historical situation, it is possible to taste the most popular national dishes and desserts that are prepared according to old recipes. This café will also satisfy fans of delicious drinks; it is possible to taste the best varieties of local wines. As the evening begins, those looking for entertainment move to the most popular bar of Ajaccio - 1er Consul.