Ajaccio, Corsica

Geography: Ajaccio is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica.

Currency:  Euro

National Symbols: Gallic rooster

National Anthem: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)

Language: French

Distance from Pittsburgh: 7071 km or 4394 miles


Climate: Corsica has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and moderate, dry, clear winters but the climate varies with altitude and it is more alpine than Mediterranean in the mountains. The main mountain range divides the island roughly in half, the North is hotter than the South, while the East is wetter than the West.

Terrain: Ajaccio occupies a sheltered position at the foot of wooded hills on the northern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio. The present town of Ajaccio lies about two miles to the south of its original site, from which it was transferred by the Genoese in 1492.

What You Must See: The Fesch Museum was constructed at the request of Cardinal Fesch, Napoleon 1st’s uncle (on his mother’s side), to house an institute of arts and sciences. It houses many exhibts including: The primitives, Roman baroque paintings, Neapolitan baroque paintings as well as The Napolitan section. The Bonaparte House is the second Ajaccian residence of the Bonaparte family, which had arrived from Italy at the end of the 15th century. Napoleon himself was born in this house. The Lantivy Palace was built in 1826 according to plans drawn up by the architect Alfonse-Henri de Gisors (1796-1866). It was built as part of Napoleon Bonaparte, 1st Consul’s ’Extension and improvement plan’ that was the beginning of Ajaccio’s development. The Municipal Library was created in 1801 by Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother, who donated a stock of 12,300 works, which revolutionaries had confiscated from the Crown, the nobility and religious communities. The Citadel was built on a strategic site in order to effectively protect the town from sea attack. There were four main phases of building. The fortified castle was built in 1492, under the authority of the Genoan Office of St George.

Historical Fact: France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999.


Fun Fact: The house in which Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 is preserved and his associations with the town are everywhere, emphasized by street names and statues. 


Interesting Fact: The food of Corsica is based on fresh products and many charcuterie (pork meats), chestnut, pork and wild boar products, local seafood and broccio. Corsican charcuterie gets its distinctive flavor from the acorn and chestnut diet of the island's 60,000 free ranging pigs. 

Everything You Need to Know About the Flag:

Three equal vertical bands of blue, white and red make up the flag, which is known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French tricolor). The origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the "ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia.