Place Foch, Ajaccio's
Promenade in the Heart of the City
Overview:
Corsica
is a large and mountainous island located in the
Mediterranean south east of Nice, France. While Corsica
is French, Corsicans like to think of themselves as
separate from France. The main city in Corsica is
Ajaccio, which enjoys fabulous Mediterranean weather.
The local currency is the euro and there are ample ATMs
in Ajaccio.
Ajaccio's greatest claim to fame is that Napoleon
Bonaparte was born here in 1769 and spent his childhood
here.
Cruise
Port Location and Information:
Docked in Corsica
Ships
dock right in the heart of things and the main part of
Ajaccio is an easy 5 to 10 minute walk from the pier. In
fact, if you simply walk up one of the narrow side
streets in front of the pier a couple of blocks, you
will find yourself on the main shopping street in
Ajaccio.
Docked in Corsica at
the Cruise Ship Pier
All one
has to do is debark the ship and walk down the pier into
town. This is almost a "cruise in" port.
Exploring on Your Own:
The Ajaccio, Corsica
Sightseeing Train
Ajaccio is easily done on
your own and this is the preferred way to see it. One of
the first things that you will see is the local
sightseeing train. It is inexpensive and is a neat way
to acquaint yourself with the city itself and to mark
those areas that you would like to visit. Everything in
Ajaccio is within walking distance
Shopping Tips:
Corsica's Open Air
Market
Right
outside of the port in downtown Ajaccio there is an
excellent open air market.
French Wine and Cheese
The French
really have it right with open air markets.
Fresh Produce Right
From the Farm
Folks can come to the
market and purchase just about everything they need to
sustain themselves quite nicely.
Products Galore
The open
air market is certainly worth exploring, but Ajaccio
also has plenty more.
One of the Shopping
Streets in Ajaccio Old Section
On the
inland side of the main promenade in Ajaccio you will
find narrow streets that meander throughout the old
section. These are the main shopping streets in town and
are tons of fun to explore.
More Shopping Opportunities
A few
blocks into the shopping streets you will start seeing
the port and then your ship down the narrow streets that
lead downhill.
Shopping Galore
There
are a lot of things to purchase in Corsica, but look for
excellent French wines, pastries, cheeses, lace items,
art and other collectibles. There is an wonderful wine
shop right on the promenade that is to die for.
Port
Highlights:
Corsica's Fabulous
Beaches Off the
Beaten Path:
The
first and most obvious highlight for Ajaccio is its
fabulous beaches. A visit to Corsica without some beach
time set aside to enjoy the crystal clear waters, fine
sand and abundant sunshine.
Place d'Austerlitz
One of
Ajaccio's claims to fame is that Napoleon Boneparte was
born and raised here. Everywere that you look, you will
see signs of Ajaccio's pride as being the home for
Napoleon. The Place d'Austerlitz contains a monument to
Napoleon that is worth seeing. It resides in a park with
an excellent overview of downtown. Also.
Maison Bonaparte (on
place Letizia) is well worth a visit. This is where
Napoleon was born.
Statue of Napoleon
Given
Napoleon's history, there is no doubt what Cosicans have
such a fierce sense of independence.
Citadel
The Ciadel
remains a wonderful place to visit. Originally built in
the 1490s, it wasn't completed until a century later.
Today it stands guard over the start of Ajaccio's
beautiful beaches. Right across the street from the
Citadel you will find the entrance to Musée Capitellu.
A Statue on Place Foch
One of the
things that is unique about Ajaccio is the abundance of
art and statues that adorn the city.
It is very
impressive and a pleasant visual surprise.
Ajaccio's Casino
If your up
for some gambling, Ajaccio's casino will certainly
accommodate you.
Just One of Ajaccio's
Churches
Ajaccio
also has a good number of churches to explore. I found
this one especially interesting.
Beautiful
The
best way to spend the day i my opinion is to hit the
open air market in the morning. Purchase some bread or
pastries, cheese and a bottle of wine and head for the
beach after sightseeing for a while. Most of the stores
are open in the morning, but close between noon and 3pm,
which makes for a perfect time to sit on the beach and
enjoy a wonderful meal.
Dining
and Drinking Suggestions:
None that
stand out as exceptional. Let us know if you have one
you can suggest.
Must Do
List:
I would give a
visit to the open air market and the beach a "must
do" rating when visiting Ajaccio.
