Ajaccio is a small capital, monastic, sometimes chaotic but always with a friendly atmosphere, the ocher facades of their buildings, small streets, the terraces of the cafes … Ajaccio is above all a humane city.
Napoleon, his prodigal son, is everywhere: Museum Napoleon, in his old home, monument to Napoleon, Napoleon Room at City Hall and Napoleon even in politics, even the rest of the Bonapartes left beautiful villas built in the city.
But Ajaccio was not born with Bonaparte, used to be a Roman settlement and a major port from antiquity to the Middle Ages.
The modern city we know today was founded by the Genoese in 1492, a little south of the old Roman fort and was eventually acquired by France to the Republic of Genoa in 1768.

However the time, people are defined as “Corsican” not French, even independence movements there.
Ajaccio, with less tourism to other destinations on the island of Corsica, deserves to be discovered. Deep Mediterranean, this city offers all the amenities for a pleasant holiday, is an ancient city with its houses tinged with bright colors, colorful markets, a magnificent natural frame that allows beach days, hiking and mountain excursions to small surrounding islands.

We can travel by plane or boat. Ajaccio International Airport is located 5 km from the center of the city and receives flights, mainly from France and a few European capitals, airlines also operate low-cost and charter. To reach the city center airport buses and taxis available and the trip takes less than 10 minutes. We can also rent a car at the airport.
If you wish to travel to Ajaccio we can embark by sea from Marseilles, Tulon or Nice, in France or from Porto Torres, Sardinia, or Livorno, Genoa or Civitavecchia on the peninsula, there are even travel by ferry to allow the transport of our car.

Sleeping in Ajaccio is not a problem, there are hotels of all categories, residential accommodation, Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and for those who prefer camping, the city has numerous campsites around. Ajaccio is ideal for a romantic getaway for ecotourism, Holiday cottages with children, rest on the beach all holiday options to suit our needs rest or our budget are covered in Ajaccio and its surroundings.

Ajaccio, a city that invites you to wander

To walk through the historic old city and enjoy the charm of its narrow streets, colorful houses with their shutters half open, the always lively fishing port, the terraces of the cafes … everything comes together to give the city an aura of “dolce vita” in Italy and feel that their inhabitants know Ajaccio live.
A walk in the Cesar-Campinchi market and take the pulse of the city, not just the animation is the order of the day, we will find the culinary wonders of Ajaccio, all the flavors of the island which in some respects was blessed by the gods.

Strolling through the streets we can not ignore the relevance to the citizens of Ajaccio Napoleon has been and there is no way to escape the traces of its past. At Place d’Austerlitz, west of downtown, stands an imposing monument to the eternal glory of his prodigal son. Climbing to the top of that you have a magnificent view of the city. The Bonaparte family house occupied in the late seventeenth century, now a museum and not far away is the Museum of Corsica.




The esplanade of Place du Général de Gaulle offers another good entry point to the city, the sidewalk cafes and restaurants invite us to reposarnos with a magnificent view of the gulf. The beach of Saint Francois, down the Casino, leaves us with the ocean, while the other sector we have the historic harbor with its docks.
Unfortunately the “Citadelle” (Citadel) is closed to the public, is a military inaccessible.

In its vicinity is the church of the marine or church of Saint Erasme, dating from 1617. Continuing our way we reached the Cathedral built in the sixteenth century, Renaissance style, its interior is the work of Delacroix depicting Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
Getting lost in the alleys of Old Town can not overlook the Hotel d’Ornano Cunéo, which is easily recognized by the coat of arms of the family in its facade, noble family that held political and economic power on the island.

Ajaccio, a seaside resort between sky and mountain

More than twenty beaches are bathers along the Gulf of Ajaccio, there is even one in the center of town, near the old town. The finest are on the way to the Sanguinaires but during the high season (July-August) are usually filled. These beaches are just 12 kilometers west of Ajaccio are wild and magical sunsets are unforgettable and the more adventurous can follow the trails of the Cretes emerging from the woods of the English (Bois des Anglais) and enjoy a special landscape.
Across the bay, Ajaccio also boasts of its beautiful beaches. The beaches of Live and Agosta, larger than those of the Sanguine, offer a more “urban beach”.
During the summer many sea voyages are offered from the harbor of the capital to Ajaccio, thus avoiding the embotellameintos of the road and enjoy the magnificent view of Mediterranean coast. On many beaches you can dive.

Ajaccio, adventure, ecotourism, nature

To discover the wonderful surroundings of the town, which saves natural wonders to delight and move away from the stress, it is best to use our own car.
No one has ceased to fall in love “or Calanques Calanches Piana,” which are just a little over an hour’s drive from the capital, have a strange and chaotic landscape that moves big rocks with strange shapes, caves and confused between the blue sea and blue sky. Path to this strange and striking region is the village of Cargese, founded by the Greeks in the seventeenth century with a beautiful Orthodox church and just before reaching Piana is the “Marine Ficajola” which has a very small beach of clear waters and claims of little paradise on earth, I can assure you that it is worth the visit.

For committed hiking nothing like the small town of Coti-Chiavari, just 40 km south of Ajaccio. Located on the heights and 3 km from the sea have a privileged balcony on the Gulf, the route of the mountains, about 4 hours until Pietrosella Coti-Chiavari-offers wonderful panoramic views. Ajaccio offers countless hiking offers or cycling through the forests of oaks around this village.

The meat is usually eaten grilled, especially in Bistecca alla fiorentina way. In any of the great restaurants of Siena can taste the meat, and many other dishes of the region: crostini neri faglioli all’uccelleto, pecorino cheese, salami Tuscan … The picci are also characteristic: it is a special pasta, like spaghetti and handmade. Moreover, in the realm of pasta can not miss the delicious ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese. Game meat is also highly regarded in the region and the chicken, in its various preparations: diavola alla, alla cacciatora, fritto alla toscana or spiedo. The fish are not as common in the interior regions, but the fish soup of the coast, the cacciuco (typical of Livorno), is delicious and can be found in some restaurants in Siena.


Siena is a city that loves the sweet, especially the medieval pastry specialty: the panforte, a kind of cake made with nuts. We may also try the biscotti in maniera artigianale fatti (cake making), the ricciarelli, the cantucci … And of course we can not end this review without talking about Tuscan wine, especially of chianti. Americans were probably the first to appreciate this delicious soup, perfect to accompany meats and is universally known for its bottles with the base lined wicker braiding. Also, the desserts are usually accompanied by a popular variety of sweet wine called Vin Santo.

After enjoying the beauty of the square and walk around the museum, visiting the Sala della Pace particular and beautiful paintings by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (and also throwing out the reliefs by Jacopo della Quercia in the Fountain Gaia ), in just a few steps and we Terzo di Citta in the closest of the Sienese terzi. It is also the oldest in the city and come at it from the square through the Via di Appointment. No doubt the landmark building of this place is the Duomo or Cathedral, built between the XII-XIV and responds to the Italian Gothic style. Its main facade and spectacular floor mosaics are a sight to behold, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, with its fifteenth century font, adorned with sculptures and reliefs by artists such as Donatello and Ghiberti. In the same terzo also enjoy the Spedale di Santa Maria della Scala (Hospital de Santa Maria della Scala), the eleventh century and now houses various collections of art and archaeological samples. Not forgetting, of course, the Pinacoteca Nazionale and its magnificent collection of the Sienese School call (XIII century).


And spent the next terzo or third, the Terzo di Camolia. Fans of shopping and glamor will enjoy touring the Via Banchi di Sopra, artery marketplace in Siena. The beautiful basilica of Santa Maria in Provenzano is also in this neighborhood. The most Renaissance city is in the last Terzo: San Martino, southeast of the Piazza del Campo. In this neighborhood you can visit an interesting museum: the Museo delle Tavolette di Biccherna, located in an elegant building of the fifteenth century and has a great collection of books with wonderful medieval scenes. In addition to this exciting tour of Siena, along our journey we will find other beautiful enclaves: the Palazzo Salimbeni in the Piazza of the same name, Palazzo Chigi (Gothic, now home of conservatory Sienese), Palazzo Piccolomini (period Renaissance), the Fortezza Medicea, erected in the sixteenth century to the famous Medici family, and Cateriniana Basilica, also known as San Domenico and built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Although the city of Siena is full of beautiful and interesting places, surely many travelers use it as a “headquarters” to learn more about the rich and beautiful region of Tuscany. The excursions and routes that can be done from Siena are many and varied: from visiting the medieval village of San Gimignano, to take a tour of the curious rocky landscape of the Crete, the possibilities are legion. It requires of course a visit to the Chianti region to visit vineyards and wineries, and also close to the coast to towns like Castiglione know the Pescaia, located in the heart of the Maremma region, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea.

If the city of Siena is full of historical and cultural attractions, its environment is not far short. Tuscany is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, to which is joined by the fine tradition of food and wine you enjoy. Routes near Siena lead to restless traveler to marvelous medieval towns like San Gimignano, lost in the mountain towns such as Montepulciano, or simply to enjoy the flavors, colors and aromas of the wine region of Chianti, whose name has reached the corners farthest reaches of the planet thanks to the fair fame of its wines.

The great civil and religious buildings in the city of Siena are complemented to perfection with great cultural city. In addition to excellent historical museums and art, the art comes in Siena every corner. As in Florence, the art of the Italian Renaissance masters adorns many places: Pinturicchio, Andrea Lorenzano, Donatello, Ghiberti and many other great artists left their mark on the city of Siena. The city is also home to one of the oldest universities with tradition in Europe, and of course, is the place where we celebrate the most special horse race in the world: the famous Palio, which can be seen on two occasions ( on 2 July and 16 August). The competition inflames the minds of the inhabitants of the city, which completely changes during these days, having been decorated for the occasion.