Citadelle Napoléon

The citadel of Bastia stands on the rocky promontory above the Old Port in the north of Corsica. It is the oldest part of the city, known as Terra Nova, or the new land, a name given by the Genoese who founded it in the late fourteenth century as their administrative and military centre on the island. The name Bastia itself comes from the bastiglia, a small fortress, which gave its name to the town that grew below. The walls and bastions that can be seen today were built and extended in the following centuries, and the fortress remained the seat of Genoese power until the eighteenth century.

The most important building inside the walls is the Palais des Gouverneurs, the Governors' Palace, which was the residence of the Genoese governors of Corsica. It now houses the Musée de Bastia, a museum of the history and ethnography of the island, and it is the reason many visitors come. The narrow streets of the citadel, with their high stone houses, are a quiet contrast to the lively port and the modern city below, and the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie, a Baroque church, stands in the middle of the old quarter. The Chapelle Sainte-Croix houses the Christ des Miracles, a black crucifix venerated in Bastia.

The way up from the Old Port is steep. From the lower town you climb steps and ramps through the streets, and the effort is rewarded by views over the harbour with its fishing boats and pleasure craft, the roofs of the old town and the sea. On clear days the island of Elba can be seen on the horizon. The terraces and bastions give good photography points, especially in the early evening. Wear comfortable shoes, since the stone surfaces are uneven.

The citadel is largely an open-air landmark, and there are no big indoor exhibitions beyond the museum. Arrangements for entry to the walls and the museum can change, so check opening hours before you plan the visit. Allow one to two hours for the climb, the streets and the viewpoints, longer if you visit the museum.

Bastia is a working port city and the commercial centre of the north of Corsica, so its citadel suits visitors who want to see the Genoese heritage of the island and enjoy a view without a long trip. It is within easy walking distance of the Port de Plaisance, the Place Saint-Nicolas and the Vieux Port with its church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.