Ajaccio



Ajaccio is a city in France. It is the capital of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud. The geopolitical arrangements of the commune are slightly different from those typical of Corsica and France. Usually an arrondissement includes cantons and a canton includes one to several communes including the chef-lieu, "chief place", from which the canton takes its name. The city of Ajaccio is one commune, but it contains six cantons, Cantons 1-6, and a fraction of Canton 7. The latter contains five other communes: Bastelicaccia, Alata, Afa, Appietto and Villanova, making a total of six communes for the seven cantons of Ajaccio. Ajaccio is located on the west coast of the island of Corsica, 210 nautical miles (390 km) southeast of Marseille. It occupies a sheltered position at the foot of wooded hills on the northern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio. The harbour lies to the east of the foundation site at the original citadel on a hill overlooking a peninsula protecting the harbor on the south, where now are located the Quai de la Citadelle and the Jettée de la Citadelle. The modern city not only encloses the entire harbor but takes up the better part of the Gulf of Ajaccio and in suburban form extends for some miles up the valley of the Gravona River. The flow from that river is nearly entirely consumed as the city's water supply.

HISTORY OF AJACCIO
The first route is a historical walk which takes us back to the origins of the town. The starting point is in front of the citadel watchtower. Ajaccio works its magic on the visitor through its magnificent gulf, often compared with the bay of Naples. One can easily imagine that it was these harmonious curves which encouraged the first ancient inhabitants to settle here. In fact, in the Saint-Jean quarter, to the East of the modern-day town, there are remains dating from the third century AD which suggest Roman occupation, and the remains of a Paleochristian basilica have been also uncovered there. Moreover, the Bishop of Ajaccio is mentioned in the letters of Gregory the Great around the year 600.

The establishment of a Genoese colony in the 12th century brought properity to the town. The aim of the Genoese was to set up a new port providing protection on the sea route between Calvi and Bonifacio. Hence they chose Ajaccio as the site for a small strong hold, Castel Lombardo, of which nothing today remains. Because the site proved malarial, it was abandoned during the 15th century and, in 1492, the rocky promontary of Capo di Bollo on the tip of the Leccia was chosen as the site for a new town. About a hundred Genoese and Ligurian families, the Bonapartes among them, were sent there to colonise it. The broad outline of the plan of this old town can still be seen around the citadel. It was arranged around three roads spread out like a fan: the strada del Domo (rue Forcioli-Conti), the strada San Carlo (rue du roi de Rome) and the strada dritta (rue Bonaparte) on which stood the town gate.

The Citadel was built when the town was founded in 1492. At the time, ther citadel itself was merely a castello, in other words a keep and a lower precinct. In 1502, strong defensive walls were built around Ajaccio. The citadel was modified and extended during the occupation of the French between 1553 and 1559. In the latter year, in accordance with the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis, Corsica was returned to Genoa. The engineer Jacopo Frattini was sent to Ajaccio to fortify the citadel: he erected a solid bastion on the seaward side and dug a wide moat separating the citadel from the town on the landward side. It was not until the first quarter of the 18th century that the island tried to free itself from the yoke of its occupants. The nationalists tried four times to seize Ajaccio, namely in 1729, 1739 and 1763, but without success, and the town which one traveller of the time called the "prettiest little town in the Mediterranean" passed directly under French jurisdiction when Corsica was ceded by Genoa in 1768. And as the fortified part of Ajaccio, the citadel must have played a major role in these events. It certainly was an object of fascination for the young Napoleon. Many historians have recounted how Napoleon used to go to watch the changing of the guard there. And even though this has never been verified, it is not entirely surprising given that the Bonaparte family house was not far away. On the other had, much more than conjecture were Napoleon's repeated attempts in 1792 and 1793 to seize the castle. Having chosen to side with France and having been nominated Lieutenant-Colonel in the Corsican National Guard, he fought Paoli's forces several times, but never managed to take the citadel. It was on the final failed attempt in June 1793 that Napoleon and his family was forced into exile. Today it is unfortunately not possible to visit the citadel since it is occupied by the armed forces, but by taking a walk down the Boulevard Danielle Casanova and the Quai Napoléon the plan of the whole can be imagined.

More informations about the History of Ajaccio on the Ajaccio !

WHAT TO VISIT ?
More informations about the places to visit in Ajaccio on the Ajaccio and even the Official Website of the Office of Tourism !

Free Internet/Wifi Access
Here is a list of places where you can get some Internet/Wifi Access:


 * PIJ Borgou - Adress: 52, rue Fech - Tel: 04 95 50 13 44
 * EM@ Les Cannes - Adress: EM@ Les Cannes rue Simongiovanni
 * CRIJ AJACCIO - Adress: 71 cours Napoléon - Tel: 0495226842
 * ASSOCIATION INFORMATIQUE - Adress: 3, rue Ange moretti, Ajaccio - Tel: 04 95 10 74 65
 * EM@ Les Jardins de l'empereur - Adress: EM@ Les Jardins de l'empereur (réouverture prochaine) Maison de quartier Tour Napoléon
 * collectivite territoriale de corse - Adress: 22 Cours Grandval - Hôtel de Région 20000 AJACCIO - Tel: 04.95.10.50.83
 * Ajaccio MDE - Adress: Quartier St Joseph Immeuble Castellani - Tel: 0495501476
 * EM@ Les Salines - Adress: EM@ Les Salines 2 rue Andria Fazi - Tel: 04 95 21 11 49
 * EM@ Saint Jean - Adress: EM@ Saint Jean (ouverture prochaine) Groupe scolaire St Jean II Avenue Kennedy
 * P@M FALEP PREVENTION - Adress: P@m FALEP PREVENTION 6,Résidence Constellation Rue P.Poggionovo - BP 27 - Tel: 0495223534

COUCHSURFERS
There are about 30 Couchsurfers in Ajaccio and its area. You can check the Regional CS Group of Corsica or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

Meetings
There are sometimes some meetings organised in Ajaccio, just check the Regional CS Group of Corsica to see if there is any event in the area.

Coffee or a Drink
Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:

How to get to Ajaccio

 * By Car:
 * By Train:
 * By boot:
 * By Plane:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY



 * Police Station:

Tel: 17
 * Health Urgency:

Tel: 15
 * Hospital:
 * Fireman Station:

Tel: 18
 * Embassy:
 * Emergency Doctor:

INTERESTED LINKS</FONT>
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 * Regional CS Group: Corse/Corsica


 * Ajaccio on Wikivoyage
 * Ajaccio on Hitchwiki
 * Ajaccio on Wikipedia