Day 1 in Bastia

Welcome to the Bastia, one of the oldest and largest towns in Corsica! Upon arrival, make your transfer to your destination, arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.

Bastia, Corsica`s second largest city, sits beautifully on Corsica`s east coast, facing Italy with views out to the Tuscan archipelago. We suggest you start your visit at Place St Nicolas, a pleasant spot to soak up Bastia`s Mediterranean atmosphere, this is a social hub of the town. Stop in for lunch at one of the many attractive cafes in the area and soak in the essence of the people and culture. (Also, there is a small tourist train that starts its tour in the Place St Nicholas and spends 45 minutes passing by the main sights in Bastia.)

The Boulevard aolis and Rue César Campinchi are the main shopping streets running parallel to Place St Nicolas square. Spend some time getting acquainted as you wander amongst the ambient stores of the city.

The old town (or the `Terra Vecchia`) lies south of Place St Nicolas and surrounds the Old Port of Bastia which cannot be missed. You will be drawn in with its faded charm of narrow streets and alleys, where washing still hangs out to dry from ancient shuttered windows in the tall, often almost crumbling, buildings, dating back from the 18th century. It is the character of this part of Bastia, merging into the old port, which is the most fascinating aspect of Bastia, so make sure to allow time to explore.

One of the main squares in the old town is the Place du Marche, which is home to a morning market and the large Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, an imposing church built in the 16th century. The interior of the church was renovated in baroque style in the 18th century. Nearby on Rue Napoleon is the Oratoire St Roch with a great Baroque interior and also the Oratoire de l`Immaculée Conception, which has a particularly luxurious interior including crystal chandeliers.

Continue walking, at the other side of the Saint Jean Baptiste church is the charming port where the rather neglected buildings surround the harbor full of boats ranging from small fishing vessels to gleaming pleasure boats.

There are two ports in Bastia: the original traditional one (old port), and the more recent port where Corsica Ferries arrive with passengers from Italy and France. The old harbor is the popular place to spend your evenings in Bastia, and a great area to finish off your day, in one (or a few) of the many bars and restaurants. There is a promenade along the waterfront that is great for strolling. Be sure to walk out along the Quai des Martyrs de la Liberation for the best views of the harbor.

Day 2 in Bastia

Start your day early and head to market square, the Place de l`Hôtel de Ville, or the City Hall Square (It`s right next to the Saint-jean Baptiste church) to enjoy a local farmers market. The main weekly markets are held here each Saturday and Sunday, with smaller markets in the same square on other days. (There is a flea market in the Place Saint Nicholas each Sunday.)

The market is a meeting place and a great way to get a glimpse at the everyday life of the locals. Grab some breakfast and take in the feast of colors, flavors and scents. Stock up on Corsican products such as cheese, charcuterie and fruits and vegetables, amongst many other unique items.

As afternoon approaches, continue your exploration of Bastia by heading to the other side of the old harbor around the substantial citadel. This part of the town is much trendier if slightly less impressive than its old town neighbor. The walk to the citadel passes through the gardens (le Jardin Romieu) and past the once-very-posh houses of the Terra Nova district. The main buildings within the citadel of Bastia are the grand 14th century Governor`s Palace, protected by defensive walls added during the 15th century, and a couple of churches: the church of Sainte-Marie de l`Assomption and the Baroque Oratoire-Sainte-Croix with its `black Christ`.

The palace of the Governors was attacked and destroyed by Nelson in 1794 and rebuilt by the French when it was used as a prison. The Nazi`s used the dungeons to imprison and torture Resistance fighters during the Second World War. It has now been renovated and is home to the Municipal Museum with exhibits including the history of Bastia and Corsica from its pre-Roman origins to its role in the Second World War.

Spend the remaining part of your day at one of the several nearby beaches close to Bastia, a great way to enjoy a Corsican sunset. The best beach here is the Arinella Beach just about a mile south of Bastia town center, which is a long sandy beach with many activities available. If you head north from bestial, you`ll discover several small pebble beaches such as Minelli Beach.

After another busy day of exploring Bastia, spend a relaxing evening at one of the many delicious restaurants in town. Enjoy some local Corsican cuisine before heading back to your hotel for a restful night sleep.

Day 3 in Bastia

On your last day in Bastia, we recommend heading just outside the city to discover the area around Bastia on the route called the `Upper Corniche`, which has several very attractive views back across town and the coast. The route passes through Montserrato, Cardo, Ville-de-Pietrabugno and San-Martino-di-Lota, heading into the western edge off Cap Corse.

Cap Corse, often called the island within the island, is a beautiful peninsula to explore with small fishing villages charmingly set against a backdrop of mountains that run down the center of the peninsula. A driving tour is the perfect way to discover the many villages, scenery, ports and beaches. There are several splendid viewpoints as you pass around the peninsula.

The road that tours Cap Corse is about 78 miles long, but that does not include the side trips to the places that give Cap Corse a lot of its charm. You will more likely end up driving closer to 100 miles, and a lot of it is on slow roads.

Much of the attraction of Cap Corse is the scenery, and this is more enjoyable if you can leave your car behind occasionally and walk along a beach or a coastal footpath. There are various possibilities to explore the peninsula and it`s villages with many highlights to be discovered.

Macinaggio is a small town with a port and a few cafes and shops, but is better known as the starting point of the coastal path that follows around the north, passing various beaches and carrying on passed Barcaggio, one of our favorite beaches on Corsica.

It is also at Macinaggio where the road turns west to cross the Cap Corse peninsula, and allows you to reach Barcaggio by road, as well as the small port of Tollare and the hillside village of Rogliano. All these places are definitely worth a visit.

Now on the west coast, another highlight in north Cap Corse is the port at Centuri. Very unspoiled and extremely traditional, this picturesque port and village involves a detour of about 6 miles, but is well worth it. It is also one of the few places in the north of Cap Corse to have a great selection of restaurants.

Exploring the Cap Corse peninsula will easily take you a full day, and could easily be longer depending on how many stops you make throughout the trip. A complete circuit of the Cap Corse will take you about four hours (without stops) and we recommend that you drive in a clockwise direction so that you are always in the inside lane (the road can be narrow and winding and drops are steep and rather scary!). When traveling on the east coast of the peninsula, the road is usually quite near sea level but on the west it is usually higher, with cliffs and mountains and paths descending to the coast.

Additional Days in Bastia

Should you be able to spend additional days in Bastia we recommend a visit the Etang de Biguglia south of Bastia. This is the largest lagoon on the island and a haven for migrating birds. More than 100 species can be observed here, whilst the beach of la Marana provides a great spot for a relaxing afternoon.

Another enjoying day trip is the Castagniccia (literally meaning `small chestnut grove`), wherein lies a chestnut forests. Many of the wild boar that are eaten on the island each year are caught in this area, but despite this, many of the villages in the area now lie abandoned. ON a clear day, the altitude offers views over the Tuscan Islands, occasionally, the snow-capped peaks of the Alps are visible. The highest peak in the region, Monte San Petrone can be a challenging hike, but the view from the top, both out towards Italy and back into the Casuluna valley, are well worth the energy.

Your Last Day in Bastia

Depart your hotel for the train station, ferry or airport where you will head home or make your way to more Corsican adventures. Savor the memories of a very special time in the city of Bastia.