Corse Culture Travel France Guide

Known as the Island of Beauty, Corse covers an area of 3,400 square miles. This is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean and it is 100 miles South of the French Riviera in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Most of the population on the island concentrates in Ajaccio, which is the capital city, and Bastia. The island of Corsica is divided into two departments: Haute-Corse whose capital city is Bastia and Corse-du-Sud which has Ajaccio as its capital city.

The island has an enjoyable Mediterranean climate and along with its geographical features they make the island and excellent place to visit and an important tourist center. Tourism is the principal economic activity in the area around Porto Vacchio and Bonifacio and Calvi. However, there are some areas that have not been exploited yet.

The official language is French and Corsican, which is an Italian dialect, is also spoken by many inhabitants. Ajaccio is situated on the west coast. Napoleon was born in this city in 1769 and his house is still conserved as a museum. There are many hotels in Ajaccio and the restaurants are also famous for the good quality of its cuisine. Corsican cuisine is varied and rich. Here you will be able to visit some museums such as the Fesch Museum and the Bonaparte Museum, among others.

The Fesch museum holds an important collection of Spanish, French, Flemish, Germanic, Dutch paintings. Here you can see the Virgin with the Child of Boticelly which is one of the museum’s most prominent riches.

The Bonaparte Museum, originally the house where Napoleon was born, evokes the history of the family.

The other capital city, Bastia is one of the most beautiful towns on the island. It extends between the mountain and the sea. This is an important port and commercial center and it is located on the northwest coast. The Old town, Terra Vecchia, is characterized by Baroque Churches. And Terra Nova, which is officially the new town, is placed at the base of the fortress.

Corsica boasts a rich culture, language, cuisine and traditions. Wines are known to be of great quality as well.