Bastia is the largest city and the main center of Corsica. Located by the sea, it has beaches and a wide promenade, but also a well-preserved Old Town and a vast Genoese fortress.
The city gained a high commercial and administrative position in the 14th century when it fell under the rule of Genoa. A fortress was erected then, which today is one of the most important monuments. There are many old buildings within it, including the baroque cathedral of St. Mary, the Church of St. Cross and the former Governors Palace, which houses the Corsican Ethnographic Museum.
Outside the walls of the fortress there is the so-called Terra Vecchia or the Old Town. Its heart is St. Nicholas with a statue of Napoleon depicted as Roman emperor. There are numerous churches from different eras as well as city palaces and tenement houses.
Bastia's attraction is its coastal part with the Old Port, a promenade and small beaches. Here you can find many restaurants serving traditional Corsican cuisine, mixing Italian and French flavors.
