Bastia, Corsica's second largest city with a population of about 40.000 people, sits on Corsica's east coast facing Italy with views out to the Tuscan archipelago. Directly to the the north, and accessible by car or bus is le Cap Corse, a wild peninsula studded with Genoese towers and a vast natural preserve that has become a hiker's paradise.
Bastia is often overlooked for other destinations considered more picturesque. When we visited the city was alive with people going about their business--and that's one of the keys for us when we measure a city's "authentic-ness." What bridges the gap between such a "real" city and a touristy destination is the attention to details that serve to enhance everyone's leisure time--the enormous Place St. Nicolas, lined with cafes, shops and restaurants with a view of the ferry port is just one example. The many Baroque churches, some with the pebble mosaics in front that identify them with Liguria and Genoese traditions offer the traveler coolness, shade, and free art to ponder. Then there's the Citadel and the old houses that make up the colorful "new town", with views out over the vieille ville, the old city and the sea. People still live and shop here; Bastia is a real city.
The cuisine of Bastia is simple and based largely on what the sea provides. The crisp Corsican white wines are a good match for a plate of mussels, but on your trip you'll want to try a beer called Pietra, an amber chestnut beer. (The brewery has a Brasserie on Route de la Marana in Furiani if it turns out you really like it.)
So join us for a little tour of Bastia, from how to get there to where to stay and what to do. Just follow the navigation below. Position your mouse pointer over the little boxes to see the titles.
