Sights in Bastia
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Jardin Romieu
From the south side of the Vieux Port, steps lead up to the Jardin Romieu, a pleasant expanse of green that clings to the hillside for dear life. The even steeper steps and tunnel of the rampe St-Charles bring you through the defensive walls of the citadel to place du Donjon, at its heart.
Overlooking this cobbled square is the Palais des Gouverneurs (Governors' Palace), long closed to the public and earmarked - as it has been for many years - as the venue for the Musée d'Ethnographie Corse, so long in gestation. This citadel fortress, built in 1530, was the seat of the Genoese governor of Corsica for over two centuries. The Terra Nova quarter, many of its buildings recen…
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Vieux Port
Immediately south of Terra Vecchia is the Vieux Port (Old Port), Bastia's most picturesque area, ringed by pastel-coloured tenements and buzzy brasseries, as well as the twin-towered Église St-Jean Baptiste. The best views of the harbour are from the hillside park of Jardin Romieu, reached via a twisting staircase from the waterfront.
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Palais des Gouverneurs
One of the citadel’s landmarks, Palais des Gouverneurs houses Musée d’Histoire de Bastia (04 95 31 09 12; admission €5; Tue-Sun 10am-6pm), which provides an overview of the history of the city.
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Chapelle de l’Immaculée Conception
Don’t miss the baroque Chapelle de l’Immaculée Conception, with its elaborately painted barrel-vaulted ceiling; it briefly served as the seat of the short-lived Anglo-Corsican parliament in 1795.
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Église Ste-Croix
The Église Ste-Croix features gilded ceilings and a mysterious black-oak crucifix, which was found in the sea in 1428.
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Église Ste-Marie
A few steps south of place du Marché aux Oies is the Église Ste-Marie, ingeniously converted by acclaimed architect Jean Nouvel, whose parents still live in Sarlat. It now not only houses Sarlat's mouthwatering Marché Couvert (covered market) , but, by the time you read this, a panoramic lift (elevator) will have been installed by Nouvel in its belltower. Check with the tourist office for details.
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Chapelle St-Roch
The Chapelle St-Roch is known for its 18th-century organ and trompe l’œil roof.
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Terra Vecchia
A network of narrow lanes leads south towards the old port and the neighbourhood of Terra Vecchia, a muddle of crumbling apartments and balconied blocks. The shady place de l'Hôtel de Ville hosts Bastia's lively morning market from Tuesday to Saturday. One block to the west, don't miss the baroque Chapelle de l'Immaculée Conception, with its elaborately painted barrel-vaulted ceiling; it briefly served as the seat of the short-lived Anglo-Corsican parliament in 1795. Further north isChapelle St-Roch, known for its 18th-century organ and trompe l'œil roof.
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Citadel
Behind Jardin Romieu looms Bastia's citadel, built from the 15th to 17th centuries as a stronghold for the city's Genoese masters. One of the citadel's landmarks, the Palais des Gouverneurs houses Musée d'Histoire de Bastia, which provides an overview of the history of the city. A few streets to the south, don't miss the majestic Église Ste-Marie and the nearby Église Ste-Croix, featuring gilded ceilings and a mysterious black-oak crucifix, which was found in the sea in 1428.
reviewed
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