What to do in Bastia in winter
Do you love Bastia in summer? Then discover it in winter! The landscape is swept by the waves and the sun's rays during the day, while at nightfall the town lights up.
You like Bastia summer? Then discover it in winter! The landscape is swept by the waves and the sun's rays during the day, while at nightfall the town lights up. Corsican specialities that can only be found at this time of year are on offer, and the festivities are in full swing with seasonal events.
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- Discover Bastia in winter, with its illuminated heritage, lively little streets, museums and warm Christmas atmosphere.
- Savour seasonal Corsican specialities (brocciu, figatellu, sea urchins) and stroll through the Christmas market in the heart of the old town.
- Enjoy nature walks, sea views and shopping sprees in a gentler, more authentic atmosphere.
Its rich heritage
and its museum
Discover Bastia winter is just as exciting as it is in summer. Different but just as beautiful, the city is dressed in a lovely winter light by day and the wonderful Christmas lights at night. We love this time of year, because it's the perfect time to discover the city's heritage.
Don't miss the Citadelle and its Governors' Palace, where the Bastia History Museum. You will also appreciate the religious buildings, such as Sainte-Marie Cathedral. We recommend that you stop off at the oratory at l'Immaculée Conception rue Napoléon Inside, the walls are covered in silk damask and the pilasters are covered in Genoa velvet. There's a cosy atmosphere here that you won't find anywhere else!
Christmas in Bastia
In December, Bastia truly embodies the Christmas spirit. Covered in lights, it gives your strolls through the city a magical touch, mixed with the hustle and bustle of the race for presents. The shop windows are every bit as beautiful as the next, the’the smell of roasting chestnuts and biscuits The atmosphere is particularly warm! From mid-December, the traditional Christmas market takes place under a starry sky of garlands, in the heart of the old town. For a few days, craftsmen, producers and Corsican designers come together to offer you delicious regional specialities and island know-how. This is the place to do your Christmas shopping, enjoy a good Figatellu or grilled flat ribs accompanied by a glass of Corsican wine!
Although cool, the evenings are festive and resound to the rhythm of Corsican song concerts.
Christmas in Bastia
The festive season brings a host of Christmas events and activities throughout December: concerts polyphonic singing in churches, guided tours of Bastia and its Christmas traditions in the heart of the Terra Vechja.
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Taste Bastia's winter specialities
Winter specialities at Bastia have that special flavour that all Bastians know, because they wait precisely 6 months to enjoy them! We're talking, of course, about the Brocciu, This is the perfect way to enjoy all the dishes and desserts that enhance it: Migliacci, Storzapretti or even Fiadone. He is also associated with the famous Pulenta made with an incomparable twist of the wrist and with the emblematic Figatellu the star product of winter in Corsica.
In December, we also like to fill up on clementines fruit and taste the sea urchins by the sea. Finally, as Christmas approaches, Bastia's restaurants are giving pride of place to festive Corsican dishes. cabri confit, Rivia, Corsican soup or the wild boar with myrtle.
A shopping trip to Bastia
When the temperatures drop, what could be better than taking a shopping break in the warmth of the shops?
From boulevard Paoli to the rue César Campinchi, by way of the rue Napoléon, You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping. These shopping streets are home to numerous boutiques selling Corsican products, major brand names, old-fashioned shops, concept stores and island designers.
Winter walks and hikes around Bastia
Winter in Bastia gives you the opportunity to see nature in a different light. The hiking trails you knew in the summer are sometimes covered in a thin film of snow, and above all, they are surrounded by ripe myrtle berries! 5 km above the town, you'll love the Nivere walk departing from the village of Cardo. A 3? hour round trip takes you to the remains of the old ice houses. If you're looking for a bit of height, climb the Monte Stello ! The highest peak in Cape Corsica, As a reward for its 1,306 m vertical drop, it offers a splendid panoramic view over a large part of the Cape. For a more accessible seaside version, head for the lagoon strip of the Marana, 10 min south of Bastia. The long sandy beach is bordered by a particularly pleasant path through the lagoons. It's the perfect place to collect driftwood if you like to do odd jobs!
Enjoying the sunrise
If there's one place you can recommend to enjoy the winter sunrise at Bastia, is of course the’ Aldilonda, a veritable balcony overlooking the sea! To get there, head for the Old Port and its postcard setting. As you round the cove to reach the south quay, you'll discover the footbridge over the waves, an unusual structure built into the rock face between the ramparts of the town and the sea. Citadelle and the Tyrrhenian Sea stretching as far as the eye can see.