As you wander through its narrow streets, Bastia reveals itself as a multi-faceted place that gives you a feeling of being elsewhere. In autumn, the Bastia region offers a wide range of excursions and events to help you get away from it all and let go. A real invitation to travel...
AN IMMERSION IN HISTORY
Looking to immerse yourself in a land of character? Then you've come to the right place. Through its maze of cobbled streets, overlooked by buildings with sublime coloured facades sometimes reminiscent of Tuscany, Bastia reveals itself like an elegant canvas of impressions. Let yourself be guided by the picturesque bustle of the old town centre, with its squares and plane tree-lined esplanades revealing the authenticity of a Mediterranean agora. From the citadel to Place Saint-Nicolas, via the Old Port, Rue Napoléon dotted with trendy shops and the lively Market district, these places of Bastia's life are all essential stops on the way to indulging in the pleasures of a shopping break, a family lunch in the sun or an aperitif with friends on a terrace.
A stroll through the old town is all it takes to discover its history. The city's rich past, inherited in many ways from its Genoese period, can be seen around every corner. A stroll through the streets will reveal the imposing patrician residences, the emblematic bell towers and the treasures of the religious heritage. The Palace of the Governors, the oratories and the many Baroque churches adorned with paintings by Italian masters are powerful testimonies to Bastia's medieval and modern past, making it a true city of art and history.
To mark the European Heritage Days, these magnificent buildings are joining forces with the municipal museum to offer a discovery trail based around these treasures. Through its Légendines, the Tourist Office is offering a whole series of unusual and anecdotal guided tours to plunge you into the heart of the town's timeless identity, like a real immersion in history. There's also plenty to keep cultural fans happy: the Una Volta cultural centre, the large municipal theatre, the Mantinum and the Alboru cultural centre are all lively venues hosting a host of choice cultural events, with a varied programme ranging from plays and comedy shows to music concerts.
A SANCTUARY BETWEEN SEA AND MOUNTAINS
Fancy a full-scale excursion to explore Corsica in a different way? Bastia and the surrounding region have everything you need to organise your very own autumn getaway! From the Etang de Chjurlinu nature reserve to the Parc naturel marin du Cap Corse et de l'Agriate, the region boasts nature sanctuaries that are unique in the Mediterranean. These wonderfully preserved areas offer a multitude of routes to discover the island's natural treasures, along a coastline dotted with secret coves and long strips of fine sand at the foot of the Genoese towers that line the coastline. Boat trips along the shore, snorkelling with friends, sea shuttle rides or kayaking... there's no shortage of opportunities to cast off and let go. So much for the daring who are tempted to take to the open seas! Fans of romantic walks can always opt for a relaxing moment on the Aldilonda. Built flush with the water beneath the ramparts of Bastia's citadel, this veritable balcony overlooking the sea reflects the city's maritime identity. Behind the cove of the Vieux-Port, this aerial walkway offers an unrivalled panorama of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Tuscan archipelago. It's the ideal place to take a deep breath and meditate for a moment, lulled by the sea air as you watch the incessant ballet of ships.
Those looking for a bit of height won't be disappointed either! From the Serra di Pignu to the Cap Corse mountain range, via the Nivere, which dominates the village of Cardu, the surrounding area is full of sporting activities on steep paths. The hiking trails will take you to some of the island's most beautiful spots on rocky peaks or green plateaux with uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Saint-Florent and the islands of Cap Corse. At the gateway to Bastia, San Martinu di Lota, Santa Maria di Lota, Ville di Petrabugnu and Furiani stretch across the foothills between sea and mountains. These four communes, prized for their rich built heritage as much as for their outdoor activities, are a reminder of Corsican rural life in days gone by, with their traditional hamlets giving the Bastia region its true character.
A ROUTE OF THE SENSES TO THE HEART OF THE TERROIR
In the hinterland of Bastia, open the doors to this authentic rural Corsica and discover the vineyards, in contact with farmers who are passionate about their land. On the menu: sweet, complex wines enjoyed around a charcuterie platter on the sublime slopes of Cap Corse or in the renowned vineyards of the listed Patrimoniu site. On their farms, the winegrowers will take you on an immersion tour of their endemic grape varieties and their work with the land, which has made the reputation of the region's three appellations. You'll discover so many different characteristics over an aperitif in the heart of the sun-drenched valleys, or at one of the finest restaurants in the Bastia region. It's hard to resist the temptation of a meal washed down with a fine vintage wine in one of the small harbour shelters, where the cuisine of the local fishermen rivals in inventiveness. And there's no shortage of gastronomic delights! In the Sunday markets, where all the splendour of the island's gastronomy is on display, in the stalls and delicatessens, the craftsmen and women are the guarantors of ancestral culinary traditions with bewitching flavours. On their stalls, goat's or sheep's milk cheeses take their place alongside the mountain charcuterie and seafood specialities that epitomise the island's savoir-faire. Stop off at one of the island's delicatessens, where you'll find cured meats, terrines and prisutti, and discover the sweet flavours of the land, produced by the island's honey factories, distilleries and breweries. Those with a sweet tooth won't be left wanting! In October, Bastia welcomes more than a hundred exhibitors and craftsmen to the Place Saint-Nicolas for the Salon du Chocolat et des Delices de Corse, which in just a few years has become one of the most popular in France. A highlight of autumn in Bastia, it's an invitation to discover the expertise of master chocolate-makers from Corsica and around the world. To be enjoyed without moderation...