For centuries Genoa ruled Corsica from Bastia. When Genoa was worn down by the independence movement in Corsica, it sold its claim to France. France was able to squash the independence movements and took over the island in 1769, three months before the birth of Napoleon in Ajaccio, who later moved the capital from Bastia to Ajaccio.
Today Bastia is the second largest city on the island, and supposedly the economic engine of the island, though it is not very apparent what runs the economy apart from tourism. Corsican independence is still very much alive, though the violence of the 1980s and 1990s is thankfully over. I wonder what the Independence parties have in mind for the island. We saw a lot of pro-independence graffiti in Bastia (below).
Being the middle of March, Bastia is surprisingly lively. Apart from a few souvenir shops, everything was open and Place Saint Nicolas was not dead. (see below).
The Napoleon Monument in Place Saint Nicolas
The skies were sunny and the sun warm-ish, and we had smiles for this selfie.
Our hotel was near the ferry terminal.
Bastia has several impressive churches. The Cathedral, located in the Citadel.
And the Church of John the Baptist which overlooks (looms over) the Old Port.
The Old Port is very photogenic.
We walked up into the hills to the Cappella di a Scala Santa. The Scala Santa in Bastia is one of only a few staircases in the world granted the same "perpetual indulgence" as the original in Rome, allowing pilgrims to seek penance by climbing its steps on their knees.
On the way down from the chapel we stopped at the Fort Lacroix "Belvedere of The Antenna" to enjoy the views.
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