Stroll through the streets of Ajaccio's old town

Published on April 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm

The old town of Ajaccio tells a turbulent story of independence and national pride. As you stroll along the narrow, cobbled streets in the centre, you can imagine all the stories the saffron-yellow facades have witnessed. The old town is vibrant. Restaurants, ice-cream parlours and bars liven up the streets, which are nonetheless peaceful and pleasant. The small, colourful Mediterranean streets take you from monument to monument, around a plaza, where you can sit down for a coffee on a sunny afternoon.

The port of Ajaccio in Corsica

Summary

A sunny walk
Notre-Dame de l'Assomption cathedral in Ajaccio
Ajaccio citadel
The Place Foch, a place to live and meet people
Where to stay in Ajaccio?

A sunny walk

Ajaccio's old town is a great place to live. Between the restaurants serving Corsican specialities and the historic monuments to visit, you can easily spend a day wandering around, soaking up the culture of the island of beauty. We've put together an itinerary for you to explore Ajaccio's cityscape.

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption cathedral, Ajaccio

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption cathedral in Ajaccio

This cathedral and the small plaza on which it stands are typical and charming. On sunny days, the orange cathedral contrasts magnificently with the blue sky. This religious monument dates back to the 1500s. The paintings, vaults and mouldings inside are breathtakingly beautiful. Seven small chapels make up the church.

📍 Location: Rue Forcioli Conti, 20000 Ajaccio

⏰ Opening times: open Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 5.45pm and Sunday, 8.30am to 11.30am. No visits during services.

🕑 Duration on site: 20 minutes

The interior of the cathedral

Ajaccio citadel

A few steps south will take you to Ajaccio's Miollis citadel, built around the fifteenth century and still occupied until 2020. Today, the citadel is part of an artistic renovation and heritage preservation project launched by the city.

The citadel of Ajaccio

During the summer season, two guided tours of the citadel are organised. There is one on Mondays and one on Fridays at 1pm. The tour costs €10 per person, €5 for concessions. To take part, meet in front of the citadel gates a few minutes before departure.

⏰ Times: Monday and Friday at 10am or 5pm

👛 Price:

full: €10
Reduced (children aged 7 to under 18, students): €5

🕑 Duration on site: 1h30

👉 More information on the website

The Place Foch, a place to live and meet people

Nicknamed " la place des palmiers ", this street is symbolic of the city of Ajaccio. Surrounded by palm trees, it's a very pleasant place to visit. It's from here that the little train departs for its tour of the town. During your stay in the Corsican city, don't hesitate to have a drink at the Hôtel Palazzu Domu, visit the church of St Erasme, discover the Maison Bonaparte or admire the paintings in the Palais Fesch.

Foch Square in Ajaccio

Where to stay in Ajaccio?

Booking.com

Hotel Palazzu Pozzo di Borgo

4-star hotel in the heart of Ajaccio's old town, offering air-conditioned rooms with LCD satellite TV and free internet access.

8.3 Very good

From

£110 / night

Book

Where to eat?

🍴 Restaurant le 20123

Corsican restaurant offering a traditional and local menu, accompanied by local wines. All in a charming chalet-style setting. Open Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 2pm and from 7pm to 11pm and on Sunday from 7pm to 11pm. For more information, visit the website

by Faustine PEREZ | Staff Writer

Faustine Perez is a writer currently based in Paris. She is pursuing a Master's degree at SciencesPo Paris in Communications, Media and Creative Industries. She is an avid traveller and has been fortunate to explore the USA and the Caribbean.

Need a hand? take a look at our guide

Ajaccio