Ajaccio (Aiacciu) Overview

To pronounce this city’s name in Corse goes something like this: say the word “eye” and then sneeze. While most Corsicans do take great pride in their unique heritage, nowhere is this more obvious than in the island’s capital city, Ajaccio (ah-jahks-ee-o; pop. 60,000). Museums celebrating various Corsican national heroes tell the island’s story from ancient times to the present day. Bakeries, pizzerias, and souvenir shops named in their honor line streets like rue Fesch and bd. Sampiero. This is all not to mention Ajaccio’s favorite son, the man who brought the rest of Europe to its knees so that he could make eye contact with them: Napoleon Bonaparte. At first glance, Ajaccio, with its countless boutiques, white sand beaches, and palm-lined boulevards, might feel like a Riviera resort. However, the city’s traditional Corsican culinary offerings, warm and welcoming locals, and emphasis on the island’s history identify it as proudly and authentically Corsican.

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